William Barnes Acton Collection

Biographical Information

Gender:

Male

Race:

Unspecified

War or Conflict:

World War, 1939-1945

Status:

Veteran

Dates of Service:

1943-1946

Entrance into Service:

Enlisted

Branch of Service:

Army

Unit of Service:

15th Assault Team, 5th Army; 422nd Infantry Regiment, 103rd Infantry Division, 7th Army

Location of Service:

Lorient, France; Belgium; Germany

Highest Rank:

Master Sergeant

Prisoner of War:

No

Service History Note:

The Veteran took part in the final assault on Germany as well as the assault on German submarine pens at Lorient, France. In addition, due to a lack of officers, veteran took command of a light machine/mortar assault platoon. The platoon was ordered by a Colonel to take and hold a cross roads in the town of Ulm, Germany, at all costs until reinforcements arrived. They held the position for 36 hours, but took shell hits which killed three of the men and wounded three others, one of which was the veteran.

Collection Information

Type of Resource:

Video: DVD [1 item] --Oral history interview

Interviewer:

Burton Church

Contributor:

Larry Lembo

Contributor Affiliation/Organization:

Maris Grove Veterans Club

Collection #:

AFC/2001/001/64872

Subjects:

Acton, William Barnes
World War, 1939-1945--Personal Narratives
United States. Army.

Cite as:

William Barnes Acton Collection
(AFC/2001/001/64872), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress