Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506 PIR, 101st Airborne.  "Band of Brothers."

William T. Wingett was born July 3, 1922, in Spokane, Washington. The day after Pearl Harbor he enlisted with his 4 brothers. But the following day he was involved in a car accident that meant he had to wait to recover before he could enlist again. He enlisted in August, 1942, and volunteered for the paratroopers. He was sent to Camp Toccoa, Georgia, and placed in Easy Company, 506th PIR.

Just before D-Day he was transferred to the 2nd Battalion HQ Company and jumped into Normandy with them. He landed in a flooded plain behind Utah Beach. His gear was weighing him down and he was just able to get his head above the water to take a breath before he was again dragged under. He had to cut himself free of his equipment "The water almost did me in. I was heavily laden and landed in 7 feet deep. I am not a swimmer"

Bill fought through Normandy, jumped into The Netherlands in September 1944 for Operation Market Garden, fought through the hellish conditions of the Battle of the Bulge, and through Germany and Austria and wars end.

He was honorably discharged in Nov 1945 as a Pfc. Thankfully his brothers would also survive the war. He then reenlisted for 3 years in the 82nd Airborne. He later also served in the Navy. He settled in Oregon and opened his own woodwork shop.

Bill is survived by his children, Patricia Dobbins and Merrie Chapin; his two brothers, Jack Lee Wingett and Kenneth Wingett; grandchildren; great-grandchildren and nieces and nephews. He was preceded in death by his wife, Peggy; his sons, Bill B. Wingett and Richard Wingett and his brothers, Allen Grant Wingett and Flavie Lee.

This is a photo Bill Wingett and other soldiers.

This is a photo of Bill Wingett during WWII.

WILLIAM T WINGETT

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