Paratrooper Is
Killed, Cousin
Hurt on D-Day

   Paratrooper William A., Piatt was killed in action, and his cousin Pvt Robert Piatt was wounded while serving in separate outfits when the first Allied troops invaded France, the war department announced yesterday.
   Both made their home in Gary [IN] for the last few years with their aunt, Mrs. Emma Piatt and both were employed at the Gary works prior to entering the service.
   Also dead from Gary is Flight Officer Charles ...

[Hammond Times, Hammond, IN, July 23, 1944]

Interment record and grave marker for Pvt William A. Piatt at Plot B Row 10 Grave 8 in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, France

Pvt Piatt was killed in action on June 6, 1944 and was awarded the Purple Heart.

William enlisted in the Army at Indianapolis, IN on 8 October 1942.

Pvt Piatt was assigned to Company E, 508th PIR.

On 4 March 1944, Pvt Piatt was transferred in grade to Hq & Hq Co, 2nd Bn for duty with the S-2 section.

He was killed in action in France on D-day.

His military decorations include the Purple Heart and the Combat Infantryman Badge, both awarded posthumously.