Please click here to view a student eulogy for William Hornsby recorded at Nashville National Cemetery in 2026: https://youtu.be/ld8tHErJs-I

Biography

Early Life 
William Pennington Hornsby was born in St. Louis, Missouri, on June 2, 1925, to Rogers Hornsby Sr. and Mary Jeanette Pennington Hornsby. He had an older half-brother, Rogers Hornsby Jr. His father was a Major League Baseball player, manager, and coach. He played for the St. Louis Cardinals, the New York Giants, the Boston Braves, the Chicago Cubs, and the St. Louis Browns. William spent much of his childhood living with his aunt and uncle because of his father’s career demands.

Hornsby, also known as “Billy,” attended Chaminade High School briefly and competed in an amateur speed skating competition while a student. After his time at Chaminade, Hornsby attended the Missouri Military Academy (M.M.A.) for three years. During that time, he earned the Academy’s expert medal for rifle marksmanship and served in the Silent Drill Platoon, as well as the Fusiliers. The Fusiliers were a premier exhibition unit that performed precision drill maneuvers without voice commands and participated in color guard competitions. Hornsby also earned varsity letters in football, boxing, and wrestling. He was the school champion in boxing, wrestling, and pentathlon, as well as captain of the track team. In 1942, he earned the Ireland Fighting Heart Trophy for “unusual display of fighting spirit in athletic contests.” 

While attending high school, Hornsby worked as a messenger for a stockbroker and as a laborer in a shoe factory. During his third year, Hornsby submitted his resignation to the Academy. In his letter, he expressed regret that he would not graduate with his class and stated his intention to join the armed forces, citing his three years of military training as preparation. He enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on October 23, 1943, in Dallas, Texas.

Homefront 
During the mid-twentieth century, St. Louis, Missouri, served as a major manufacturing center. The city played a significant role in the war effort, as men and women volunteered to serve in all branches of the military. Wartime industry and migration contributed to a population increase, with the city reaching a peak of 856,000 residents by 1950, an increase of over 40,000 from 1940. 

As a large manufacturing hub, the city produced substantial quantities of war materials. Those who did not serve in the military often worked extended hours in factories. Western Cartridge Company operated the St. Louis Ordnance Plant, which manufactured .30-caliber and .50-caliber cartridges. Over the course of the war, they produced 6.7 billion cartridges, accounting for 40 percent of all the cartridges America used. The Food Machinery Corporation made 18,000 Landing Vehicle Tracked (LVTs). The Curtiss-Wright, Robertson, and McDonnell Aircraft Company produced over 3,000 aircraft for the military. 

During the war, many St. Louis residents maintained vegetable gardens to supplement rationed food supplies. The Missouri Botanical Garden created a demonstration victory garden in 1942 to show average city residents how to successfully garden in the city. They hosted Victory Garden Harvest Shows from 1942 to 1945.

Military Experience
Hornsby enlisted in the United States Marine Corps on October 23, 1943, in Dallas, Texas. He completed part of his training at Camp Elliott in San Diego, California. He served in the 20th Amphibious Truck Battalion, Company A, and participated in the island-hopping campaign in the Pacific Theater.

Hornsby qualified for two military specialties: Anti-Tank Gunner Crewman and Armored Amphibious Tractor Crewman. His duties included driving armored vehicles, operating weapons, performing maintenance on weapons, and conducting vehicle inspections. Muster Rolls from 1943 and 1944 indicate that he enlisted as a private and later earned promotion to private first class. On February 18, 1946, he advanced to corporal.

Corporal Hornsby participated in two major engagements: the Battle of Peleliu and the Battle of Okinawa. On August 25, 1944, his unit sailed from Pavuvu, the Russell Islands, and then participated in the Battle of Peleliu from September 15 to October 22, 1944. According to his military records, Corporal Hornsby received the Purple Heart for wounds sustained on September 16, 1944, when a shell fragment struck his head after enemy fire destroyed the vehicle he was operating. U.S. Marines engaged Japanese forces at the Battle of Peleliu as part of operations supporting the Philippines campaign. After this battle, the unit returned to Pavuvu, a standard staging area the Marines used during this period.

