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PFC William Ward “Bill” Sharp Jr.

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PFC William Ward “Bill” Sharp Jr.

Birth	:	16 Jul 1931 Plover, Pocahontas County, Iowa, USA
Death	:	6 Jul 1953 North Korea
Burial	:	Benjamin Freeman Family Cemetery, Del Rio, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate	:	35.8319016, -83.0607986
Plot	:	Block 3, Lot 124, Space 1
Inscription	:	"In Memory of Bill Sharp, 21 Yrs. Missing In Korea Since July 6, 1953"
Description	:	☆☆•¨•.¸☆☆¸.•¨•☆☆.¸¸.•¨•☆☆•¨•☆☆¨•☆☆•¨*•☆☆ A MEMORIAL MARKER HAS BEEN PLACED AT POWHATAN CEMETERY FOR WILLIAM "BILL" SHARP WHO WAS MISSING IN ACTION DURING THE KOREAN WAR CONFLICT Bill Sharp was presumed dead in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill during the Korean War. Pork Chop Hill was just North of the 38th parallel which divided North & South Korea. The battle took place about 3 weeks before the armistice was signed ending the war. This was a hill held by 12 infantry companies from the 17th and 32nd Regiments. This was the hill in which 243 Americans gave their lives for their country and 916 more were... Read More	☆☆•¨•.¸☆☆¸.•¨•☆☆.¸¸.•¨•☆☆•¨•☆☆¨•☆☆•¨•☆☆ A MEMORIAL MARKER HAS BEEN PLACED AT POWHATAN CEMETERY FOR WILLIAM "BILL" SHARP WHO WAS MISSING IN ACTION DURING THE KOREAN WAR CONFLICT Bill Sharp was presumed dead in the Battle of Pork Chop Hill during the Korean War. Pork Chop Hill was just North of the 38th parallel which divided North & South Korea. The battle took place about 3 weeks before the armistice was signed ending the war. This was a hill held by 12 infantry companies from the 17th and 32nd Regiments. This was the hill in which 243 Americans gave their lives for their country and 916 more were wounded trying to hold it during the fighting in July alone, according to Bill McWilliams' book, On Hallowed Ground. ☆☆•¨•.¸☆☆¸.•¨•☆☆.¸¸.•¨•☆☆•¨•☆☆¨•☆☆•¨•☆☆ AMES, Iowa -- The walls of the Gold Star Hall - the "memorial" in Memorial Union (Iowa State University) - are engraved with the names of former students who died while on active duty in the U.S. Armed Services. As a former student, William Ward Sharp was added among these names. KOREA William Ward Sharp Hometown: Plover, Iowa At Iowa State: Agricultural education, 1951-52 Military: PFC., Company A, 17th Infantry Reg., 7th Infantry Div. Missing in action, presumed dead: July 6, 1953 during hostile action at Pork Chop Hill Written in the Iowa State University News Service on November 9, 2009 ☆☆•¨•.¸☆☆¸.•¨•☆☆.¸¸.•¨•☆☆•¨•☆☆¨•☆☆•¨•☆☆ ~ PLOVER, IOWA MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE 2010 CELEBRATES MIA BILL SHARP~ The walls of Gold Star Hall in Memorial Union at Iowa State University are engraved with names of alumni who died serving with the U.S. Armed Services. Kathy Svec wondered, "What about Iowa State students who never had the chance to finish their education?" Three years ago Svec, marketing director at Memorial Union, began researching ISU students who served and died. She learned about Bill Sharp of Plover who has been missing and presumed dead since July 1952. On November 11, 2009 Kathy and others stood in recognition as Bill's name was added to the wall in Gold Star Hall. Memorial Day services in Plover this year centered on Bill Sharp as the crowd heard a series of speakers tell the story of Bill's life and his death on a tiny Korean hill. FROM A SMALL TOWN TO A TINY HILL William Ward Sharp was born July 16, 1931 to Ward and Hazel Sharp who lived on a farm three miles south and ¼ mile east of Plover. Bill was child number five in a family of six. In 1949 Bill graduated from Plover High School. After working a year he enrolled at ISU for the winter quarter of 1951 to study agricultural education. Bill intended to learn modern agriculture and then farm with his brother, Charlie. The plan changed when Bill was drafted into the Korean War. Bill Sharp left Pocahontas with other local draftees in October 1952. He trained in California, went by ship to Japan in April 1953, and from there to Korea in May. Two months later he was missing in action during the Battle of Pork Chop Hill ten days short of his 22nd birthday. Pork Chop Hill was the nickname for an exposed outpost along the 38th parallel, the dividing line between North and South Korea. Two armies pushed each other back and forth along that imaginary line. In all 3 million soldiers and civilians died; about 54,000 were Americans. Most of the time Pork Chop Hill was defended by no more than 62 to 190 men—a company. The United Nations won the first battle there in April. Bill Sharp arrived in time for the second battle July 6, 1953. When the Chinese attacked that night Bill's company almost immediately reported hand-to-hand combat in the trenches. It is assumed Bill died in the first assault. WHY HE'S STILL LISTED AMONG THE MISSING Monsoon rains made it difficult to send more troops and to remove casualties. Twenty-one days after Bill Sharp died, the Korean War ended when all parties agreed to put the boundary between North and South Korea back where it had been before the conflict started. Pork Chop Hill is on the North Korean side of the line. One year later, on July 7, 1954, Bill's status was changed from missing in action to presumed dead. Those attending the Memorial Day service in Plover this year were asked to visualize a real casualty of war who would have been 79 years old today. Had he lived Bill could have been an Iowa State graduate, a retired farmer, and grandfather. As speakers described his life and sacrifice Bill Sharp became more than a name on a list of honored dead and a star on the wall at Iowa State. ~ From the Plover Quasquicentennial Committee, Plover, Iowa ~ •¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.•¨•¨•¨•¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.•¨•¨•¨*•¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.• •¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.•¨•¨•¨•¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.•¨•¨•¨**•¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.•¸¸¸.•

