In Memory of
Army, Private First Class
William Joseph Haines
Hurley, South Dakota
Turner County
March 28, 1916 – August 13, 1944
Killed in Action, St. Lo, France

William Joseph Haines was born on March 28, 1916, in Wilmont, Minnesota. He was the son of William and Edna Haines. William had three sisters: Velma, Evangeline, and Marilyn. He also had one younger brother John. William, better known as “Billy”, lived and worked on the farm until he was drafted into the army.

On July 9, 1942, William Joseph Haines enlisted in the army in Parker, South Dakota. Then he was sent to Ft. Leavenworth, Kansas where he received his training. In 1944 he was sent overseas to St. Lo, France. Private Haines served with the 2^nd Infantry, 9^th Division, Indian Head Division.

Private First Class William Joseph Haines was killed in action on August 13, 1944, in the vicinity of St. Lo, France.

On September 12, 1944, Mrs. Edna Haines received a telegram from Major General J.A. ULIO stating his deepest sympathy for the Haines family.

I fully understand your desire to learn as much as possible regarding the circumstances leading  
to his death and I wish that there were more information available to give you. Unfortunately,
reports of this nature contain only the briefest details as they are prepared under battle
conditions and the means of transmission are limited.

William Joseph Haines was buried at Marigny, France. On December 9, 1948, aboard an Army transport, his remains were returned to Hurley, South Dakota.

Posthumously, Private Haines received the Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal, and World War II Victory Medal with expert bars for machine gun, auto rifle, and pistol.

This entry was respectfully submitted by Daniel Bones, 11^th Grade, Parker High School, Parker, South Dakota, April 30, 2002. Information for this entry was provided by Mrs. Elaine Haines, Hurley, South Dakota, sister-in-law of William Joseph Haines, Mary Paulson, Viborg, South Dakota, and an Application for South Dakota Veteran’s Bonus.