Lt William Gyami
stands on the banks of the river Waal. in this undated photo, He
was wounded in Holland, probably before this photo was taken.
(Courtesy of Rex Combs collection)
Entrance to the Wyandotte Indian Cemetery, Wyandotte
(Ottawa County), Oklahoma
(courtesy of Freda Cook) |
William H. Gyami was born on 21 May 1921 to William H. and
Lula Gyami. William Sr. was listed in the 1930 Federal census as a
"Full Blooded" American Indian while research references for his son
vary from "mixed blood" to "white". William Jr.
enlisted in the U.S. Army at Ft. Myer, VA on 21 July 1942. At the
time he had completed one year of college and was married. His
wife's name is believed to have been Ruby.
At some point he was selected to attend OCS.
Just two years after his enlistment he had completed both OCS and
jump school although the sequence is unknown. On 24 July
1944, he was transferred as a 2nd Lieutenant from the 82nd Airborne
Division to Company A, 508th PIR.
His date of arrival meant that he missed the combat in
Normandy, at least with the 508th, but he was with the regiment
when they jumped into Holland where he was wounded
in action 20 Sept 44
On 20 Nov 1944 William was promoted to 1st Lieutenant
with a date of rank of 26 October 1944. With the increased rank
came increased responsibility and he was relieved from his principal
duty as an assistant platoon leader and assumed principal duty as
platoon leader.
On Christmas Eve during the Battle of the Bulge, Gyami
was captured and was held as a POW until 12 July 1945 when he was
liberated.
According to National Archive records entitled "Korean
War Casualties, 1950-1957", 1st Lt. William Gyami served in Korea with
the 3rd Infantry Division and was "Seriously wounded in action by
missile". He is also shown as having returned to duty later. He
ultimately retired from the Army Reserves with the rank of Major.
William died in November 1976 and is buried in
the Wyandotte Indian Cemetery, Wyandotte (Ottawa County), Oklahoma
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