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name
FRENCH, William H - Date of
birth
28 June 1918 -
Age
26 - Place of
birth
Owosso, Shiawassee County, Michigan -
Hometown
Flint, Genesee County, Michigan
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
36116980 -
Rank
Private First Class -
Function
unknown -
Unit
B Company,
703rd Tank Destroyer Battalion,
1st Platoon
-
Awards
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
15 January 1945 - Place of
death
The woods east of Baclain, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| G | 4 | 28 |
Immediate family
-
Members
William French (father)
Nellie G. French (mother)
Ella French (sister)
Pauline French (sister)
Winifred French (sister)
More information
Pfc William French attended Central High School and was an employee at the post office before he enlisted in June 1941 and had been overseas since August 1943.On 13 January, the 1st Platoon took up positions in the woods, east of Baclain covering the town and the road running east out of the town. This patch of woods was under constant shelling and any movement drew immediate fire. On the morning of the 15th a crew started to thaw out the turret of their tank destroyer with a blow torch and immediately drew direct fire with high explosive shells. One round struck the mast base of the tank destroyer, killing Pfc French and two members of another crew nearby.
Source of information: Peter Schouteten, Raf Dyckmans, Della M. Gamalski, Past-President Flint Genealogical Society http://3ad.com/history/wwll/names.died.htm
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Charles Czajkowski,