William M. Brewer was born November 11, 1915, at Yankton, South Dakota, to Peter and Annie Brewer. He had five brothers and three sisters. Before he entered the service, William worked for Gurney’s Seed and Nursery Company in Yankton. He married his wife, Rose, on August 3, 1936, at Vermillion. William and Rose had three daughters: Joan (or Jo Ann), Bonita, and Wilma.

On November 11, 1943, at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, William Brewer entered active service. He was trained at Camp Blanding, Florida, and was sent overseas in July of 1944, as part of the 60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.

On October 14, 1944, Private William Brewer died in Belgium of wounds that were incurred in Western Germany on October 13. By that time the 9th Infantry Regiment was fighting on German soil and the "Final Thrust" booklet shows the following ... "Now fighting on his own soil, the enemy soldier was ordered ... and inspired by his leadersto hold on tenaciously and counter-attack vigorously. The Roer Dams meant the key to the Rhineland. With terrain to their advantage, the Jerries held on delaying the advance in the Germeter-Vossenack sector. Threatening to flood the dams ... attacking lines of communication ... the was the German answer to the Ninth's steam-roller ..."

The booklet also states "While this battle was in progress, General George C Marshall, Army Chief of Staff, visited the battle-seasoned troops of the Ninth and their fighting on Columbus Day - Ocotber 13" ... That same day William was wounded, he died of his wounds the next day ...

Dated January 7, 1945, a letter came from Headquarters of the 60th Infantry, which said in part: “It is a matter of sincere regret that the exigencies of a hard fought campaign have prevented this expression of sympathy from being tendered at an earlier date.” The letter goes on: “We who have been privileged to know, and serve your son in this campaign, share your loss but we share too the pride you must feel in him.” The letter ends with the words: “His final resting place will forever be hallowed ground, his memory ever an inspiration for those of us who remain to carry on the struggle for which he so nobly gave all.”

Exactly one year after William M Brewer died of his wounds in Belgium, a football match took place in Nürnberg. The match was played between the 1st Infantry Division and the 9th Infantry Division at Nürnberg Stadium, exactly the place where the Nazi's held their big parades ... Life was back to normal again ... but not for William Brewer and thousands like him, who were resting in foreign soil ...

These days William Brewer rests in the beautiful American Military Cemetery at Henri-Chapelle ... He is remembered and honored by the people of the State of South Dakota, by every visitor of the Henri-Chapelle cemetery and by everyone who visits the In-Honored-Glory website.