Members of the 466th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion prepare for Operation Varsity.(rudeerude)

17th Airborne

William R. Shockley was born December 4, 1918 in Bokoshe, Oklahoma. He enlisted the Army and was by March 31 1945  a PFC in Company L, 128th Infantry Regiment, 32nd Infantry Division.
On this day, his unit was counter attacked by the Japanese on the Villa Verde Trail in Luzon. He volunteered to stay behind and give covering fire, so the rest of his unit could retrat. He was killed by the advancing Japanese soldiers. He was posthumously awared the Medal of Honor on October 19, 1945.

Medal of Honor citation:
He was in position with his unit on a hill when the enemy, after a concentration of artillery fire, launched a counterattack. He maintained his position under intense enemy fire and urged his comrades to withdraw, saying that he would "remain to the end" to provide cover. Although he had to clear two stoppages which impeded the reloading of his weapon, he halted one enemy charge. Hostile troops then began moving in on his left flank, and he quickly shifted his gun to fire on them. Knowing that the only route of escape was being cut off by the enemy, he ordered the remainder of his squad to withdraw to safety and deliberately remained at his post. He continued to fire until he was killed during the ensuing enemy charge. Later, 4 Japanese were found dead in front of his position. Pfc. Shockley, facing certain death, sacrificed himself to save his fellow soldiers, but the heroism and gallantry displayed by him enabled his squad to reorganize and continue its attack.
---------------------------
Evillittlekenny