William Brady Hatton, Jr. was the son of Mr. and Mrs. W.B. Hatton, Sr. and was born on March 8, 1932, in Tennessee. He was a member of Powell Baptist Church, Boy Scout Troop 154, the National Guard Ordinance Division, an honor student and graduate of Powell High School Class of 1949. William had one sibling, a brother Herman.
Private First Class Hatton was a radio operator for the 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division, United States Army. He was killed in action while fighting the Communist Chinese forces on May 19, 1951, near Bunker Hill-Hill 1051 area of South Korea. Private First Class Hatton was returned to Knoxville on December 11, 1951, and funeral services were held the following day at Powell Baptist Church with interment services at Bookwalter Cemetery. Private First Class Hatton was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantrymans Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Korean War Service Medal.
The Knoxville News-Sentinel, June 27, 1951:
Mr. and Mrs. William Brady Hatton Sr., Powell, have received War Department word that their son, Pfc. Brady Jr., has been missing in Korea since May 19. Pfc. Hatton, who was 19 in March, is a graduate of Powell High School and a member of Powell Baptist Church. He was a radio operator in the Army’s 2nd Division, 38th Infantry Regiment, and had been in Korea since last Aug. 14. The picture here is from a camera Pfc. Hatton carried with him for awhile overseas. He has a brother, Herman, 8, and grandparents are Mr. and Mrs. W.W. Hatton, Lincoln, Ga., and Mrs. Annie Nowlin, Lewisburg, Tenn.
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 8 March 1932
- Date of death: 19 May 1951
- County: Knox
- Hometown: Powell
- Service Branch: Army
- Division/Assignment: 38th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division
- Conflict: Korean War
- Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantrymans Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, and Korean War Service Medal
- Burial/Memorial Location: Bookwalter Cemetery, North Knoxville, Knox County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XXI, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor William B. Hatton
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