William H. Ort was born on July 8, 1923 in the community of Carlisle, Grays Harbor County, Washington to Henry Kulp Ort and Evelyn Marr Ort, nee Gaylord. Henry K. Ort died in 1925 after a long illness, and Evelyn married Erford Devere Milbrad. In 1930, William “Milbrad” lived with his mother and stepfather in Hoquiam, Grays Harbor County, where Erford owned a steam laundry. Erford died in 1943, and William’s mother married Fred Eugene McFeely in 1947.

William registered for the draft on June 28, 1942. He was 18 years old, 5’7” tall, and weighed 165 pounds. He had blonde hair, blue eyes, and a light complexion. He lived in the town of Hoquiam and was employed by his stepfather at the Hoquiam Steam Laundry. William enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps on November 19, 1942 in Seattle, Washington. He was single, without dependents, and had completed one year of college. After training, Lt. Ort was assigned to the 377 Fighter Squadron, 362nd Fighter Group.

According to Missing Air Crew Report #9651, on October 2, 1944, Lt. Ort was the pilot of P47 Thunderbolt #42-27363, nicknamed “The Sooner.” Ort was flying in the vicinity of Puttlingen, near Saabrucken, Germany when he spotted a German truck. As he passed over the truck, Lt. Robert Berggren, flying in the same formation, witnessed a flash of fire coming from the truck. Ort’s plane crashed into the trees bordering the road. Lt. Robert Berggren reported that there was no possibility that Ort could have escaped the burning plane.

Lt. William H. Ort is buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, St. Avold, France (Plot D, Row 42, Grave 17). He was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and the Air Medal with five oak leaf clusters.

This story is part

of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of

the US WWII fallen saved on Together We Served and Fold3. Can you help write

these stories? These stories will be accessible via smartphone app at any war

memorial or cemetery.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact me at clock902@aol.com.

SBTSProject/Washington/Grays Harbor

Sources:

Findagrave, https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56659169/william-henry-ort

Missing Air Crew Reports, WWII, https://www.fold3.com/image/38219234

WWII Army and Army Air Force Casualty List, https://www.fold3.com/image/310763494?rec=299419073

The Tacoma Daily Ledger,15 Aug 1925, Sat · Page 10, https://www.newspapers.com/image/725809323?utm_source=fold3.com&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=Fold3

1930 United States Federal Census,

https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/111700925:6224?tid=&pid=&queryId=1122d11d2f19f7c812e6cee638ac7f04&_phsrc=xOR59015&_phstart=successSource

Headstone and Interment Records for U.S., Military Cemeteries on Foreign Soil, 1942-1949 https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/44316:9170

United States World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:K8GN-NNT

Washington, County Birth Registers, 1873-1965, https://www.familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:6CT4-BRPS

World War II Draft Cards Young Men, 1940-1947, https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/37093427:2238

William H Ort