(Pvt. Billie Watson A Company, 504th Parachute Battalion, at Fort Benning, GA in Feb 1942 completing his graduation jumps. He wears the early war blue denim utility uniform, Riddel Helmet, and T-5 parachute and reserve)
NAME: Billie Watson
ASN: 14029725
PLACE OF BIRTH: ???, GA
DATE OF BIRTH: ?? ??? 1917
DATES OF SERVICE: 10 Oct 1940 to June 1945
UNIT ASSIGNED: A Co 504th Parachute Battalion
D Co, 2nd Battalion, 503rd Parachute Infantry Regiment
D Co, 2nd Battalion, 509th Parachute Infantry Regiment
A Co 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion
CAMPAIGNS: Algeria-French Morocco, Tunisia, Naples-Foggia, Anzio, Rome-Arno, Southern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland
AWARDS: Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with two combat jump stars, Bronze Star Medal, Distinguished (Presidential) Unit Citation with Oak Leaf Cluster, Purple Heart Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster, European, African, Middle-Eastern Campaign Medal with Arrowhead and six campaign stars, Good Conduct Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Five overseas service bars, French 3rd Zouaves Regiment Badge
SUMMARY OF SERVICE:
He enlisted in 1940 from the CCC (Civilian Conservation Corps) then trained as a cook and when he discovered they were looking for volunteers for paratroops training he joined.
15 Oct 1940 - Enlisted at Ft McPherson, GA - NARA Enlistment Record
| ARMY SERIAL NUMBER | 14029725 | 14029725 |
| NAME | WATSON#BILLIE########### | WATSON#BILLIE########### |
| RESIDENCE: STATE | 43 | GEORGIA |
| RESIDENCE: COUNTY | 135 | GWINNETT |
| PLACE OF ENLISTMENT | 4344 | FT MCPHERSON ATLANTA GEORGIA |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT DAY | 15 | 15 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT MONTH | 10 | 10 |
| DATE OF ENLISTMENT YEAR | 40 | 40 |
| GRADE: ALPHA DESIGNATION | PVT# | Private |
| GRADE: CODE | 8 | Private |
| BRANCH: ALPHA DESIGNATION | FA# | Field Artillery |
| BRANCH: CODE | 30 | Field Artillery |
| FIELD USE AS DESIRED | # | # |
| TERM OF ENLISTMENT | 4 | Enlistment for assignment to another corps area |
| LONGEVITY | ### | ### |
| SOURCE OF ARMY PERSONNEL | 0 | Civil Life |
| NATIVITY | 43 | GEORGIA |
| YEAR OF BIRTH | 17 | 17 |
| RACE AND CITIZENSHIP | 1 | White, citizen |
| EDUCATION | 1 | 1 year of high school |
| CIVILIAN OCCUPATION | 316 | Farm hands, general farms |
| MARITAL STATUS | 6 | Single, without dependents |
| COMPONENT OF THE ARMY | 1 | Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men) |
| CARD NUMBER | # | # |
| BOX NUMBER | 0148 | 0148 |
| FILM REEL NUMBER | 2.5## | 2.5## |
25 Dec 1941 - Pvt. Billie Watson 14029725 A Co, 504th PB listed as in attendance at Christmas Dinner
01 Feb 1942 - Pvt. Billie Watson 14029725 A Co, 504th PB Listed in the Parachute School graduation book
(Likely fellow students attending the Provisional Parachute School at Fort Benning, GA possibly taken in front of the hanger at Lawson Army Airfield in late 1941 or early 1942)
He was at Chilton Folliat and regularly made the trip to London (pass or not, I'm surprised!) where he met his future wife.
15 Jul 1943 - Pfc. Billie Watson 14029725 D Co, 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Service from 07 Dec 1941 to 15 Jul 1943 GO8 Awarded Good Conduct Medal, 1yr Service
14 Sep 1943 - Pfc. Billie NMI Watson 14029725 2nd Bn, 509th PIR Participated in Operation GIANT III the airborne invasion of Avellino, Italy Naples-Foggia Combat Jump Star
10 Apr 1944 - Pfc. Billie Watson 14029725 A Co, 509th PIB GO 5 The following named Officers and Enlisted Men of Companies indicated having fulfilled all requirements as set forth in Par #3. a&b, Section I, WD Circular #269, dated 27 October 1943, are hereby announced as Combat Infantrymen and are entitled to wear the badge as specified in WD Circular above.
00 Jul 1944 - Pfc. Billie Watson 14029725, Reported to Sick Call, In Line of Duty, Returned to Duty
24 Jul 1944 - Pfc. Billie Watson 14029725 A Co 509th PIB Listed on jump manifest for Operation DRAGOON (RUGBY) the airborne invasion of Southern France, Bn Plane 8, A Co Plane 8 Seat 6
15 Aug 1944 - Participated in Operation DRAGOON (RUGBY) the airborne invasion of Southern France
10 Sep 1944 - Pfc. Billie Watson 14029725 Wounded in Action, Diagnosis: First Location: Loin; Causative Agent: Bullet, Missile Not Stated, Type of Injury: Casualty, battle, Medical Treatment: Closure of wound, delayed (suture, secondary to wound) (delayed closure), Injured in Line of Duty: In line of duty, Type of Discharge: Returned to Duty, Length of service: 3 Year(s), 0 Month(s)
Family Note: Wounded by machine gun fire and was saved from more serious injury by the bullet first hitting the bakellite covers of his address book (which we still have, somewhere, in the family). He said he had to make his own way down the mountain for treatment.
00 Oct 1944 - Discharged from hospital and returned to duty
15 Oct 1944 - Pfc. Billie Watson 14029725 A CO 509th PIB Atlanta, GA GO # 17 Under the provisions of AR 600-45, dated 22 September 1943, the Purple Heart is awarded to the following for wounds received in action against the enemy: BILLIE WATSON, 34029725, Pfc., Inf. Co A, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, Southern France, 10 September 1944. Entered service from Atlanta, Georgia. Southern France page 4
26 Jan 1945 - Pfc. Billie Watson 14029275, Wounded in Action, Diagnosis: Frost bite, New; Location: Foot, generally; Causative Agent: Cold Injury, Ground Type Type of Injury: Injury Type: Battle injury; Injury Type2: All battle casualties, and all battle injuries not intentionally inflicted by self or another person Type of Discharge: Returned to Duty, Length of service: 3-5 yr.
00 Feb 1945 - Discharged from hospital and returned to duty
13 Feb 1945 - Pfc. Billie Watson 14029275 A CO 509th PIB Grayson, GA GO # 7 Under the provisions of AR 600-45, dated 22 September 1943, the Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster is awarded in addition to the Purple Heart previously awarded to the following for wounds received in action against the enemy: BILLY WATSON, 14029205, Pfc., Co A, 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, 26 January 1945, Belgium. Entered service from Grayson, Ga. Ardennes-Alsace page 4
When unit disbanded he was sent to C Co 508th PIR
00 Jun 1945 - Honorably discharged
18 Jul 1948 - Billie Watson, Grayson, GA, On Reunion LIST A
He has his Zouaves cap badge, his wild cat patch, AA Patch and an 1st Allied Airborne patch
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