83rd Infantry Division Documents

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Sergeant William G Allen

Name	William G Allen
Rank	Sergeant
Army Serial #	36771414
State	Illinois
Date of death	1945-04-19
Plot, Row, Grave	E, 2, 1
Cemetery	Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands, Google Maps
Unit	2nd Plt, D Company, 331st Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division
Awards
Remarks	A Pvt. William Allen is listed in the memoirs of Capt. Harry C. Gravelyn, Co. D, 331st as being a member of the 2nd.Platoon MG in July 1944. Antoine Noslier from France came into possession of a book called Dear Folks, one can see the cover here. This book tells us the following. William Gordon Allen was born in Dunlap, Illinois on April 16, 1917. When he was three years old the family moved to a farm near Alta, Illinois where he grew to young manhood. At an early age Bill united with the Presbyterian Church of Alta and was always active in the young people's organisation there. He remained true to this faith and his convictions wherever he went. He was graduated from Dunlap High School in 1935 and from Knox College, Galesburg in 1939. He also studied for two summers at Northwestern University. For three years he taught in the high school at Fairview, Illinois and in September, 1942 he joined the faculty at Galesburg High School where he taught until he entered the service in December 1943 He received his basic infantry training at Camp Wheeler, Georga and was sent to France in June, 1944, as a member of the 331st Battalion of the 83rd Division (note webmaster, this should be 331st Infantry Regiment). He was in action in France, Luxembourg, Belgium and Germany. he died of wounds received on April 19, 1945 at the age of 28 years and 3 days. Bille's entire life was guided by two motives, love of knowledge and love of people. In college he participated widely in dramatics, music and journalism, but though involved in many activities, he was never to busy to play with children or to talk to older people. He aided and encouraged his co-workers and always took an active share in community life. As a soldier his letters show faith and pride in his fellow G.I.e's and deep sympathy for all those about him whose lives where touched by the war. He died as he lived believing in greater freedom of thought and action, greater tolerance and human understanding. In a letter sent by Lt. Col. Henry Neilson to the mother of Sgt. Allen he writes about April 19th, 1945: On the above mentioned date your son volunteered to go back to the Company kitchen to obtain hot food for the members of Company D, who had participated in the day's fighting. About dusk he accomplished his mission and it was while returning the equipment back to the kitchen that he took a different route and in the darkness did not see the mine field that had been laid for protection against enemy counter attack. He was mortally wounded when the vehicle in which he was riding stuck a mine. For completeness i have added the scans for view here.

Grave	Soldier

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