Military Service

Bill Pinkney, with the blessings of his parents Murray and Katie Smith Pinkney,

voluntarily enlisted into the United States Army at the age of seventeen in April,

1943 during World War II (serial number 34655517). He began basic training at

Ft. Bragg, North Carolina and finished at Camp Robinson, Little Rock, Arkansas.

After five months, he received a furlough home to Dalzell, South Carolina, but

was called back to duty after only five days and was shipped immediately from

Camp Robinson to Camp Miles Standish in Torrington, Massachusetts. The

troops boarded a freight liner to Scotland, on to northern Ireland, on to South

Hampton and Liverpool, England. They crossed the English Channel on “D+6”

(six days after D-Day) during the Normandy invasion. They fought through

Normandy, into Saint Lo, across the Rhine River, and on to Bastogne.

He was in the European Theater of Operations 3^rd Army Division, Quartermaster,

Red Ball Express, 3991 Regiment, Company L 4258. He was on DS service in

1944, detachment 101^st Airborne ground transportation. His highest rank was

Corporal T-5. Fewer than one third of his group returned home safely.

He was honorably discharged unharmed on December 27, 1946. He received a

Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Rifle Marksman Medal, and a Presidential

Citation with five Bronze Stars for the battles of Normandy, Saint Lo, Bastonge,

and Rhine River. President Franklin D. Roosevelt ordered the Citation, but

President Harry S. Truman actually signed it following the death of the former.

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We respectfully refer you to chapter 3 of “Drifters 1 : Bill Pinkney” for an in depth look at his military experience. www.Drifters1.com Please tell the children.

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