William H. Blair
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
William H. Blair served in World War II in the European Theater.
He served in the U.S. Army from 1942 until 1946. He was assigned to the 750th
Engineer Heavy Shop Company, the Army Corps of Engineers. They served with the 8th Air Force.
Mr. Blair’s unit was transported on the U.S. Army Transport ship (USAT) Uruguay to Scotland in August 1942. They boarded a train to London and traveled to Southampton. They crossed the English Channel to France and made their way to Berlin, Germany. Mr. Blair saw combat.
His rank was Master Sergeant.
Mr. Blair was born in 1924 in Superior, Wisconsin. He is the son of William O. and Clara Blair. He graduated from high school in 1942.
Source: Veterans’ Memorial Hall veteran history form; veteran’s account (below)
“I was drafted in 1942. After basic training, we were shipped to the European Theater on the USS Uruguay troop ship. We docked at Glasgow, Scotland, then we left the ship and boarded a train for London, England. After this, we went to Southampton to cross the English Channel to France on our way to Berlin, Germany. At that time, the war ended in Europe. Then we were shipped out of Marseilles, France, through the Panama Canal on a troop ship. We were on it for 68 days to Okinawa.
“Then they dropped the A-bomb, and the war was over. After this, we were shipped home in December 1946.”
