World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He was posthumously issued the award on October 17, 1945, for his actions as a 1st lieutenant with Company K, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, US Army, on March 30, 1945, near Eisem, Germany. During a firefight on that day he rescued three wounded men, single-handedly disabled two German machine gun nests, and led his squad in the capture of two others, all despite his injuries. He was then mortally wounded while leading a charge on the enemy. He is interred at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg, the Netherlands. He is also memorialized by a cenotaph at Saint Joseph's Cemetery in West Winfield, New York. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "He displayed conspicuous gallantry during an attack on powerful enemy positions. He courageously exposed himself to withering hostile fire to rescue 2 wounded men and then, although painfully wounded himself, made a third trip to carry another soldier to safety from an open area. Ignoring the profuse bleeding of his wound, he gallantly led men of his platoon forward until they were pinned down by murderous flanking fire from 2 enemy machine guns. He fearlessly crawled alone to within 30 feet of the first enemy position, killed the crew of 4 and silenced the gun with accurate grenade fire. He continued to crawl through intense enemy fire to within 20 feet of the second position where he leaped to his feet, made a lone, ferocious charge and captured the gun and its 9-man crew. Observing another platoon pinned down by 2 more German machine guns, he led a squad on a flanking approach and, rising to his knees in the face of direct fire, coolly and deliberately lobbed 3 grenades at the Germans, silencing 1 gun and killing its crew. With tenacious aggressiveness, he ran toward the other gun and knocked it out with grenade fire. He then returned to his platoon and led it in a fierce, inspired charge, forcing the enemy to fall back in confusion. 1st Lt. Will was mortally wounded in this last action, but his heroic leadership, indomitable courage, and unflinching devotion to duty live on as a perpetual inspiration to all those who witnessed his deeds."
World War II Medal of Honor Recipient. He was posthumously issued the award on October 17, 1945, for his actions as a 1st lieutenant with Company K, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, US Army, on March 30, 1945, near Eisem, Germany. During a firefight on that day he rescued three wounded men, single-handedly disabled two German machine gun nests, and led his squad in the capture of two others, all despite his injuries. He was then mortally wounded while leading a charge on the enemy. He is interred at the Netherlands American Cemetery in Margraten, South Limburg, the Netherlands. He is also memorialized by a cenotaph at Saint Joseph's Cemetery in West Winfield, New York. His Medal of Honor citation reads: "He displayed conspicuous gallantry during an attack on powerful enemy positions. He courageously exposed himself to withering hostile fire to rescue 2 wounded men and then, although painfully wounded himself, made a third trip to carry another soldier to safety from an open area. Ignoring the profuse bleeding of his wound, he gallantly led men of his platoon forward until they were pinned down by murderous flanking fire from 2 enemy machine guns. He fearlessly crawled alone to within 30 feet of the first enemy position, killed the crew of 4 and silenced the gun with accurate grenade fire. He continued to crawl through intense enemy fire to within 20 feet of the second position where he leaped to his feet, made a lone, ferocious charge and captured the gun and its 9-man crew. Observing another platoon pinned down by 2 more German machine guns, he led a squad on a flanking approach and, rising to his knees in the face of direct fire, coolly and deliberately lobbed 3 grenades at the Germans, silencing 1 gun and killing its crew. With tenacious aggressiveness, he ran toward the other gun and knocked it out with grenade fire. He then returned to his platoon and led it in a fierce, inspired charge, forcing the enemy to fall back in confusion. 1st Lt. Will was mortally wounded in this last action, but his heroic leadership, indomitable courage, and unflinching devotion to duty live on as a perpetual inspiration to all those who witnessed his deeds."
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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