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name
DEOVORE, Willie James "Little Bit" - Date of
birth
30 April 1919 -
Age
25 -
Place of birth
Coronaca, Greenwood County, South Carolina -
Hometown
Greenwood County, South Carolina -
Ethnicity
African American
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
34120536 -
Rank
Technician Fifth Grade -
Function
Tank Driver -
Unit
C Company,
761st Tank Battalion
-
Awards
Purple Heart
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
9 January 1945 - Place of
death
Tillet, Belgium
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Luxembourg
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| C | 6 | 9 |
Immediate family
-
Members
David DeVore (father)
Eloise V. (Herbert) DeVore (mother)
Viola DeVore (sister)
Ella DeVore (sister)
More information
T/5 Willie Deovore was a cook before he enlisted at Fort Jackson, South Carolina.A mine knocked out Deovore's Sherman. The explosion killed him instantly.
The 761st Tank Battalion was the first African American armored unit to see combat and from some officers, consisted entirely of African American soldiers.
Note: Most likely during his enlistment, his family name, DeVore, was misspelled and chaged to Deovore.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, www.wwiiregistry.abmc.gov, History of the 761st TB, www.archives.gov, www.ancestry.com - 1920/1930 Census / South Carolina U.S. Births / WWII U.S. Draft Cards Young Men
Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Andy