WILLIAM T. DILLON was a machinegun squad leader on the shores of Pearl Harbor on December 7, 1941. He then went stateside and received a commission in 1942. He then served in Algeria after entering Africa at Casablanca in February 1943 as part if the African campaign. He went on to hit the beach of Sicily in one of the first attacks. He received a Silver Star for leading a combat patrol near Villa Dora, Sicily. After some training on the famous assault course at Woolacombe Sands, England, he loaded his platoon on the boats at Weymouth and headed for Omaha beach on the night of June 5, 1944. He was in the first wave to hit the beach. One month later, while leading a patrol behind German lines, he was captured. A week later, on a forced march with 535 other American prisoners, he escaped in France and made contact with the French underground. While convalescing at Camp Pickett, Virginia, a ceremony was held, and he was presented with the Distinguished Service Cross.

Mr. Dillon joined the L.O.V. in 1988 and resides in Florida.