William Jerry Dukes was born on February 11, 1921, in Collison, Illinois. He was the son of William Lester Dukes and Lilly Hazel Hess Dukes.

William served in the 550th Bomber Squadron, 385th Bomber Group, Heavy, as a Technical Sergeant and Radio Operator on the B-17 #42-31370 during World War II. On February 21, 1944, bombers were returning to the 385th Bomber Group's base at Great Ashfield, England, from a raid on targets in Germany. 1Lt Pease, pilot of the B-17 #42-37963, lost control of his airplane in the clouds and collided with his airplane in a formation. Both aircraft crashed into the marshes at Reedham, and all of the crew members of both airplanes were killed.

TSgt Dukes is now buried in the Potomac Cemetery, Potomac, Vermilion County, Illinois, USA.