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An Initiative of the Fayette County Cultural Trust
William H. Soisson, Jr.
William went on active duty in the Army October 1, 1940 after serving in the Reserves for several years. Initially assigned to Fort Meade, Maryland, he was a highly rated marksman. In May, 1942, he was assigned to the Second Replacement Depot at Camp Edwards, Massachusetts, as a classification officer, and following the U.S. invasion of North Africa he was shipped to Morocco in February, 1943, then to Oran, Algeria, and finally Italy later in 1943.
With the Second Replacement Depot he was largely responsible for redesigning the processing and training replacements for the heavy casualties U.S. Forces suffered there. In support of the Fifth Army in Italy, he rose to the rank
of Colonel and was awarded the Bronze Star for his extraordinary service to the war effort. Colonel Soisson returned to the United States in July, 1944, retired from the Army following the end of hostilities, and resumed the practice of law in Connellsville.