William R. "Billy" Campbell

CAMPBELL, REICHARD

Posted By: Carrie Robertson (email)
Date: 1/6/2017 at 13:46:23

Thursday September 21, 1944 The Marion Sentinel
Sgt. Billy Campbell Died of Malaria In New Guinea
The death of Billy Campbell in a hospital at Hollandia, New Guinea, on September 8, officially reported by the war department in a wire to Billy's parents, Mr. and Mrs. Weldon S. Campbell, last Friday evening, again brings the war very close to home.
A letter received that very morning by his parents, dated August 23, told of Campbell's general good health, his excellent appetite, his general well-being--all increasing the ever-dreaded shock to his people. A confirming letter from Washington received on Monday, added little to details except the direct cause of the young man's death, which was a third attack of malaria.
Staff Sgt. William R. Campbell, had never been home since he was inducted into services at Des Moines, July 10, 1942. He went first to Fort Leavenworth, Kans., then to Shepperd Field, Texas, then to Peterson field in Colorado, and wound up his training in both movie and still photography at Culver City, in California.
He left the west coast, April 1943, for the South Pacific, and and[sic] has performed exceptional service to his country-service which took courage, fortitude and endurance through the hard months of fighting. Sergeant Campbell is credited with 68 combat missions, over 300 reconnaissance hours.
He had been officially commended a dozen times for his daring courage, as well as for the excellence of his work, and had received the air medal, with oak leaf clusters, good conduct medal, the Southwest Pacific theatre ribbon, the American theatre ribbon, presidential citation, and was hopeful of receiving soon the most valuable award of all--the furlough home.
He had been to Australia for rest periods, but most of the long months had been spent in fighting over the great areas for New Guinea and in the last few weeks he had been stationed an[sic] Diak Island.
Before going into the service, Billy had demonstrated exceptional ability as a photographic artis, with a promising career ahead of him. During his service in the Pacific he also became an accredited newspaper correspondent.
He was born and reared in Marion, graduated from Marion high school and attended both Cornell and Coe colleges. He was an only son, very much devoted to his parents, his home, his friends and to Marion. He was 27 years of age.

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