Porter, William Edward "Bill"
(born: 1918 - died: 1985)William E. Porter, born in Stanley, KY, was the second son of James Lester Porter and Edna Mae Hazelwood Porter. The family left Daviess County, KY when William was a small child and moved to Gary, IN, where his father worked in the steel mills; the family later moved to Lima, OH.
William Porter was a star athlete at Central High School in Lima, where he played football and set a number of track records. In 1936, he enlisted in the Army and served in North Africa during World War II, later serving in Italy with the 92nd Infantry, 366th Regiment, Company B. Porter was a 1st Lieutenant who was awarded a Purple Heart, Silver Star, and Bronze Star for his service in World War II. During the Korean War, he was a Captain; he received a second Purple Heart and a Silver Star during that conflict.
After his retirement in 1958, Major William Porter began his second career with the ROTC and served as a military police instructor in Kansas City, MO and Monrovia, Liberia, Africa while still on active duty.
Porter died in November 1985 and is buried in Arlington National Cemetery. He was the grandson of McDonald and Elvira Porter and the great-grandson of Richard Hazelwood.
This entry was submitted by Denyce Porter Peyton. For additional information see Lima News articles from 1933-1936 and 1958.