frequently asked questions (FAQ):

Where is PFC William Ward “Bill” Sharp Jr.'s memorial?
PFC William Ward “Bill” Sharp Jr.'s memorial is located at: Benjamin Freeman Family Cemetery, Del Rio, Cocke County, USA.
When did PFC William Ward “Bill” Sharp Jr. death?
PFC William Ward “Bill” Sharp Jr. death on 6 Jul 1953 in North Korea
Where are the coordinates of the PFC William Ward “Bill” Sharp Jr.'s memorial?
Latitude: 35.8319016
Longitude: -83.0607986

Family Members:

Parent

Hazel Mae Henderson-Sharp Anderson

(1899 - 1993)

Siblings

Charles Milan Sharp

(1923 - 2014)

Flowers:

Nearby Cemetories:

1. Benjamin Freeman Family Cemetery
Del Rio, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8319016, -83.0607986

2. Frisbee-Rathbone Cemetery
Grassy Fork, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8243400, -83.0724900

3. Hill Family Cemetery
Del Rio, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8273310, -83.0402970

4. Grooms Family Cemetery
Grassy Fork, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8124500, -83.0669300

5. Haynes Cemetery
Grassy Fork, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8102900, -83.0679700

6. Grooms Cemetery #1
Hartford, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8301600, -83.0889800

7. Black Family Cemetery
Hartford, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8371600, -83.0897700

8. Doctor William Granger Clark Family Cemetery
Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8079000, -83.0738700

9. Mount Zion Baptist Church Cemetery
Grassy Fork, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8183800, -83.0903000

10. Black Family Cemetery
Grassy Fork, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8355000, -83.0946900

11. John Barker Gravesite
Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8102510, -83.0352280

12. Grassy Fork Old Graveyard
Grassy Fork, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8179300, -83.0946800

13. Grooms Cemetery #2
Grassy Fork, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8045300, -83.0784200

14. Green-Price-Raines Cemetery
Grassy Fork, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8170900, -83.0951100

15. Black Family Cemetery
Hartford, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8288500, -83.1004400

16. Blacks Community Church Cemetery
Hartford, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8265100, -83.1027200

17. Isaac J Ford Family Cemetery
Grassy Fork, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8097600, -83.0944200

18. McGaha Cemetery
Hartford, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8264500, -83.1039200

19. John Lewis Moore Family Cemetery
Grassy Fork, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8044900, -83.0907000

20. Laws-Green Cemetery
Del Rio, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8623240, -83.0864340

21. Hugh L. Clark Family Cemetery
Grassy Fork, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8138880, -83.1041660

22. Lee Cemetery
Del Rio, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8698600, -83.0449400

23. Haney Family Cemetery
Del Rio, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8665500, -83.0339200

24. Fox Cemetery
Del Rio, Cocke County, USA
Coordinate: 35.8454130, -83.0128960