Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Joel Quebec | On May 30, the family of Sgt. William E. Dukes donated memorabilia that had once...... read more read more
FORT JACKSON, S.C. – Family members of a World War II 81st Infantry Division veteran visited the 81st Regional Support Command May 30 and donated various artifacts and memorabilia that had once belonged to the late Sgt. William E. Dukes who had served with Company I, 323rd Regiment during the Pacific campaign.
Dukes had visited the 81st in 2012 with his son, Bill, and received the “nickel tour” from 81st RSC historian, Dr. John Boyd, who held a brief ceremony to receive the artifacts and also gave the Wildcat family and current 81st Soldiers and staff a briefing on what it would have been like to serve in the 81st in the Pacific during the war.
“It is always a privilege to honor a Wildcat WWII veteran like Sgt. Dukes and host family members,” said Boyd.
Among the artifacts was a large frame which contained Sgt. Dukes discharge papers, his campaign medals, photos of Dukes and his wife, the late Mary Evelyn Dukes (nee Bowers) and a newspaper clipping of his receiving the Purple Heart which was also in the frame. The Dukes family also donated other items including photos and post cards and other memories his service WWII which included a panoramic photo of him and his unit. They were quite pleased with the program celebrating Sgt. Dukes and his service.
“Our family appreciated the attendance by members of the 81st,” said Bill Dukes. “We entrust dad’s keepsakes and memorabilia to the 81st museum. We know the items will be treated with respect.”
“We take great pride in our lineage here in the 81st,” said Col. Glenn Sanders, 81st Legislative Liaison. “Sgt. Dukes was a link in a chain to a time when the United States was just a dream. Our service, from then to the youngest Soldier showing up for their initial training here at Fort Jackson, are all supported by the strength of the unyielding link that Sgt. Dukes represented.”
“Wildcats honor their own,” said Boyd. “The 81st Soldiers and civilians gave the Dukes family a warm and gracious welcome. Together we shared with the Dukes the memory of a great Soldier, Sgt. William E. Dukes.”
The program closed with the signing of the gift agreement by Bill and his brother Donald Dukes.
William Everest Dukes was born in Ridgeville, S.C., April 16, 1916 and passed away on July 9, 2013. He was 97.
| Date Taken: | 05.30.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 06.09.2014 17:08 |
| Story ID: | 132587 |
| Location: | FORT JACKSON, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | RIDGEVILLE, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 124 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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