PVT William Clyde "Bill" Drollinger

1924 - 1944  (19 years)

• Name	William Clyde "Bill" Drollinger
  Prefix	PVT
  Birth	11 Nov 1924	Kalispell, Flathead, MT
  	Montana, Birth Records Name: Billy Clyde Drollinger Gender: Male Birth Date: 11 Nov 1924 Birth Place: Kalispell, Flathead, Montana, USA Father: Benj. Clyde Drollinger Mother: Cella May Drollinger Montana, Birth Index Name: Billy Clyde Drollinger Birth Date: 11 Nov 1924 Birth Place: Kalispell, Flathead, Montana, USA Certificate Number: KSPL 1117
  Gender	Male
  Death	17 Mar 1944	Assam, India
  	Death of Montanan in India is due to accident. Kalispell May 19 1944 Details have been received here of the death in India of Private William Drollinger, son of Benjamin of Kalispell. During an excavation in an unamed city, two men were buried in a cave-in. Drollinger, working with the party, leaped into the pit and was buried by a second slide, while trying to rescue his comrads. His body was buried in an American cemetery in India, with military honors. The Independent Record, Billings Montana 19 May 1944 Kalispell Aug 2nd 1944 AP A Postumous award of the Soldiers Medal has been given Private William Drollinger of Kalispell, who lost his life in an attempted rescue of a fellow soldier while on duty in India. Private Drollinger was killed when he went to the rescue of a soldier and a laborer in a ditch cave in. The cave in buried the trapped men and Drollinger. The Billings Gazette, 3 Aug 1944 According to word received here Saturday, the body of Private Bill Drollinger has arrived at the general distribution depot and will be forward to Kalispell, arriving here next Friday noon. Drollinger was killed at Siam, India on March 17, 1944 and is being returned to Kalispell for burial under the World War patriotic act. He will be taken to Waggoner and Campbell funeral home where services have been tentatively scheduled for Saturday afternoon. Bill Drollinger was born in Kalispell on November 11, 1924 to Mr. and Mrs. B.C. Drollinger. He was reared in this city and attended grade and high school here. He enlisted in the US Army on March 11, and was assigned to an anti-aircraft unit when he was shipped overseas. He was killed one year and six days after his enlistment. Surviving him are his father, B.C. Drollinger of Kalipsell; one brother Burl W. of Kalispell; three sisters Mrs. Ed (Vetia) Lee and Mrs. Wanda Kind of Kalispell and Mrs. Jack [Clydia May] Kusler of Wolf Point, Montana. His mother passed away during his infancy (sic). The Daily Interlake Kalispell, Montana March 23, 1944 DEATH OF PRIVATE BILL DROLLINGER LEARNED Clyde Drollinger this morning received a telegram from the War Department announcing the death of his son, Private Bill Drollinger, in India, and stating that a letter would follow. The telegram did not state the cause of his death. U.S., World War II Hospital Admission Card Files Name: Bill Drollinger Rank: Enlisted Man Admission Age: 19 Birth Date: abt 1925 Admission Date: Mar 1944 Discharge Date: Mar 1944 Military Branch: Ordnance, General or Unspecified Diagnosis: First Location: Unknown, code not applicable; Causative Agent: Falling Earth, Stone, or Other Material Type of Injury: Injury, non-battle Injured in Line of Duty: In line of duty Type of Discharge: Died Length of service: 1 Year(s), 0 Month(s) Service Number: 39616699
  Burial	Kalispell, Flathead, MT
  	Burial: Conrad Memorial Cemetery Kalispell, Flathead County, Montana, USA Inscription: MONTANA PVT ORD DEPT WORLD WAR II
  Person ID	I15721	Drollinger Genealogy
  Last Modified	17 Apr 2021

  
  

  Father	Benjamin Clyde Drollinger,   b. 4 Nov 1881, Fort Madison, Lee, IA d. 14 Dec 1957, Choteau, Teton, MT (Age 76 years)
  Mother	Clella May Walker,   b. 20 Jan 1886, Hitt, Scotland, MO d. 27 Apr 1929, Kalispell, Flathead, MT (Age 43 years)
  Family ID	F4799	Group Sheet  |  Family Chart

  
  

• Event Map

  Birth - 11 Nov 1924 - Kalispell, Flathead, MT Death - 17 Mar 1944 - Assam, India Burial - - Kalispell, Flathead, MT  = Link to Google Earth

  
  

• Documents » Slide Show		WWII DRC
  		WWII DRC
  		Application for military headstone

  
  

  Headstones

  Conrad Memorial Cemetery Kalispell, Flathead, MT

  
  

• Notes

  U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 Record Name: Bill Drollinger Birth Year: 1924 Race: White, citizen Nativity State or Country: Montana State: Montana County or City: Flathead Enlistment Date: 4 Mar 1943 Enlistment State: Montana Enlistment City: Butte Branch: No branch assignment Branch Code: No branch assignment Grade: Private Grade Code: Private Term of Enlistment: Enlistment for the duration of the War or other emergency, plus six months, subject to the discretion of the President or otherwise according to law Component: Selectees (Enlisted Men) Source: Civil Life Education: 2 years of high school Civil Occupation: Tracktor Driver* or Truck Driver, Heavy or Chauffeur or Truck Driver, Light An asterisk (*) appearing after a job title indicates that a trade test for the particular occupation will be found in the United States Employment Service Manual, Oral Trade Test Marital Status: Single, without dependents Height: 44 Weight: 108 serial number 39616699 1930 United States Federal Census Name: William Drollinger Birth Year: abt 1925 [abt 1925] Gender: Male Race: White Age in 1930: 5 [5 4/12] Birthplace: Montana Marital Status: Single Relation to Head of House: Son Home in 1930: Kalispell, Flathead, Montana, USA Map of Home: Kalispell, Flathead, Montana Street Address: South Main St. Ward of City: Pt of No. 3 Precinct 43 House Number: 1204 Dwelling Number: 20 Family Number: 20 Attended School: No Father's Birthplace: Iowa Mother's Birthplace: Wisconsin Able to Speak English: Yes Household Members Age Relationship Clyde Drollinger 47 Head Clydia M Drollinger 12 Daughter Wanda J Drollinger 9 Daughter William Drollinger 5 Son