About
World War II (1939-1945)
William Oliver Shaffer was born in Greensburg, Pennsylvania, on October 14, 1909. By 1920, he was living in the village of Scotia in Schenectady County with his family. He played softball for the General Electric and Scotia Fire Department leagues. Additionally, he was a well-known bowler in both the senior and junior merchants leagues in Scotia. Before entering the military, he was a firefighter for the Scotia Fire Department and worked for General Electric.
On August 18, 1943, William enlisted in the United States Army. He underwent his training at Camp Van Dorn in Mississippi and Camp Breckinridge in Kentucky. He was a private serving with the 330th Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division. On July 15, 1944, William was killed in battle in France. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial in France.
Sources: The Schenectady Gazette, Find A Grave, Ancestry