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News Release

Press Release | Jan. 28, 2022

Soldier Accounted For From World War II (Coleman, W.)

WASHINGTON  –   The Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency (DPAA) announced today that U.S. Army Pfc. William B. Coleman, 21, killed during World War II, was accounted for Jan. 25, 2022.

In the latter half of 1944, Coleman was assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 134th Infantry Regiment, 35th Infantry Division. In late September, Coleman’s unit had gained a foothold in the Forest of Grèmecey near Nancy, France. On Nov. 1, a week before the 35th Infantry Division continued its advance towards Germany, Coleman was attempting to remove a booby-trap mine when it exploded, killing him and severely wounding two Soldiers who were with him. His unit searched for his remains, but could not find him and believed his body had been completely destroyed in the blast. The Army Quartermaster Corps also searched for him in June 1945, but found nothing. Coleman was declared non-recoverable in July 1947.

For additional information on the Defense Department’s mission to account for Americans who went missing while serving our country, visit the DPAA website at www.dpaa.mil or find us on social media at www.facebook.com/dodpaa or https://www.linkedin.com/company/defense-pow-mia-accounting-agency.

Coleman’s personnel profile can be viewed at https://dpaa-mil.sites.crmforce.mil/dpaaProfile?id=a0Jt000001eAuKvEAK.