William Halford Maguire was born on May 11, 1911, in Bennington, Bennington County, Vermont. He was the son of Patrick Michael Maguire and Jane Finland Maguire. He was married to Ruth Willet Felder. He graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point, Class of 1932. He served as Chief of Staff in Davao, Mindanao, Philippines, when Japan attacked in 1941.

Captured after the fall of Bataan, he endured the Bataan Death March and over two years of imprisonment, surviving three shipwrecks and enduring severe brutality at the hands of his captors. He ultimately died of colitis on February 9, 1945, at the POW camp in Fukuoka, Japan, weighing less than 59 pounds. LTC Maguire is now buried in the Park Lawn Cemetery, Bennington, Bennington County, Vermont, USA.

Silver Star Citation:
(Citation Needed) – SYNOPSIS: The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Lieutenant Colonel (Infantry) William Halford Maguire (ASN: 0-18818), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with the 45th Infantry Regiment (Philippine Scouts), in action against the enemy in the defense of Bataan, Luzon, Philippine Islands, in 1942. The gallant actions and dedicated devotion to duty demonstrated by Lieutenant Colonel Maguire, without regard for his own life, were in keeping with the highest traditions of military service and reflect great credit upon himself and the United States Army.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, valor.militarytimes.com