William Martin Spehar
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
SPEHAR-William Martin
William Martin Spehar was born on May 27th 1923 to Michael & Mary [Bahor] Spehar in Duluth, Minnesota.
Mr. Spehar entered the U.S. Army July 11th 1943, at Fort Snelling in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Home at entry: Duluth.
He served as a nfantryman with Company D 222nd of the Infantry 42nd Infantry Division in Rhineland and Central Europe. Received basic training at Camp Fannin, Texas. Selected to attend ASTP and Army Air Force training. He rose to the rank of Staff Sergeant (SSGT).
With the need for more personnel in the infantry, he was transferred to the infantry and trained for combat in Europe. The 222nd Infantry Regiment lost thousands of soldiers in combat from January 1944 to September 1944.
SGT Spehar earned the following merits during his service:
- Bronze Star Medal,
- Good Conduct Medal,
- American Theater Service Medal,
- European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal,
- Combat Infantry Badge, -and-
- two overseas service bars.
He was honorably discharged March 26, 1946, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin. After the war he returned home and married Suntina Theresa [Moretto] on June 28th 1947 and they started a family.
Mr. Spehar passed away peacefully on August 19th 2013 at 90 years of age. He is buried at Calvary Cemetery in Superior, Wisconsin.
Sourc(e): Hometown Heroes: The Saint Louis County World War II Project, 366.
Albert J. Amatuzio Research Center | Veterans Memorial Hall (vets-hall.org)
Page 1 WWII Draft Registration Cards - Fold3
William Martin “Bill” Spehar (1923-2013) - Find a Grave Memorial
