By Staff
Brewton
Mr. James W. "Bill" Carroll, Sgt. First Class, U.S. Army (retired), 83, died Tuesday, June 28, 2005, in a local hospital. He was a 22-year veteran who saw combat in World War II with the 628th Tank Destroyer Battalion, was wounded twice, once in the "Battle of the Bulge" and again in Germany. He was the first American solder to liberate cities on the Belgium/France border. After a 50 year search, he was located and honored in Conde, France and Belgium in 1995. He also participated in the Korean War from 1952 to 1954. His decorations include Bronze Star with V, two Purple Hearts, Army Commendation Medal, four Good Conduct Medals and numerous service ribbons and unit citations.
After military retirement he was employed at the University of Minnesota Library as a department supervisor for 16 years. He was mayor of Hilltop, Minn., for two terms from 1974 to 1978. He was vice-president of Hilltop Chamber of Commerce, served on grievance committee at the University of Minnesota, and was a Democratic delegate. He was a life member of the V.F.W. and D.A.V. in Milton, Fla., the American Legion in Brewton and A.A.R.P. in Washington, D.C.
He is survived by his wife, Betty Carroll of Brewton and a number of nieces, nephews and cousins.
Funeral services, with military honors, were held Friday, July 1, at 1 p.m. at the chapel of Craver's Funeral Home with the Rev. Michael King officiating. Burial followed at Fort Crawford Cemetery with Craver's Funeral Home directing.