William Paige (19 July 1924-16 June 1944) was a US Army Private who served in the 502nd Pathfinders, 1st Squad and 2nd Squad during World War II.
Biography[]
William Paige was born is Los Angeles, California.
In 1942, Paige joined the 101st Airborne Division and was eventually moved to England with the rest of his unit to train for the initial invasion of Normandy, "Operation Overlord." At this time Paige was a Private and was part of 1st Squad.
Paige was not very well known for him being friendly. He usually teased, mocked and bullied the other soldiers, and was known for being a terrible hothead. Only Pvt. Derrick McConnel was friends with him.
Due to the terrible misdrops the airborne suffered in the initial airborne assault in Operation Overlord, Paige was separated from the rest of his squad. Paige got into St. Martin. Paige was one of the few, who survived from the first detachment was he, Cpl. Campbell and Pvt. McConnell.
After Joseph Hartsock was promoted to commander of the 2nd Division, Paige was part of the fire team along with Private Marsh and Cpl. Campbell, operating the M1A1 Thompson. Paige and the other team helped Sgt. Doyle and the 82nd to capture and clear the strategically important city of St. Sauveur in France. Paige was under Doyle's care because he didn't get along with the Second Ward, but he tolerated Doyle. Doyle and Paige paired up and guided Hartsock on his missions.
During the Battle of Saint-Sauveur-le-Vicomte. When Doyle is vaporized, a flying shard fragment hits Paige in the chest. Paige then saved Hartsock's life by pulling him out of the line of fire before dying in front of the Sergeant.