William “Bill” Moran was born in Croswell Michigan on April 26, 1918. In 1940 he was drafted into the U.S. Army and reported to Camp Roberts in Central California in 1943. He was deployed to Australia with the 41st Infantry Division where he would eventually take part in the New Guinea campaign and the eventual occupation of Japan which occurred just after the war ended.

According to historians, the New Guinea campaign “was one of the hardest fought of World War II.” American GIs and their Australian allies relied on native New Guineans in a war that was fought in the largely impenetrable jungle. While taking part in the conflict in New Guinea he contracted malaria but remained on base. He was awarded the Purple Heart after being injured by a hand grenade.

His best friend, Neil Coon, also from Croswell, died during the conflict while Mr. Moran was serving abroad. He returned to Croswell after the war ended. He married Jane Louise Shipley on January 18, 1947. They were married up until her death on April 9, 1986. The couple raised 4 boys and a girl. Mr. Moran died on May 23, 2000.

 - The Moran Family