William Eli Alverson
1918-1944
William Eli Alverson was born May 17, 1918 in Rogers Twsp., Sebastian Co., Ar. to
William Dixon & Martha Tennessee Taylor Alverson.
October 16, 1940 William registered for the military draft at Fort Smith, Sebastian
Co., Ar. He enlisted in the US Navy June 17, 1941. He was assigned to the USS
Plunkett, "a US Navy destroyer that sustained the most harrowing attack on any
Navy ship by the Germans during World War II, that gave as good as it got,
and that was later made famous by John Ford and Herman Wouk."
Williams rank was MM1 or Machinist's Mate First Class.
On January 24, 1944, while screening transports for the Battle of Anzio,
Plunkett was hit by a dozen-odd German bombers who bore down on the
ship in an assault so savage, so prolonged, and so deadly that one Navy
commander was hard-pressed to think of another destroyer that
had endured what Plunkett had, killing 23 crewmembers, with a further 28
missing. One of those killed was MM1 William Eli Alverson.
MM1c William Eli Alverson was honored with a Purple Heart, Combat Action Ribbon, Good
Conduct Medal, Expeditionary Medal, American Campaign Medal, Navy & Marine
Presidential Unit Citation, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal,
WW II Victory Medal. He is buried/mentioned at Sicily-Rome American
Cemetery and Memorial, Nettuno, Citta Metropolitana di Roma Capitale,
Lazio, Italy.
Some of the muster reports for the USS Plunkett while William was serving there,
including the one dated the week he died are at the bottom of this page.
Also photos of the ship before and after the attack.
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"William Eli Alverson, 35 years old, son of Ms. Martha Alverson of
Etna community, died of wounds received in action in the Mediterranean,
according to a message received from the navy department.
Machinist Mate First Class Alverson entered the service in June 1941.
The last letter received from him by Mrs. Alverson was Jan. 19. It was
written Jan. 4.
In addition to his mother, Machinist Mate First Class Alverson was survived
by three brothers, Dan Alverson, Paris, David Alverson of the home, and
John Alverson, Machinist Mate First Class of the Pacific area, and four
sisters, Miss Hazel Alverson of the home and Miss Rosalee Alverson, Mrs.
Grace Rudolph, and Mrs. Anna Weindel all of Richmond, California."
Recorded among the World War II and Korean Conflict veterans interred overseas.
William lost his life serving his country in World War II.
His buial place in Sicily-Rome American Cemetery and Memorial
Nettuno, Citta Metropolitana di Roma Capitale, Lazio, Italy
PLOT Plot E Row 7 Grave 16
His memorial at Steep Hill Cemetery at Fort Smith, Sebastian Co., Ar.
USS Plunkett before and after the attack
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