PFC William John Cowan

courtesy of AuntieB

PFC William John Cowan was born in 1914 in Union City, Connecticut to Maurice Charles and Nora (Cronin) Cowan. His mother was an Irish immigrant. His father worked in a factory.  In 1940 William and his dad apparently had the same job at the same factory.  In 1939 his father reported an income of $1400 and William an income of $840.

William was drafted in February 1942, trained and sent to England to be assigned to H Company 116th Infantry. He was assigned to the mortar platoon. He trained with that unit for the invasion of Hitler's "fortress Europe", the great amphibious assault on the Normandy beach code-named "Omaha".  He died in that assault on 6 Jun 1944, reportedly shot by a sniper.

PFC Cowan is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery.