William J. Kambrick

NAME: William J. Kambrick

ASN: 35601772

PLACE OF BIRTH: Canton, OH

DATE OF BIRTH: 30 Apr 1923

DATES OF SERVICE: 05 Feb 1943 - 15 Nov 1945

UNIT ASSIGNED: B Co 509th PIB

Service Company, 508th PIR

CAMPAIGNS: Algeria-French Morocco, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Northern Appennies, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland

AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge, EAME Campaign Medal with Arrowhead device and 6 bronze star devices, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal, Distinguished Unit Award with oak leaf cluster, three Overseas Service Bars

SUMMARY OF SERVICE:

05 Feb 1943 - Enlisted at Akron, OH - NARA Enlistment Record

00 May 1943 - Attended Parachtue Training

30 Jul 1943 - Departed the US for European Theater

06 Aug 1943 - Arrived in Eruopean Theater

10 Apr 1944 - Pvt. William J. Kambrick, 35601772, B CO 509th PIB, GO 5 Award of Combat Infantryman Badge

15 Aug 1944 - Pvt. Kambrick, B CO 509th PIB participated in invasion of Southern France, page 63, 77, 90, 99, 110, 113 listed in book First Airborne Task Force by Michel De Trez

1984 - William J Kambrick passed away

PHOTOS OF ITALY

1.(Back of photo reads "All had been drinking and feeling no pain.") 3rd platoon, B Co. members ready to leave for Rome. Standing: Kambrick and Mullins; sitting: Larson, Ofshun, Robert Powell, Musccatello; in truck; Steigner, Knopp and Mann. standing: unknown. July 1944

2. B Co men going to Rome. Kambrick, Steigner, Robertson, Marzullo and Hilton July 44

3. 3rd plt, B Co. Fifth of November College, Ledo de Roma, June 44. Standing: Prince, Nunn, Stewart, Larson, Haines, Nizinski, Decote, Knopp, Knapp, Newman, Case, Robertson, Ramsay, R. Powell, Steigner, Paperella, Steele, Maxwell and Nagurn. Kneeling: Mccullough, Hilton, W. Powell, Pile, Kambrick, Mullens, Muscatello, Patrick, Nachefski, Moore, and Fuherer.

PHOTOS OF SOUTHERN FRANCE

4. (Back of photo reads "The French People were waiting for us at St. Tropez as we were coming down in our chutes") St Tropez, France, Aug 1944 Pvt Ramsay (tallest person) with French civilians including an armed ffI (resistance) fighter.

5. Back of photo reads, "Another Officer resting before we attacked". B Company in the vicinity of St. Tropez during the day following the jump waiting for orders from 509 HDQ, Aug 15, 44. Sgt Robert B. Bensley, Lt Oldham, 1st Lt G. Knopp, Lt John H. Sorrells. Note: There is a Lt Knopp and a Pvt Knopp in B Co; also a Pvt Knapp.

6. 2nd Squad, 3rd Platoon, B Company takes a wine/coffee break after dropping in around St. Tropez made their way to join the rest of the battalion south of Le Muy. (Back of photo reads "Some of the boys got back from the area of the jump and fighting before we did", Le Muy) Left: R Powell, Maxwell, cannot ID the rest. near LeMuy, Aug 44

7. 1st Lt. Harry S. Lieber - MG Platoon Leader, Capt. Edmond J. Tomasik - HHC Commander, Major John H. Apperson - Bn. Executive Officer, Victor E. Garrett - HQ 463rd PFAB make final preparations for attack on La Napoule

8. Left to Right: Lloyd G. Van Guilder, Madden, William E. Powell, Robert N. Powell, Stoher, Medic Howard J. Maxwell all B Company having returned from the attack on La Napoule. Back of photo reads "Catching 10 before taking off again."

9. Back of photo reads, "Two of the boys digging in before chow in Antibes. Guess what? We cook meals ourselves" Pvt's Hamilton and Knopp Aug 44

10. (Back of photo reads "Two of my pals patrolling in Antibes, France. ") Antibes; Pvt's Patrick and Mullerns

11. Back of photo reads, Two pals with a French gal in Antibes Patrick and Mullens

12. Back of photo reads "Sergeant Jim Nunn and two French Gals in Antibes"

13. The Vanderbilt Estate near Nice The 3rd plt occupied this mansion for several days. There was an elderly caretaker there who kept the grounds up. All the furniture was gone. Cannot id everyone; Marzulla sitting on right; Nachefski and Lejekowski on right

14. Back of photo reads, "A captured German truck that we got in Cannes. It came pretty handy"

15. Robert N. Powell and Edward J. Lejkowski shaving before moving out to Cannes

16. Back of photo reads "German truck in Antibes before we went to Cannes"; William Powell on hood

17. 509th passing through Cannes

18. 509th passing through Cannes

19. Passing through Cannes

20. Left to Right: Pvt. Orthelle E. Cherry (Medic), Sgt. Howard J. Maxwell (Medic), and Sgt. James W. Nunn with top hat. All with B Company at the Cannes Golf Club.

21. Left to Right: Pfc. William J. Kambrick, Nizinski, Pvt. Albert Paperella (Back of photo reads "Cannes Golf Course after we took it. Bill Kambrickis seated on farleft")

22. (Back of photo reads "Sgt. at German prison camp in Cannes") Sgt Prince, 3rd Plt Weapons Sqd Ldr.

23. Back of photo reads, "Some of the boys that lived at a French home in Cannes" Nizinski, Muscatello, Sgt McCullough, Ofsthun

24. Kambrick wearing helmet with Gingerbread man painted on the side. Note rest of convoy in the background. On truck; Kambrick, Patrick, Muscatello

25. B Company enroute from Cannes to Nice On jeep trailer: Maxwell and Cherry (medics)

26. Back of photo reads, "Company Officers. The one on the left is my Commanding Officer from Youngstown (Ohio)." Capt. Bing Miller is the officer on the left. Grosseto Airstrip,Italy Aug 14, 1944. B Co. Officers the day before jumping into So. France. Kneeling: Lt's Knopp and Martinez. Standing: Cpt Bing Miller and Lt's Sorrell, Knight, and Wallace. This was probably the last picture ever taken of Cpt Miller. His entire plane load was dropped into the ocean and never heard of again.

27. Back of photo reads, "We cross the River Var before going into Nice. Thats all our jeeps."

28. Back of photo reads "A castle we took in Nice" Vanderbilt Estate, Sept 44

29. Back of photo reads "Two pals in Nice before we marched through the town" Pvt's Robert and William Powell, near Nice

30. Photo reads, "Resting up outside of Nice" Medic Maxwell on right

31. Locals pose with 509ers ouside of Nice, France Maxwell on right

32. Back of photo reads "A scenery of Nice and its Islands"

33. B Company - Pvt. Justus F. Patrick, Nizinski, Mullens, Maxwell, William J. Kambrick, Neill, Prince, "Big" Powell and a french child at assembly area near Pont de Clans (Back of photo reads "Breaking for chow in the mountains around Clans")

34. 3rd Platoon, B Company vicinity of Pont de Clans (Back of photo reads "Taken at the Vanderbilt Estate in the Eze Mountains before attacking a German fort.")

35. 2nd Squad, B Company. Sgt Jim Nunn's squad leaving for out post duty near La Bolline, Spt 44. Pvt McRobie (driver) Nunn in front seat, Papaneli, Steele, Knopp, Hamilton. Note the mortar positioned in the field behind them. Also interesting to note the M1919A4 and ammo can is tied down to the hood of the jeep.

36. 2nd Squad, B Company , (Photo on back reads "Turning the jeep and trailer around on a mountain during patrol.")

37. (Back of photo reads, "A German underground pillbox in Antibes") Believed to be the Fort de la Tete de Chien overlooking Monaco.

38. (Back of photo reads "a German pillbox in Cannes") Believed to be the Fort de la Tete de Chien overlooking Monaco

39. Sgt McCullough and Maxwell (Medic)in German pillbox

40. Unknown

41. (Back of photo reads, "A part of a German pillbox looking over Monte Carlo")

42. Sgt Nunn and Robert Powell near fort

43. 1LT E. "Mike" Reuter, 3rd Plt Ldr, B Co.Vanderbilt Estate, Spt 44

44. Unknown Location

45. S/Sgt Elzie McCullough, 3rd Plt Sgt. (1Lt. Reuter states, He was a great help to me)

46. Four 509ers sit down to a meal Neill (3rd Plt Radio man) and Hamilton

47. B Company patrol taking a break. Kambrick is marked with an X. Note many are carrying haversacks instead of musette bags. Maritime Alps, Oct 44. 1Lt Reuter led the squad on an overnight patrol over a mountain pass to investigate a report that there were about 400 Germans in a little village called Isola. In the picture we were taking a break in our ascent up the mountain. Just after I took this picture, we were fired upon by someone in the valley We immediately left to continue our climb. We thought they were probably French resistance fighters who thought we were Germans When we arrived at Isola, we found the Germans had left. We marched down the road and met the 509 in trucks and told them the coast was clear. It is difficult to ID the men in this picture. It was Jim Nunns squad; I recognize Hamilton on the right.

48. Lt's Knight and Sorrells

49. (Back of photo reads "My BAR Gunner from New York") Pvt Marzullo

50. Back of photo reads, "A sergeant taking time off for a rest" Sgt Prince, 3rd Plt weapons squad ldr

51. Sgt Nunn

52. (Back of photo reads "Some of the boys with Jerry or German shirts.") Pvt's Lejkowski, Marzullo, Principe and Patrick. In soccer shirts Antibes Aug 44

53. Top: Postcard of Nice, France. Bottom: Pfc. Kambrick took this photo of Monaco from the town of Turbie.

54. Unknown Location

22 Nov 44 - Proceded by truck and rail to Villers-Cotterets, France northeast of Paris.

22 Dec 1944 - Trucked into the Ardennes. Participated in the Battle of the Bulge.

29 Jan 45 - 509th PIB is at Trois Ponts, Belgium to rest and re-organize.

03 Mar 45 - 509th PIB disbanded, remaining paratroopers were sent to other units. Kambrick was sent to Service Company, HQ 508th PIR and served as a Parachute Rigger.

00 Jun 1945 - Departed European Theater for US

24 Jun 1945 - Arrived in US

15 Nov 1945 - Separated from service with Honorable Discharge at Fort Knox, KY

The Kambrick family continues the tradition of service. Upper left: William J. Kambrick seated with fellow 509th troopers in Southern France. Lower left: Clark Kambrick with fellow "HERD" troopers of the B Co, 2/503rd Inf. (Airborne), 173rd Airborne Brigade in Vietnam 69-70. Right: Jesse Kambrick on patrol in Iraq in 2005 with the 199th Spt Co., 256th IN, 1st Cavalry Division

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