Three Delawareans who were drafted on the same day trained together and joined the same medical battalion but only two returned home alive
Category: Mediterranean Theater
2nd Lieutenant William J. McLoughry (1919–1942)
A C-47 copilot who survived the dangerous first American airborne combat mission only to die in a crash weeks later
2nd Lieutenant William B. Weldon, Jr. (1916–1944)
Wounded and captured before he was rescued during combat at the Gustav Line in Italy, this young officer returned to duty just in time to join the breakout from Anzio
Sergeant Steiner S. Straw, Jr. (1920–1943)
An Army Air Forces armorer killed in a tragic accident at an airfield in Sardinia
Staff Sergeant George Isadore (1909–1942)
A German-born career soldier killed in action fighting against Vichy French forces in Algeria
Private William E. Paskins, Jr. (1916–1945)
A soldier born in Bridgeville who served in Italy in a segregated infantry unit
Technician 5th Grade Clayton Jones (1917–1944)
A plumber/pipefitter turned Army Air Forces firefighter caught up in a tragic accident at an airfield in Italy
2nd Lieutenant William J. Harden (1921–1944)
William J. Harden c. 1943 (Courtesy of the Delaware Public Archives) ResidencesCivilian OccupationBorn in Maryland, raised in DelawareStudentBranchService NumbersU.S. Army Air ForcesEnlisted 12054590 / Officer O-681855TheaterUnitMediterranean737th Bombardment Squadron (Heavy), 454th Bombardment Group (Heavy)AwardsCampaigns/BattlesAir Medal with one oak leaf cluster, Purple HeartEuropean strategic bombing campaign Early Life & Family William Joseph Harden was born in Westernport, …
Continue reading 2nd Lieutenant William J. Harden (1921–1944)
Technician 5th Grade Dominick La Monica (1907–1944)
A pharmacist from New York fatally injured in an accident shortly before he was to return home
2nd Lieutenant Rachel H. Sheridan (1918–1943)
A nurse destined to become the only servicewoman from Delaware to die overseas during World War II
Delaware's World War II Fallen 