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Personal info

Full name
DONOVAN, William Jr
Date of birth
4 July 1908
Age
36
Place of birth
Bayonne, Hudson County, New Jersey
Hometown
Jersey City, Hudson County, New Jersey

Military service

Service number
32391073
Rank
Sergeant
Function
Squad Leader
Unit
C Company,
1st Battalion,
318th Infantry Regiment,
80th Infantry Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
4 December 1944
Place of death
Near Farébersviller-Cocheren, France

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Epinal
Plot Row Grave
B 20 72

Immediate family

Members
William S. Donovan (father)
Catherine (Barnett) Donovan (mother)
John J. Donovan (brother)
Daniel A. Donovan (brother)
James F. Donovan (brother)
Ellen T. Donovan (sister)
Walter Donovan (brother)

More information

Sgt William Donovan Jr. graduated from Bayonne High School and was employed as a mechanic in the repair shop of the Jersey Central Railroad.

He joined the Regular Army in 1937, serving in the Hawaiian Islands. After his initial tour of duty, he returned to civilian life for three months before reenlisting in 1940. He reenlisted a second time in Newark, New Jersey on 10 July 1942 and was sent overseas in May 1944.

He was killed by small arms fire in the thorax.

Source of information: Leo Minne, Kathy McDermott, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1910/1920/1030 Census / U.S. Headstone and Interment Record / U.S. WWII Hospital Admission Card Files / U.S. Draft Cards Young Men / Witowski Family Tree, www.80thdivision.com, New Jersey Births and Christenings, The Bayonne Times - 13 February 1945

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Andy, The Bayonne Times - 13 February 1945