William was born at Manchester, KS on August 6, 1924. He attended schools at Manchester and the Chronister county school. At the time of his induction on June 3, 1943, he had completed his Junior year in high school when the nation decide to take him into the service. Will received his basic training at Lincoln, Nebraska, and later was sent to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to attend the radio mechanic and code school. After this, he was sent overseas to be stationed in England as a member of the Eighth Air Force Command at the sub depot bomber replacement unit. Prior to his entry into the service he worked as a telephone lineman.