William Willie Byrd was born on 8 September 1918
Died 20 August 1942, Canal Zone
Boatswains Mate Second Class
US Submarine Base, Coco Solo, Canal Zone
Sister: Mrs. Osie Kesterson, Clinton, TN.
The Clinton Courier News, August 27, 1942
A telegram was received Saturday by Mrs. Sam Kesterson of South Clinton from the Navy Department telling of the death last Thursday of her brother, William Byrd, boatswain’s mate second class, U.S. Navy. The message said he had suffered fatal injuries in the line of his duty. The Young man was a member of a submarine crew and when last heard from he was in the Canal Zone area.
It was stated in the telegram that a letter from Byrd’s commanding officer would follow, giving the details of the seaman’s death. Burial was to be in the area of his death, the telegram said, for the duration of the war. Byrd volunteered in the Navy nearly six years ago at the age of 17 years, but he was not called to the colors until he was 18. Mrs. Kesterson having to serve as guardian to permit his enlistment, the Young man made his home with his sister from the age of 10, when his parents died at Block. He attended Clinton High School, but left to join the Navy. For three years he was aboard ship, but then was transferred to the submarine branch, where he served for two years and 10 months. In a recent letter he said he planned to re-enlist so he could serve in the Navy for 20 years. “If the next 14 pass as rapidly as did the last six, I’ll soon be retired,” he said. Byrd was catcher on the submarine baseball team and often sent newspaper clippings home telling of the gaes. He was good to write and he saved his money. He would sent it home and we would bank it for him, said Sam Kesterson, his brother in law, who said they felt toward Willie as if he were a son.
- Rank: Boatswains Mate Second Class
- Date of birth: 8 September 1918
- Date of death: 20 August 1942
- County: Anderson
- Hometown: Clinton
- Service Branch: Navy
- Division/Assignment: US Submarine Base, Coco Solo
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: Corozal American Cemetery and Memorial, Panama City, Panama, Panama
- Location In Memorial: Pillar VI, Top Panel
- Contact us to sponsor William W. Byrd
Image Gallery
Click a thumbnail below to view at full size.
