Memorial

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In 1940, Lt Col William J. Boydstun was a sergeant in the HQ Company of the 27th Infantry Regiment in Wahiawa, Honolulu, Hawaii.

He was awarded the Silver Star Medal for his action on 28 November 1944 in France. The citation cited: "In an enemy counterattack, Lt Col Boydstun became isolated from his men but withstood rifle fire and hand grenade attacks on his position. With utter disregard for his own safety, he infiltrated through enemy lines to secure and guide tank support for his battalion. The added tank support coupled with the reorganizations Lt Col Boydstun effected, succesfully routed the enemy".

He was severely wounded by an artillery shell that hit the battalion command post.

Percy Smith, the first sergeant of G Company, recalled finding Boydstun at his command post: "The bodies of soldiers and equipment were scattered over the ground. Parts of bodies dangled from tree limbs. Wounded members of the headquarters staff wandered around dazed and incoherent. A soldier was holding his intestines; another was looking at his arm laying at the ground. Col Boydstun was reclining in a half sitting position at the base of a tree. He beckoned to Lt Coupto, his aide. He spit out a mouthful of blood and told him to deliver a message to his family. Col Boydstun's eyes grew filmly then closed. He expired in the arms of the bitterly weeping Lt Coupto."

His brother Don served on the USS Arizona on 7 December 1941 when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. He is reported missing in action and is remembered at the Walls of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial Cemetery.

On 19 January 1943, his brother Ward, flying with the 344th Bombardment Squadron, 98th Bombardment Group, was reported missing in action over the Mediterranean See and is remembered at the Walls of the Missing at the American Military Cemetery and Memorial in Nettuno, Italy.

Lt Col Boydstun is remembered at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth, Tarrant County, Texas with a memorial marker.