William H. Flach

 MENDON --- Services were held here Wednesday for William Henry Flach, 44, of Route 1, who died unexpectedly Saturday night.
   Born Jan. 14, 1924, in Mendon Township, he was a son of Leo and Rose (Shyer) Flach.
   A lifelong area resident, he was employed by the Haas Corp. and during World War II was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne Division.
   Surviving are his mother of Mendon; a brother, Willard Flach of Route 1; and two sisters, Mrs. Raymond (Mary Jane) Berghuis of Kalamazoo and Mrs. Bemadette Mover of Constantine.

[Battle Creek Enquirer, Battle Creek, MI, 21 Nov 1968, Thu, Page 3]

[courtesy of Lois Harriman]

Grave marker for William H. Flach in Dutton Cemetery, St. Joseph county, Michigan.

William registered for the draft in Centreville, MI and was inducted into the Army at Kalamazoo, MI on 26 March 1943.

Pvt Flach was wounded in action in December 1944 with artillery shell fragments in his hands and face.  He was returned to duty that same month.

He was again wounded in action in January 1945 and admitted to a station hospital with a machinegun wound in his thigh.  He was discharged from the hospital in March 1945.

On 13 June 1945, Pvt Flach was transferred from the 6900th Reinforcement Depot to Company E, 508th PIR.

He was promoted to Pfc on 20 June 1945 and awarded a Good Conduct Medal on 17 August 1945.

On 18 August 1945, Pfc Flach was transferred in grade to the 513th PIR, 17th Airborne Division.