Willie was one of the Eight Mexican- Americans highlighted in Carlos Harrison's book "The Ghosts of Hero Street", who died in World War II. They had all lived in a 2 block area of 2nd Street (in 1968 renamed Hero Street)in Silvis Illinois.
The Department of Defense has concluded that no area of that size in our country has sent more of their children to World War II to serve in the Armed Forces. In all 22 families who lived on that one street sent fifty-seven of their children to fight. Eight died.
William Louis Sandoval was born on Sep. 16, 1923, in Lake Lillian, Minnesota, to Joseph G. and Carmen Morales Sandoval, both from Mexico. The family moved to Silvis, Illinois, in 1925. William had seven brothers and three sisters. His father was a grinder at the Moline Iron Works. His mother died on Sep. 3, 1939, after giving birth to twin boys three days earlier. He graduated from East Moline High School in June 1942.
Sandoval enlisted in the Army on Feb. 16, 1943, in Peoria, Illinois, and attended basic training at Scott Field. Afterward, he was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. The Germans nicknamed this unit the "Devils in Baggy Pants," a name the 504th carried with them proudly for the remainder of the war.
On Sep. 17, 1944, the 504th took part in Operation Market Garden, to capture two strategic bridges near Nijmegen. To capture the bridges, they would have to cross a 400-yard river, completely exposed to German fire, in collapsible wood-and-canvas boats provided by the British. The unit suffered nearly 50% casualties in the crossing, but enough men made it across to seize the bridge from both ends simultaneously. Other Allied forces weren't as successful, and Market Garden failed to open a direct line into Germany.
The 504th was relieved by British troops on September 21 and marched back across the bridge toward Nijmegen. On Oct. 6, 1944, Sandoval's unit was overrun while engaging the enemy in Zyfflich, Germany, and he was listed as missing in action.
Sandoval was officially listed as killed in action on Oct. 7, 1945. He was 21, and his body was never recovered. A memorial marker was placed at the Rock Island National Cemetery, and he was also memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands.
The Department of Defense has concluded that no area of that size in our country has sent more of their children to World War II to serve in the Armed Forces. In all 22 families who lived on that one street sent fifty-seven of their children to fight. Eight died.
William Louis Sandoval was born on Sep. 16, 1923, in Lake Lillian, Minnesota, to Joseph G. and Carmen Morales Sandoval, both from Mexico. The family moved to Silvis, Illinois, in 1925. William had seven brothers and three sisters. His father was a grinder at the Moline Iron Works. His mother died on Sep. 3, 1939, after giving birth to twin boys three days earlier. He graduated from East Moline High School in June 1942.
Sandoval enlisted in the Army on Feb. 16, 1943, in Peoria, Illinois, and attended basic training at Scott Field. Afterward, he was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. The Germans nicknamed this unit the "Devils in Baggy Pants," a name the 504th carried with them proudly for the remainder of the war.
On Sep. 17, 1944, the 504th took part in Operation Market Garden, to capture two strategic bridges near Nijmegen. To capture the bridges, they would have to cross a 400-yard river, completely exposed to German fire, in collapsible wood-and-canvas boats provided by the British. The unit suffered nearly 50% casualties in the crossing, but enough men made it across to seize the bridge from both ends simultaneously. Other Allied forces weren't as successful, and Market Garden failed to open a direct line into Germany.
The 504th was relieved by British troops on September 21 and marched back across the bridge toward Nijmegen. On Oct. 6, 1944, Sandoval's unit was overrun while engaging the enemy in Zyfflich, Germany, and he was listed as missing in action.
Sandoval was officially listed as killed in action on Oct. 7, 1945. He was 21, and his body was never recovered. A memorial marker was placed at the Rock Island National Cemetery, and he was also memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands.
Willie was one of the Eight Mexican- Americans highlighted in Carlos Harrison's book "The Ghosts of Hero Street", who died in World War II. They had all lived in a 2 block area of 2nd Street (in 1968 renamed Hero Street)in Silvis Illinois.
The Department of Defense has concluded that no area of that size in our country has sent more of their children to World War II to serve in the Armed Forces. In all 22 families who lived on that one street sent fifty-seven of their children to fight. Eight died.
William Louis Sandoval was born on Sep. 16, 1923, in Lake Lillian, Minnesota, to Joseph G. and Carmen Morales Sandoval, both from Mexico. The family moved to Silvis, Illinois, in 1925. William had seven brothers and three sisters. His father was a grinder at the Moline Iron Works. His mother died on Sep. 3, 1939, after giving birth to twin boys three days earlier. He graduated from East Moline High School in June 1942.
Sandoval enlisted in the Army on Feb. 16, 1943, in Peoria, Illinois, and attended basic training at Scott Field. Afterward, he was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. The Germans nicknamed this unit the "Devils in Baggy Pants," a name the 504th carried with them proudly for the remainder of the war.
On Sep. 17, 1944, the 504th took part in Operation Market Garden, to capture two strategic bridges near Nijmegen. To capture the bridges, they would have to cross a 400-yard river, completely exposed to German fire, in collapsible wood-and-canvas boats provided by the British. The unit suffered nearly 50% casualties in the crossing, but enough men made it across to seize the bridge from both ends simultaneously. Other Allied forces weren't as successful, and Market Garden failed to open a direct line into Germany.
The 504th was relieved by British troops on September 21 and marched back across the bridge toward Nijmegen. On Oct. 6, 1944, Sandoval's unit was overrun while engaging the enemy in Zyfflich, Germany, and he was listed as missing in action.
Sandoval was officially listed as killed in action on Oct. 7, 1945. He was 21, and his body was never recovered. A memorial marker was placed at the Rock Island National Cemetery, and he was also memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands.
The Department of Defense has concluded that no area of that size in our country has sent more of their children to World War II to serve in the Armed Forces. In all 22 families who lived on that one street sent fifty-seven of their children to fight. Eight died.
William Louis Sandoval was born on Sep. 16, 1923, in Lake Lillian, Minnesota, to Joseph G. and Carmen Morales Sandoval, both from Mexico. The family moved to Silvis, Illinois, in 1925. William had seven brothers and three sisters. His father was a grinder at the Moline Iron Works. His mother died on Sep. 3, 1939, after giving birth to twin boys three days earlier. He graduated from East Moline High School in June 1942.
Sandoval enlisted in the Army on Feb. 16, 1943, in Peoria, Illinois, and attended basic training at Scott Field. Afterward, he was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division. The Germans nicknamed this unit the "Devils in Baggy Pants," a name the 504th carried with them proudly for the remainder of the war.
On Sep. 17, 1944, the 504th took part in Operation Market Garden, to capture two strategic bridges near Nijmegen. To capture the bridges, they would have to cross a 400-yard river, completely exposed to German fire, in collapsible wood-and-canvas boats provided by the British. The unit suffered nearly 50% casualties in the crossing, but enough men made it across to seize the bridge from both ends simultaneously. Other Allied forces weren't as successful, and Market Garden failed to open a direct line into Germany.
The 504th was relieved by British troops on September 21 and marched back across the bridge toward Nijmegen. On Oct. 6, 1944, Sandoval's unit was overrun while engaging the enemy in Zyfflich, Germany, and he was listed as missing in action.
Sandoval was officially listed as killed in action on Oct. 7, 1945. He was 21, and his body was never recovered. A memorial marker was placed at the Rock Island National Cemetery, and he was also memorialized on the Tablets of the Missing at Netherlands American Cemetery Margraten, Netherlands.
Inscription
PVT, 504 PRCHT INF REGT, 82 ABN DIV WORLD WAR II
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