On March 12, 1945, the unit sailed again from Pavuvu before participating in the Battle of Okinawa on April 1, 1945. This battle was to secure bases in preparation for Operation Olympic, the planned invasion of Japan. The battle lasted until July 6, 1945.

On September 26, 1945, Hornsby participated in the military occupation of Japan at Sasebo, Kyushu, Japan. He was stationed there until January 2, 1946. At this point, the Marines transferred him to the 12th Motor Transport Battalion (Provisional), Headquarters. There, he worked to move personnel, supplies, and equipment throughout the occupied territory.

The Marine Corps honorably discharged him on February 18, 1946, in Great Lakes, Illinois. In addition to his Purple Heart, he earned the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with two stars and the World War II Victory Medal.
 
Veteran Experience 
After the war, Hornsby returned to his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, and started a baseball career. He played in various minor league teams from 1946 to 1951, reaching the AA level. He played on several teams and compiled a career batting average of .267 over 412 games, a modest performance that led him to explore other career options.

After his baseball career, he returned to St. Louis, where he met his wife, Vida Doris Kampe. He and Vida had two children, Brad and Terry Ann.

Around 1971, Hornsby founded the Arrow Distributing Company, which distributed Stroh’s Beer and other products. He also served as head of the Tennessee Malt Brewery Company and worked as a territory manager for Falstaff Brewery. In addition, he worked for a beer distributor in Jackson, Tennessee.

Commemoration 
Corporal William Pennington Hornsby died on June 29, 1984, in Nashville, Tennessee. His wife, Vida Doris Kampe Hornsby, died on April 4, 1986. They are buried together at Nashville National Cemetery in Nashville, Tennessee.


This profile was researched by Hannah Brown, Abigail Cravath, Ryan Nelson, and Ali Wilson, mentored by Kirkwood Middle School teacher Mrs. Whitney Joyner, as part of a Veterans Legacy Grant Program led by National History Day in the 2025/2026 academic year.

This profile was funded by a grant from the United States Department of Veterans Affairs. The opinions, findings, and conclusions stated herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of the United States Department of Veterans Affairs.


Bibliography
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Corporal Hornsby’s grave at the Nashville National Cemetery, March 26, 2026. Courtesy of Whitney Joyner.

Corporal Hornsby's grave at the Nashville National Cemetery.

Vida Doris Kampe Hornsby, Hornsby’s wife. Find a Grave.

A black and white image of young White woman. She had chin-length, curly hair.

Hornsby in his baseball uniform. Find a Grave.

A black and white image of a White man in a baseball uniform. 

A letter from Colonel A. E. O’Neil informing Hornsby of the medals he has earned for his service, July 31, 1946. Official Military Personnel File, National Archives and Records Administration - St. Louis.

A typed-written letter to Hornsby about his Purple Heart and other medals.

Corporal Hornsby’s World War II draft card. National Archives and Records Administration.

A scanned index card showing information about Hornsby.

The St. Louis Globe-Democrat reports on Hornsby’s decision to leave the Missouri Military Academy, October 18, 1943.

A newspaper article titled Hornsby's Son Joins Service, Ends Find Career at M.M.A.

The St. Louis Globe-Democrat reports on William “Billy” Hornsby competing in the Silver Skates Ice Carnival, an amateur speed skating competition, January 9, 1939.

A newspaper article titled Billy Hornsby to Skate.

William Hornsby as a child in a Chicago Cubs baseball uniform. Courtesy of Brad Hornsby.

A sepia-toned photo of a little boy standing on a baseball field in a Chicago Cubs uniform.

William Pennington Hornsby in his military uniform. Courtesy of Brad Hornsby.

William Pennington Hornsby in his military uniform. 

Nashville National Cemetery

Grave marker image for (WILLIAM HORNSBY).

WILLIAM P HORNSBY

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36.24217236, -86.72621748

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