SIRMONS, William M. 92, passed away at Largo Medical Center on Saturday, December 24, 2016. Born in Nashville, GA, he was a Staff Sergeant in the 515th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 3rd Battalion, Company I, 3rd Platoon, 4th Squad, 82nd Airborne Division, U.S. Army, during World War II.
   SSgt. Sirmons was a jump instructor at Fort Benning prior to arrival in England. SSgt. Sirmons joined the 508th PIR where he participated as a paratrooper in the Normandy Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge and was a recipient of the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in combat.
   SSgt. Sirmons was also detailed as a member of General Eisenhower's Honor Guard at the conclusion of the war prior to receiving an Honorable Discharge.
   Following his service he owned W. M. Sirmons Lathing and Drywall in St. Petersburg [FL].
   He was predeceased by his parents, George and Tressa Sirmons; wife, Grace R. Sirmons; and son, William Thomas Sirmons.
   He is survived by his daughter, Cynthia K. Ropp (James) of Earleton, FL, and his son, Daniel M. Sirmons (Sherry) of St. Petersburg; his grandchildren, Rich (Michelle), Sherry (Robert), Amanda, Morgan (Kevin) and Daniel; great-grandchildren, Trenton, Tanner, Haley, Shannon, Aurora, Brennan, and Caleb.
   The family will receive friends at Anderson McQueen Funeral Home on Thursday, December 29 from 6-8 pm with visitation at 1 pm and funeral service at 2 pm on Saturday, December 31 at Kimbrell-Stern Funeral Home, Albany, GA.
   Burial with full military honors immediately following at Crown Hill Cemetery, Albany. Anderson-McQueen Funeral Home.

[Tampa Bay Times on Dec. 28, 2016]

Grave marker for William M. Sirmons in Crown Hill Cemetery, Albany {Dougherty county), Georgia.

William enlisted in the  Army at Fort McPherson, Atlanta, GA on 9 April 1943.

Pvt Sirmons was transferred from Field Force Replacement Depot #8 to Company I on 31 March 1944.

On 8 June 1944 Pvt Sirmons was reported as Missing In Action but as able to return to the Company. Then on 4 July 1944 he was Wounded In Action.

He was promoted to Pfc on 7 August 1944 and then to Sergeant on 22 October 1944, probably while in the field in Holland.

In Belgium, on 26 December 1944, Sgt Sirmons was evacuated as a non-battle casualty, perhaps due to frost-bite.  He returned to the Company on 13 January 1945.

His military decorations include the Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman Badge and Bronze Service Arrowhead Device, all awarded for the Normandy assault.

Returning home in the Fall of 1945, he married Grace E. Rusk.  She lies beside him in the cemetery plot.