10-27-2020, 03:43 PM
Bill Purkess was my grandfather and I am trying to find out about his service during World War II. Here is what I know. I have a picture of him in an officer's uniform with Engineer pins on the collar. No rank or unit is visible. I have a letter from him dated February 1945 talking about a recent R&R in southern France. Unfortunately according to what I got from the National records his service records were destroyed in the St Louis fire. Bill was born on January 6th 1920, and passed away on October 26th 1959. He lived in Brooklyn NY. Family lore has him as a Major, and having served in North Africa, Italy, and southern France. Sometime after the letter was written he had a major injury to his leg. The story was he had his ankle run over by a "tank". Would like any information that anyone might have on Bill. Thanks.