Private First Class Willie J. Elam
Branch of Service: Army
Years of Service: 1941-1945
Military Occupation: Infantryman
Honors/Awards: Two Purple Hearts; Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal with 4 bronze battle stars; American Theaters Medal; American Defense Medal; Good Conduct Medal; Victory medal; Philippine Liberation Ribbon with One bronze star; Combat Infantryman Badge; Bronze Star Medal with Valor
Willie Elam was born on an Eastern Kentucky farm in 1919. He enlisted in the U.S. Army in August 1941, joining Company K of the 103rd Infantry. After the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor in December 1941, Elam was deployed to the South Pacific as a radio operator and marksman. He was awarded a Bronze Star for saving injured soldiers and providing medical aid during active battle. Elam was injured on Luzon—his jugular was severed and his left arm severely damaged. After thirteen months in hospitals, he returned home with two Purple Hearts and a shrapnel lodged in his body.
In 1960, Elam and his family moved to Lexington, where he worked for his brothers’ home building company. Elam died in 2018.