William F. "Bill" Lierly was born on July 28, 1923 in Moberly, Missouri. During his senior year at the college he was employed in the offices of Woodland Hospital. He left school to enlist in the Army, later volunteering for service as a paratrooper. William received training at Camp Roberts, Calif., Fort Benning, Ga., and Camp Mackall, S. C. He served in the 501st Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division as a Private during World War II. He was Killed in Action on September 24, 1944 at the age of 21, defending the village of Eerde, The Netherlands against German forces and is now buried in the Oakland Cemetery, Moberly, Randolph County, Missouri, USA. PVT Lierly also participated with the paratroopers on D-Day in the invasion of Normandy.