Cecil Willard Downing was born Feb. 6, 1925 to William M. and Sadie Claude Downing. He died Feb. 15, 1994 and is buried in Evergreen Cemetery, Clarion, IA.
Pvt. Downing served with the U.S. Army in World War II with Co. A, 23rd Engineer Battalion, Third Armored Division. He was seriously wounded near St. Lo, France and was awarded the Purple Heart and the European Combat Medal with one combat Bronze Star.
Sources: “Ordinary Heroes”, by Judge Newt Draheim, Chapter 6; ancestry.com
