Pfc. William I. Long

Biography and Wartime Service

William Irving Long from Shamokin, Pennsylvania was born on February 14, 1915 to Sarah Elizabeth MichaelMichael (1877-1949) and William J Long (1872-1925). William attended school at the Shamokin Borough Schools. After leaving school he worked for several years at the Glen Burn Colliery in Shamokin. On November 21, 1941 he married Amy A. Vought.

William Long was inducted into the army on November 13, 1943. He received training in Camp Croft in South Carolina and Fort Meade Maryland before he was sent overseas to England in May 1944. With E and D Company 331st, he fought in France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany before he went MIA. Afterwards he was declared KIA on the 10th of December, 1944 in Gey, Hürtgen Forest, Germany. His wife Amy Long received the notice of his death three days after she gave birth to his daughter Carol. For his service, William I. Long received the Combat Infantry Badge, the Purple Heart Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

William I. Long is burried at the "Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial" of Margraten. Plot G - Row 8 - Grave 2. His grave is adopted by Tanja Wirtz, The Netherlands.

I met his daughter Carol Buckley at the Reunion of the 83rd Division Association, West Point, New York, 2011.

Gallery

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