William S. Giza is the son of Mr. & Mrs. John F. Giza of Glen Carbon, IL. He grew up in Glen Carbon and attended local schools. His mother died in 1940 and a brother, John was killed by a train at Peters Station in 1942. Staff Sergeant Giza spent much of the war in the Pacific theater and participated in the invasion of the Philippine Islands. During the intense fighting on Negros Island in the Philippines, SSgt Giza was killed by Japanese mortar fire. His brother, Sgt. Emil (Monk) Giza was reported killed in action in North Africa, but that report was in error after his father received two letters from Monk, dated after his reported death, stating that he was alive and uninjured. In SSgt. William Giza's last letter to his father, he wrote "I have two Japanese flags and am chasing the Japs all over". Services for Staff Sergeant William S. Giza were held at St. Cecelia Catholic Church in Glen Carbon, Re. Fr. C.A. Muskus officiating and burial was at Buck Road Cemetery, Illinois Rte. 162. He is survived by four brothers, Walter, Charles, Joseph and Emil. Staff Sergeant William S. Giza was 27 years, 6 months and 15 days of age.
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