Sgt. William Brown Babcock
Born: 5 September 1918 – Alameda, California
Parents: William H. Babcock & Bird Brown-Babcock
Siblings: S/Sgt. Arthur L. Babcock, Vera, Kenneth, Albert
– Kenneth died in 1936
Hometown:
– 615 North Eighth Avenue – Maywood, Illinois
Education:
– Lincoln School
– Emerson School
– Proviso Township High School
– Class of 1937
– left school before graduation
Occupation:
– gas station attendant
Selective Service Registration: 16 October 1940
– Contact Person: William H. Babcock – father
– Employment: unemployed
Inducted:
– 16 April 1941 – Chicago, Illinois
– U.S. Army
– Service Number: 36025789
Training:
– Fort Knox, Kentucky
– tank commander
Units:
– 13th Armor Regiment, 1st Armor Division
Stationed:
– Ireland
– The unit was reviewed by the King and Queen of England
Engagements:
– among first to land in Oran, Algeria
– Battle of Italy
– 12 major engagements
– the unit held Faid Pass against heavy enemy fire
– allowed the main part of the division to withdrawal and reform
– never wounded, but he was hospitalized for appendicitis and an infected insect bite
Letter: “I’m very tired and very busy ……… if you only knew how.” in a letter received by parents
on 28 May 1944
Killed in Action: 30 May 1944
– Tank struck by an enemy shell near Anzio
Memorial:
– Tablets of the Missing – Florence American Cemetery – Via Cassia, Italy
Medals: Purple Heart
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