PFC Willie Shields

PFC Willie Shields was born 15 May 1924 in Boston, Kentucky to William Henson and Elizabeth May (Hughes) Shields. He was the 2nd of their 5 children and his father supported the family by farming for others in Nelson County, Kentucky. Elizabeth caught pneumonia and died in November 1931 at the age of 29 leaving 5 children age 9 to 9-months. Willie's dad married widow, Alice Mae (Comely) Dezern on 23 Dec 1933 and her 2 daughters joined the family. The family was not living together in 1940, Willie's education didn't progress past the 8th grade and he also worked as a farm hand. He was working for and living with Roy Barnes of Bardstown, Kentucky in 1942.

Willie was drafted in May 1943. After approximately 5-months of basic military training he would have been sent to an infantry unit but we don't know when he went to England. PFC Shields was transferred from the replacement depot to C Company 116th Infantry on 17 Jul 1944 while the unit was in the vicinity of Saint-Lo, France. Very soon after that he was reassigned to A Company 116th Infantry on 23 Jul 1944. He then fought with the unit in the operation to liberate Vire, France and as the regiment moved towards Brest. PFC Shields was "lightly" wounded on 27 Aug 1944 and evacuated to hospital where he died on 30 Aug 1944. 

PFC Shields rests forever in the Brittany American Cemetery.