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Casualty Info
Home Town Hannibal
Casualty Date Oct 19, 1950
Cause Non Hostile- Died Other Causes
Reason Other Cause
Location Korea, South
Conflict Korean War/UN Offensive (1950)/Eighth Army Offensive
Location of Interment Knox City Cemetery - Knox City, Missouri
CPL Willard F. Hilbert (RA 17194173) enlisted in the Army on 9 February 1946. Since he was born January 2, 1928 (in Shelby County, Missouri) that would make him just turning 18 upon enlistment. A newspaper article tells us he reinlisted on June 18, 1948 at Fort Lawton, Washington and arrived in Japan for MP Duty on December 24, 1948. A note on his enlistment record says: "Enlistment for Hawaiian Department." He became attached to the 25th Armored Reconnaissance Company which later became the 25th Reconnaissance Company just before its committment to the Korean War on July 17, 1950 when it landed at Pusan, Korea and was immediately committed to battle. Before this, the unit was stationed in Osaka, Japan doing Occupation Duty as mostly, MP's. Willard soon found himself back in his primary MOS of Light Weapons Infantryman, although serving with an Armored Reconnaissance unit. His battle experience lasted until October 19, 1950 when he died of non-hostile injuries in Taejon, South Korea.
