134th Infantry Regiment Website
"All Hell Can't Stop Us"
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134th Infantry Regiment Website"All Hell Can't Stop Us" |
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William Walter Southerland, son of Culbertson B and Emma Todd (Byrd) Southerland, was born November 28, 1924 in Oil City, Louisiana. He registered for the draft at age 18 on December 29, 1942. He was a student at the time. He was inducted into the Army August 9, 1943 and served in Company G, 137th Infantry Regiment. He was promoted to Private First Class July 1, was wounded in action July 13 in the vicinity of St Lo, France and returned to duty July 19, 1944. He was awarded the Combat Infantryman Badge August 2, 1944. Pfc William W Southerland was killed in action September 17, 1944 in the vicinity of Nancy, France. He is buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Shreveport, Louisiana.
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Silver Star Medal Citation (posthumous) |
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Private First Class William W. Southerland, 38518981, United States Army, for
gallantry in action at * * * , France, 16 September 1944. Private Southerland, a
light machine gunner, accompanied advance elements of the 137th Infantry
Regiment in crossing the Meurthe River near ****, France. A determined enemy
defended * * * , so that a house-by-house struggle ensued for the town. After
the enemy had been forced to withdraw, Private Southerland established his
machine gun emplacement at the corner of a building, affording him an effective
field of fire. When the enemy counterattacked in an attempt to re-take the town,
under cover of intense machine gun fire, Private Southerland ordered other
members of his squad to take cover in the building, but himself remained in
position. With complete disregard for his personal safety, he engaged in a fire
fight with the enemy, and although he was mortally wounded in this action, his
courageous and tenacious actions in the face of an attacking force enabled his
men to hold their position until support from other units reached the area and
made the defenses of the town secure. Entered military service from Louisiana. Headquarters, 35th Infantry Division, General Orders No. 47, 25 October 1944 |
