 Pfc William Wigand son of Mr. and Mrs. Clarence
Wigand.
Pvt Wigand, 18, a paratrooper was killed in Belgium January 7.
He participated in the Nijmegen bridge action, where he was wounded.
He had been in service more than a year and overseas service November.
He was graduated from the Albany High School and was a member of McEnany's
Twilight league. Besides his parents he is survived by two brothers,
Pvt Edward Wigand, with the Army in the Philippines and Kenneth Wigand.
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[NOTE: These news
articles and a photo posted in "As We Were" were provided by Joe Lawler.
Mr. Lawler's mother, Kathleen Hill, had been engaged to William Wigand
at the time of his death.] |
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 Posthumous Award Given Wigand
The Bronze Star for heroic conduct in battle has been awarded
posthumously to Pvt William F. Wigand, 30 N. Manning, a paratrooper who was
killed in Belgium on Jan 7. He was a son of Clarence G. Wigand, who
received the medal from the commanding general of the 2d Service Command.
The action for which Pvt. Wigand was decorated occurred [January]
7th during a night action. Private Wigand, an ammunition bearer for a
light machine gun squad, volunteered to go with his section leader and
one other man to seek a more favorable position. carrying two boxes of
ammunition, he crossed 100 yards of open ground under brilliant moonlight.
Hostile forces were encountered and were driven back after two of the enemy
were killed.
When they returned to the main group, Private Wigand exposed
himself to enemy fire in order that others of his section might retire to
their former position. |
Application for a headstone
for Pvt William F. Wigand to be erected in the Saint Johns Lutheran
Cemetery, Colonie (Albany), NY |
