William A. Sutherland
NAME: William A. Sutherland
ASN: 06392752
PLACE OF BIRTH: Cherokee County, SC
DATE OF BIRTH:
DATES OF SERVICE: ?? ??? 1941 - 15 Aug 1944
UNIT ASSIGNED:
B CO 504th PB
E CO 2nd BN 509th PIR
B CO 509th PIR
CAMPAIGNS: Algeria French-Morocco, Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France
AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with three combat jump stars, Bronze Star Medal, Purple Heart Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead device and five campaign stars, WWII Victory Medal, Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
17 Nov 1941 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland begins parachute training as Class #9 at The Parachute School at Fort Benning, GA
25 Dec 1941 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland B Company, 504th Parachute Battaion attended unit Christmas Dinner
26 Jan 1942 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland completes first training jump with Class #9
07 Feb 1942 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland graduates Class #9 from The Parachute School
07 Feb 1942 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland B Company, 504th Parachute Battalion Gaffney, SC listed in unit album
24 Feb 1942 - 504th Parachute Battalion is redesignated 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment
29 Mar 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR moves from Fort Benning, GA to Fort Bragg, SC
01 Jun 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR moves from Fort Bragg, SC to Fort Dix, NJ
03 Jun 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR moves from Fort Dix, NJ to Cunard Line Docks to board the Queen Elizabeth
04 Jun 1942 - Departed US for European Theater of Operations (ETO) on board the Queen Elizabeth
10 Jun 1942 - Arrived in ETO - Glasgow, Scotland. Is transported ashore by ferry in the river Clyde
10 Jun 1942 - 1550 hrs - Arrived at the rail station
10 Jun 1942 - 1750 hrs - Train departs south bound
10 Jun 1942 - 2100 hrs - Train pulls into Edinburgh for a two hour layover
11 Jun 1942 - 1430 hrs - Train arrives at Hungerford, Berkshire and the battalion is greeted by British Major General F.A.M. Browning then were trucked the two miles to Chilton Foliat
16 Jun 1942 - Major General F.A.M. Browning visits the battalion and addresses them
04 Jul 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR celebrated Independence Day by conducting a 23 mile march
20 Jul 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR received orders to move out to the Combat Training Area at Mortehoe
21 Jul 1942 - 0530 hrs - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR departed by train for Tauton
21 Jul 1942 - 0930 hrs - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR off loaded from the train and met Lt Col. Raff who proceeded to lead them on a march to Mortehoe (45 miles)
21 Jul 1942 - 2230 hrs - Raff stopped the battalion to allow them to rest for the night after marching 35 miles
22 Jul 1942 - 2nd Bn 503rd PIR marched the rest of the way to Mortehoe
30 Jul 1942 - 2-503rd PIR completes training by going through the British Assault Course at Woolacombe with its live machine fire over the barbed wire and exploding pits it scared the hell out of the Soldiers but gave them an experience that was the closest thing to real combat. That afternoon they went through the British Confidence Course. With training complete, Captain Doris Simpson of the A.T.S. arranged a well-deserved party for the Americans.
05 Aug 1942 - Returned to Chilton Foliat this time on trucks and were warmly welcomed by the locals.
17-30 Aug 1942 - Day and night jumps were conducted in preparation for future mass tactical field training exercises with the British.
01 Sep 1942 - Al Jolson USO Show
00 Oct 1942 - First Lady Elenor Roosevelt visits the 2nd Battalion 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment at Chilton Foliat
02 Nov 1942 - 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment redesignated as the 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment while in England per AG 320.2 (11-3 42)
08 Nov 1942 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland 6392752 HHC, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Gaffney, SC participates in Operation TORCH (VILLIAN) the airborne invasion of Oran North Africa Plane: 8, Seat: 3, Combat Weight: 255 lbs
25 Mar 1943 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland 6392752 E Co. 2nd Bn 509th PIR SC SO 27 Removed from Jump Status
14 Sep 1943 - Sgt. William A. Sutherland 6392752 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Participated in Operation GIANT III the airborne invasion of Avellino, Italy
09 Nov 1943 - Sgt. William A. Sutherland 6392752 B Co, 509th PIB participates in combat operations in vicinity of Venafro, Italy
14 Dec 1943 - B Co, 509th PIB in withdrawn from Venafro, Italy and moves to Naples, Italy for R&R
22 Jan 1944 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland 6392752 B Co, 509th PIB participates in Operation SHINGLE the amphibious invasion of Anzio, Italy
01 Apr 1944 - B Co, 509th PIB in withdrawn from Anzio, Italy and moves to Naples, Italy for R&R
10 Apr 1944 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland 6392752 B Co, 509th PIB GO 5 The following named Officers and Enlisted Men of Companies indicated having fulfilled all requirements as set forth in Par #3. a&b, Section I, WD Circular #269, dated 27 October 1943, are hereby announced as Combat Infantrymen and are entitled to wear the badge as specified in WD Circular above
24 Jul 1944 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland 6392752 B Co 509th PIB Listed on jump manifest for Operation DRAGOON (RUGBY FORCE) Bn Plane: 21, B Co Plane: 1, Seat: 10
15 Aug 1944 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland 6392752 B Co 509th PIB participated in Operation DRAGOON (RUGBY FORCE) the airborne invasion of Southern France
15 Aug 1944 - Pvt. William A. Sutherland 6392752 B CO 509th PIB Gaffney, SC MIA or Buried at Sea Rhone Am Cem, Draguignan, France Southern France, MIA Bronze Star, Purple Heart Page 390 in the book Stand in the Door by Charles H. Doyle and Terrell Stewart
L to R: Pvt. Alfred Pipino, Sgt. William Sutherland, Pvt. Julius Garcia, Pfc. Frank Campos, Pvt. Ira Butler, Pfc. Johnnie Ford
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