Pvt Meyer enlisted into the US Army on December 16, 1872 in Pittsbugh, PA. He was described as 5-6, blue eyes, light hair & a fair complexion. His civilian occupation was laborer.

On February 9, 1873, he was assigned to Company M, 7th US Cavalry at Oxford, MS. Company M was commanded by Capt Thomas French. Meyer's daily duties were company tinner.

At the Battle of the Little Bighorn, Company M was assigned to Reno's battalion. There were two different reports on how Meyer was killed during the battle. One surviving soldier claimed Meyer was killed near Dr. Porter, as they climbed the wrong ridge towards Reno's position. The other report claimed he was shot during the retreat from the Valley Fight, while climbing towards what became known as Reno's Hill.

After the battle, Meyer's body was described as being in an "awful state of mutilation."

Meyers, like most soldiers killed during the Battle of the Little Bighorn, was buried where it had been found.

In 1881, all known battlefield burials were moved to a mass grave on top of Last Stand Hill.

William D Meyer