My uncle was William Ellis Rutherford. He was born October 3, 1912 in the little farming town of Anna, Texas north of Dallas. His parents, Herman and Grady Rutherford were simple "salt of the earth" people who raised a family of five boys and one girl. Four of the boys went to war and only two returned. George and James served in Europe and returned home after the war. George was awarded the Brtar Medal at the "Battle of the Bulge," while James served in a Forward Recon Unit in France, Belgium and Germany. My biological father John went to the Pacific and was killed in action while being transferred from a Japanese prison in the Philippines to Japan. After the war my mother married his brother James who adopted me as his own and is my "Dad" today.

I never knew my uncle Bill as he was killed while on duty in a Military Police Company clearing the streets in London during an air raid. I often think about the fear and sorrow my grandparents went through during those dark tragic days.

Uncle Bill entered the Service from Texas, enlisting September, 1940 and left for overseas duty in July, 1943 and was killed in the air raid on December 3, 1943. He lies at rest in the Cambridge American Cemetery, Cambridge, England, Plot E Row 3 Grave 77. As they could not come home to rest, a memorial service was held at Anna, Texas on October 7, 1945 for uncle Bill and my father John.

The men of World War II are truly the "Greatest Generation." I am so proud of the men of my family both on my mother's and father's sides who served so bravely in England, at Anzio Beach, The Bulge, France, Germany, the Philippines, and for all the rest of the American soldiers who gave so much for our freedoms. I did not know my uncle Bill nor my father John, but I know them in my heart and prayers each day.