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Born on September 18, 1921 to William and Beatrice Balcom, William R. Balcom grew up with his father working as a caretaker at the Yacht Club and his mother being a homemaker. He had one sister named Sally Ann. After attending Milton School and graduating from Woodmere High School on Long Island, he joined the Army. Before enlisting, he worked at the shipyards of William Edgar John & Associates in Milton and was a member of Christs Church. The Balcom family lived at 18 Locust Lane and later at 648 Milton Road.
Date of Birth: 9/18/1921
Died On: Oct 23 1944
Street Address: 21 Bulkley Manor
Service Number: 32539144
Branch of Service: U.S. Army – B company, 304 engineers, 79th Division
In October 1942, William enlisted in the U.S. Army and served during World War II. He achieved the rank of Corporal in B Company, 304th Combat Engineers of the 79th Infantry Division. As a combat engineer, his responsibilities included various construction and demolition tasks under combat conditions. The combat engineers aimed to support friendly forces while impeding the enemy.
The 79th Infantry Division, after training in the United Kingdom, arrived in Liverpool and began training for amphibious operations. On June 12-14, 1944, they landed on Utah Beach in Normandy and entered combat on June 19, launching an attack on high ground near Valognes and south of Cherbourg. They successfully took Fort du Roule and entered Cherbourg on June 25.
The division held a defensive line at the Ollonde River until July 2, 1944, and then resumed the offensive. They engaged in house-to-house fighting to capture La Haye du Puits on July 8. On July 26, the 79th attacked across the Ay River, took Lessay, crossed the Sarthe River, and entered Le Mans on August 8, encountering only light resistance. The advance continued across the Seine on August 19. From August 22 to 27, they repelled heavy German counterattacks and reached the Therain River on August 31.
Moving swiftly to the Franco-Belgian frontier near St. Amand east of Lille, the division joined XV Corps in eastern France. They faced heavy resistance while capturing Charmes in street fighting on September 12. The 79th cut across the Moselle and Meurthe Rivers from September 13 to 23, cleared the Foret de Parroy in a severe engagement from September 28 to October 9, and attacked to secure high ground east of Embermenil from October 14 to 23. On October 24, they were relieved from duty.
On October 23, 1944, Mrs. Balcom received a letter from her son on her birthday, expressing hope for her happiness and a possible return home for the next birthday. As a member of the combat engineer battalion attached to the 79th Division, Corporal Balcom described the hardships they endured, including the cold, mud, and hunger due to scarce rations and lack of hot coffee.
Tragically, Corporal Balcom lost his life in action on October 23, 1944, coinciding with his mother’s birthday and the anniversary of his enlistment. He was killed while his company fought for the high ground east of Embermenil. The following day, when the company was relieved, the Division had completed 127 consecutive days of combat.
William R. Balcom left behind his parents and sister Sally Ann. His remains were returned from Europe in May 1948, and he was laid to rest with full military honors at Greenwood Union Cemetery in Rye. More on Balcom.
