PVT WIlliam Kelley Mathis

courtesy of Des Philipett

PVT William Kelley Mathis was born 7 Jan 1923 in Sheridan, Arkansas.  He was the 6th of 8 children born to George Alby and Ada Dio (Taylor) Mathis.  Before he died in 1929, George farmed and the family continued to support themselves by farming after his death.

William was drafted in July 1943. He left the farm, attended basic training and was shipped to the European theater. He was apparently assigned to C Company prior to the D-Day landings, probably about January 1944. He fought with the unit through to 1 Jul 1944 when he was wounded and evacuated to hospital.  He returned to the unit via the replacement depot on 19 Sep 1944. PVT Mathis was killed in action near Alsdorf, Germany on 13 Oct 1944.

PVT Mathis rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.