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First Name: William

Last Name: Fox

Birthplace: USA

Gender: Male

Branch: Army (1784 - present)



Home of Record: NY
Middle Name: J.



Date of Birth: 1919

Date of Death: 06 June 1944

Rank: Technician Fifth Grade

Years Served:
William J. Fox

   
Engagements:
•  World War II (1941 - 1945)

Biography:

William J. Fox
Technician Fifth Grade, U.S. Army

On D-Day, 6 June 1944, Technician Fifth Grade William J. Fox was serving with the 5th Ranger Battalion, Fifth U.S. Army, in the European Theater of Operations.

On that day, TEC 5 Fox’s 5th Ranger Battalion was in action against German forces when it landed on Omaha Beach at Normandy, France. The 5th Battalion Rangers broke across the sea wall and barbed wire entanglements, and up the pillbox-rimmed heights under intense enemy machine-gun and mortar fire and, with A and B Companies of the 2nd Battalion and some elements of the 116th Infantry Regiment, advanced 4 miles to the key town of Vierville-sur-Mer, France, opening the breach for supporting troops to follow up and expand the beachhead. TEC 5 Fox’s courageous actions and extraordinary heroism that day, at the cost of his life, earned him the U.S. Army's second highest award for valor, the Distinguished Service Cross.

Medals, Awards, Badges and Tabs

Distinguished Service Cross
Purple Heart
Army Good Conduct Medal
American Campaign Medal
European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with Bronze Star
World War II Victory Medal
Presidential Unit Citation with Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster
Croix de Guerre (France)
Combat Infantryman Badge
Ranger Tab

Distinguished Service Cross Citation (Synopsis)

Technician Fifth Grade William J. Fox, United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy, in action against enemy forces during World War II. Technician Fifth Grade Fox's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, Fifth U.S. Army, General Orders No. 50 (1944)

Burial

Technician Fifth Grade William J. Fox is buried at the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in Colleville-sur-Mer, Departement du Calvados, Basse-Normandie, France, in Plot J, Row 4, Grave 28.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=56644625



Honoree ID: 190421   Created by: MHOH

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