Victor J. Willson Jr

Rang: Private

Overlijdensdatum: 27 September 1944

Legeronderdeel: 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division

Laatste rustplaats: Virginia, Verenigde Staten

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Private Victor James Willson Jr. was born on January 17, 1924, in Marcellus, Onondaga County, New York. His parents were Victor James Willson Sr. and Gertrude Olive (Pattison) Willson. His father worked as an automobile mechanic. According to the 1930 and 1940 federal censuses, the family lived in Bradford, Pennsylvania. The family had seven children. Private Victor James Willson Jr.’s military draft registration card is dated June 30, 1942. At the time, he was eighteen years old and employed by the Eclipse Machine Co. in Elmira Heights, New York. Private Victor James Willson Jr. enlisted in Buffalo, New York, on December 15, 1942, and entered the United States Army Air Corps. He was eventually assigned to the 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. His Army Serial Number was 12215254. The following is taken from a newspaper article about Private Victor James Willson Jr., who was reported missing in action: Private Victor J. Willson Jr., a member of the paratroopers, has been missing in action in the Netherlands since September 27. His parents, Mr. and Mrs. Victor J. Willson, received this notification from the U.S. War Department. A veteran of the fighting at the Anzio beachhead, he had been overseas since early summer. A month before D-Day, he was transferred to England, where he underwent training until he was sent to the front in the Netherlands in September. He enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Force on December 7, 1942, and trained with the Military Police at Miami Beach before being transferred to Hammer Field in California. He later served for a time in Tonopah, Nevada, before transferring to the parachute infantry and receiving his training at Fort Benning, Georgia. After completing his training there, he received his parachutist wings and jump boots and was sent overseas. He first went to North Africa, followed by Sicily and Italy. From Italy, he wrote home that he had seen Mount Vesuvius erupting. He had last been home in December of the previous year, but was only able to spend a few hours there. Private Victor James Willson Jr. was killed in action on September 27, 1944. He was officially declared dead on that date, but his remains were not recovered until 1988. His name is permanently inscribed on the Wall of the Missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial. On April 14, 1992, the remains of Private Victor James Willson Jr. were interred at Arlington National Cemetery. Private Victor James Willson Jr. was survived by his parents, two brothers, and four sisters. His two brothers, Private First Class Glenn Willson and Private First Class Raymond Willson, were stationed in Germany and the Philippines, respectively. (Copyright Fold3)