William was born in Philadelphia, PA and moved to Atlantic City, NJ as a child. He had 3 brothers, who also seved in the armed forces, and 1 sister. William was assigned to Eisenhower's Headquarters in England where he was a decoder. He also served in Rhineland and Central Europe. He received the American Theater Ribbon, the European African Middle Eastern Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, and the Victory Medal. After the war, he returned to Atlantic City, NJ where he worked as a union painter and sold ice cream on the beach in the summer.