William F. Withem

NAME: William F. Withem

ASN: 35034953

PLACE OF BIRTH: OH

DATE OF BIRTH: 14 May 1917

DATES OF SERVICE: 11 Jul 1941 - 28 Dec 1944

UNIT ASSIGNED: F CO 2nd BN 509th PIR

1st Platoon, C CO 509th PIB

CAMPAIGNS: Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Ardennes-Alsace

AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with three combat jump stars, Purple Heart Medal with three oak leaf clusters, Good Conduct Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with arrowhead and six bronze star devices, World War II Victory Medal, Distinguished Unit Citation with one bronze oak leaf cluster, 3rd Zouaves Regiment Badge

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

14 May 1917 - Born in Ohio

1935 - Graduated from Glouster High School

11 Jul 1941 - Enlisted at Ft Hayes, Columbus, OH - NARA Enlistment Record

ARMY SERIAL NUMBER	35034953	35034953
NAME	WITHEM#WILLIAM#F########	WITHEM#WILLIAM#F########
RESIDENCE: STATE	53	OHIO
RESIDENCE: COUNTY	009	ATHENS
PLACE OF ENLISTMENT	5340	FT HAYES COLUMBUS OHIO
DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY	11	11
DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH	07	07
DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR	41	41
GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION	PVT#	Private
GRADE: CODE	8	Private
BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION	BI#	Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
BRANCH: CODE	00	Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers, USA
FIELD USE AS DESIRED	#	#
TERM OF ENLISTMENT	0	Undefined Code
LONGEVITY	###	###
SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL	0	Civil Life
NATIVITY	53	OHIO
YEAR OF BIRTH	17	17
RACE AND CITIZENSHIP	1	White, citizen
EDUCATION	4	4 years of high school
CIVILIAN OCCUPATION	819	Unskilled occupations in manufacture of textiles, n.e.c.
MARITAL STATUS	6	Single, without dependents
COMPONENT OF THE ARMY	7	Selectees (Enlisted Men)
CARD NUMBER	#	#
BOX NUMBER	0885	0885
FILM REEL NUMBER	3.307	3.307

08 Nov 1942 - Pfc. William F. Withem 35034953 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Glouster, OH. Participated in Operation VILLIAN (TORCH) Plane: 2 Seat: 2 Combat Weight: 281 lbs.

Wounded in leg

15 Jul 1943 - Pfc. William F. Withem 35034953 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR Period of Service: 7-Dec-41 to 15-Jul-43 GO#8 Awarded Good Conduct Medal, 1yr Svc

21 Oct 1943 - Cpl. William F. Withem 35034953 F Co 2nd Bn 509th PIR SO#75 Promoted to Sgt. (Temp)

22 Jan 1944 - Landed at Anzio

Wounded in left arm

10 Apr 1944 - Sgt. William F.Withem 35034953 C CO 509th PIB GO#5 Award of Combat Infantryman Badge

15 Aug 1944 - Participated in jump into Southern France

23 Dec 44 - "1st platoon under Staff Sergeant William F. Withem moved to position on E side of woods at road junction." - C Co Journal refering to Battle at Parkers Crossroads

28 Dec 44 - Pfc. Fisco reached a position where a shallow gulley runs along a narrow trail. Capt. Walls called to Fisco, "Fisco, I'm making you Sergeant as of today. Take us in." C Co was on Fiscos right at this point and directed C Co to shift to his left. As he approached the woods, four M5 light tanks arrived, he directed two of them to Capt. Walls and told the other two to bound forward in front and push through the woods. Sgt. Fisco recalls at this point seeing the C Co Platoon Sergeant, S/Sgt. William F. 'Bill' Withem killed instantly about 75 feet to his left. Later one of the light tanks comes to a stop on a slight hill, driver raises hatch and is killed instantly. The Germans begin a counterattack, Sgt. Fisco unloads one clip and moves right to a new postion while reloading and feels something hit him in the elbow. Lt. Viteritto, from behind him, "Fisco, you're hit" he answered, " I know. In the left elbow." Another 509er helped him back and met a medic Harold Austin who was not far behind. The Medic got him some morphine and took him back to the Battalion Aid Station. The bullet had traveled about 8 inches along his arm to the elbow. - Description from Dick Fiscos account at the battle for Sadzot, Belgium

28 Dec 44 - S/Sgt. William F. Withem, 1st Platoon Leader, C Company, 509th PIB killed in action

28 Dec 1944 - SSgt. William F. Withem 35034953 509th PIB Glouster, OH 41 - 46 Plot C Row 13 Grave 56 Henri-Chapelle Am Cem, Henri-Chapelle, Belgium Purple Heart with 3 Oak Leaf Clusters

Listed on page 391in the book Stand in the Door by Charles H. Doyle and Terrell Stewart

Frenk Derks van de Ven has adopted his grave at Henri-Chapelle American Military Cemetery and would like to make contact with the family.

Charles W. Withem was his nephew who was killed just three days before.

Frenk Derks van de Ven visited the Henri-Chapelle American Military Cemetery recently (2011) to pay his respects and to arrange this excellent tribute.

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