Medford Taking
Specialist Training

Pvt. William A. Medford. son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Medford of , Waynesville, is taking specialist training at the infantry replacement Center at Camp Wolters Tex  He left Waynesville recently for induction at Fort Jackson. S. C.

[Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville, NC, 12 Sep 1942, Sat, Page 3]

Medford Is Studying
At Fort Benning

   Pvt. William A. Medford of Waynesville has entered the officer candidate infantry school at Fort Benning, Ga.
   He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Will A. Medford of Waynesville. and has been in the army for six months. He was inducted at Fort Jackson, S. C., and then was sent to Camp Wolters, Texas. He recently. completed  a parachute training course.
    He formerly was a Haywood county farmer.

[Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville, NC, 11 Feb 1943, Thu, Page 13]`

PVT. WILLIAM A. MEDFORD, JR, who recently completed a course In the communication school at Fort Benning, Ga., spent a short furlough at Waynesville with his parents. Mr. and Mrs. Will A. Med-ford. Pvt. Medford has returned to Fort Benning where he will attend an advanced school of communication.

[Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville, NC,19 Mar 1943, Fri, Page 9]

Purple Heart Awarded
Medford Posthumously

   Sgt. William Medford. Jr.. son of Mr. and Mrs. William Medford of Waynesville, who was killed in action July 4 in France, has been awarded the Purple Heart posthumously, according to word received from the parents, who have received the award.
   He entered service in August, 1943. and received training at Fort, Jackson, S C. and Camp Wolters. Tex. before receiving paratroop training at Fort Benning. Ga.
   He arrived first in Ireland and as then transferred to England before taking part In the invasion of France.
   Before entering service, he was a well known livestock breeder and farmer In Haywood county.

[Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville, NC, 03 Sep 1944, Sun, Page 28]

(courtesy of "Cathy C")

Application For Headstone or Grave Marker and resulting grave marker for Sgt William A. Medford, Jr. in  Green Hill Cemetery, Waynesville (Haywood county), North Carolina.

William registered for the draft on 16 October 1940 and was inducted into the Army on 3 August 1942 and was assigned to Hq Hq, 508th PIR.

.On 27 March 1943, Pvt Medford was attached to Company H and on 1 April he was permanently assigned to Company H.

On 19 October 1943 he was appointed to the grade of Corporal and then on 3 November 1943 he was appointed as a Sergeant.

The Company H Morning Report for 29 June 1944 listed him as returning to duty on 11 June after having been missing in action since 6 June.

Then on 9 July 1944 the Company H Morning Report classified him as "from duty to killed in action as of 4 July 44"

This page from the Surgeon General files indicates that Sgt Medford suffered a bullet wound to the head.

Sgt Medford was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart.

Sgt. Medford
 Rites Are Set
  For Thursday

   CANTON --- The body of Sgt. William A. Medford, Jr., who was killed in action July 4, 1944, In Normandy, France, during the Invasion of the continent, will arrive here Thursday morning at 11 o'clock.
   The body will remain at Wells Funeral home here until 3 o'clock that afternoon, when it will be taken to Waynesville for graveside rites at 3:30 o'clock in the Veterans of Foreign Wars memorial plot in Green Hill cemetery. Officiating at the service will be the chaplain of the Waynesville VFW unit and the Rev. L. G. Elliott, pastor of the Waynesville Baptist church.
   Sgt. Medford, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. A. Medford of Waynesville, was a member of the 508th parachute infantry, 82nd All-American airborne division.
   Other survivors include a sister, Mrs. Hugh Noland of Clyde, R. F. D. No, 1, and a brother, Ned Medford of Brevard.

[Asheville Citizen-Times, Asheville, NC, 04 May 1948, Tue. Page 13]