05/25/2026
William Eugene Hess was born in Oklahoma in 1924. He and his family lived there briefly before moving to Siloam Springs.
After graduating from Siloam Springs High School, like so many Americans did after the attack on Pearl Harbor, William enlisted in the United States Army Cavalry Corps. After completion of his basic training, he was transferred into the infantry and assigned to Company "M", 3rd Battalion, 18th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division, the "Big Red One”.
When he first deployed, his unit was fighting in Tunisia. He earned a Army Presidential Unit Citation for his service there before his Division moved on and served as a unit in the Battle of Gela.
On the night of 9 to 10 July 1943, the Allied landing on the coast of south-western Sicily began. The US troops of the 7th Army, under the command of General George Patton, were part of the action on this front. This battle brought American and British forces face to face against the German Hermann Göring Division, equipped with 56-tonne Tiger Tanks.
On the beachhead at Gela, Sicily, on 11 July, 1943, William was killed in action. He was first buried in Plot A, Section 8, Space 92 a the temporary US Cemetery at Gela. Later, he was disinterred and returned home for burial in Arkansas. His parents are buried next to him in Oak Hill Cemetery.
We are honored to have William’s service photo and his purple heart medal preserved here at the Museum.
This Memorial Day, we are thankful to all of our brave service men and women who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our nation.
