Alaska Highway, supply SSgt, H&S, Company. Interview by Donna Blasor-Bernhardt with MSgt James J. “Kluane” Barrett, Signal Corps, attached to the 340th Regiment:
Bill was a student at Stanford University when he was drafted. He applied and was accepted for OCS at Ft. Belvoir, VA. He had orders to travel to Belvoir by the first available transportation, but he and two others had to completed an inventory of the H&S Supply Room prior to his departure.
Bill, Supply Sergeant of H&S Company, his replacement Peters and a Lieutenant began the inventory mid-December. They came to the regimental machine guns. It was reported that Bill asked the Lieutenant to demonstrate how to field strip and assemble the weapon. It was done and the gun was loaded with one round.
After the Lieutenant completed the demonstration that round was accidentally discharged. Sgt Whitfield was hit in the chest and he was killed instantly. Funeral services were held at 3 pm on the 21st of December. (Pioneer Road by Donna Blasor-Bernhardt, Morning Report 1st BN Hqt. 340th Regiment)