Military: Record of Joel Boone, Schuylkill County, PA



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                        William John STEPHENSON, Jr.



Born 1/22/1923 Diener's Hill, R. D. #3 Pottsville,  Schuylkill County, 

PA- Died 10/10/1994 Eagle Hill, RD#3 Pottsville,  Schuylkill County, PA

 Duty from North Africa to North Italy.

Wounded 3 times and was finally transferred to the Air Corp

 where he had his first experience with heavy duty trucks, hauling

 ammunition to the front lines and taking soldiers to rest camps in

 Switzerland by bus.

Served in World War II, Grade T-5: Date of entry into active service 

10/14/1943; date of separation 12/5/1945

Military occupation assignments:

Grade 3:  Private - Basic

Grade 4:  Pvt. Rifleman  Specialty 745

Grade l6: T-5 (Sgt.) Truck Drive Heavy, specialty 345



Summary of Military occupations:  Truck Driver Heavy-supervised about 

twenty men.  Drove truck of 2 1/2 ton and larger.  Hauled Troops, equipment,

supplies and ammunition.  Drove during blackouts and over rough terrain.  

Made minor repairs.

  

Performed duties in IRAN, CASABLANCA, NORTH AFRICA, ALGIERS, 

ITALY AND FRANCE.



Military Qualification: M1 RIFLE 30 CAL LEXP 11/1943; COMBAT INF 7/1944



Bill was with the Blue Devils 88th Inf.



BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS: ROME NO APPENNINES GO 33 & 40 WD 

45 DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS:  GOOD CONDUCT MEDAL, EAME 

THR SER MED WITH 2 BRONZE STARS; WORLD WAR II VIC MEDAL, 

PURPLE HEART MEDAL WOUNDS RECEIVED IN ACTION;  ITALY 9/30/1944 BLINDED BY 

SHRAPNEL, was in the process of being transported back to the States 

and  regained his vision and they returned him to service and put him in the 

Air Corp. where he served until his discharge. Bill was buried with Military 

honors at the Indian Town Gap Military Cemetery in Indian Town Gap, Pennsylvania which is 

the same Military base where he entered into his military career one day short 

of 51 years to the day. (Buried 10/13/1994)