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Community Corner

Local Family Donates War Memorabilia to Historical Society; New Military Exhibit to Open on Memorial Day

When Glen Ellyn resident, William H. Becker died, his son, William S. Becker inherited his father’s World War II uniform and medals.

That uniform hung in his closet, next to his own uniform from the Vietnam War.  He said, “One Day I realized that, should the Becker line continue and assuming each generation practiced good custodianship, the uniforms would be stored away in many closets to come, eventually turning to dust.” 

This did not seem right to him. So, he and his sisters decided to donate the uniforms to the Glen Ellyn Historical Society. He gave the following reasons for the donation.  
 
“It’s impossible for anyone who has not been to war to understand its impact on a life . . . I see men and women returning today from Iraq and Afghanistan – soldiers who have served multiple tours and multiple traumas.  Sending them a message that those who served before them were able to re-assimilate into the society for whom they fought and letting them know we understand is one dimension of what showing the uniforms means to me.”

He added, “The other dimension is the ‘we’re from Glenbard, couldn’t be prouder’ connection.  As I look back, it seems remarkable that in this highly mobile society, my father and I went to the same high school, Glenbard West.  We even had the same Spanish teacher.  We walked the same halls.  Dad and I played on the same football field.” 

William S. Becker’s father, William H. Becker, was a star guard and was named to the All Star Football Team in 1941 and  went on to play for the Fighting Illini.  He left college to fight in World War II as a sergeant in the Army Air Corps in both the European and Asian theaters.  

After the war the legendary coach, George Halas signed him to play for Halas’s Akron Bears in the American Football League.  William S. Becker played fullback for the Hilltoppers class of ’64. 

He, too, enrolled at the U of I and then left to join the U. S. army during wartime.  He was a combat correspondent for the 25th Infantry Division and for the Stars and Stripes in Vietnam in 1966 and 1967.  He won the Bronze Star Metal and the Republic of Vietnam Gallantry Cross.  

Glenbard graduates killed in Vietnam include: Marine Lt. John Bruce Capel, Army Specialist Ronald Ewald Hagstrom, Army Specialist John Fellows Scull, Jr., Army Lt. Col. William Walter Dickey, Marine Capt. Robert Francis Morgan, Army PFC Thomas Benedict Duffy, Jr. and Army Maj. Roger Lee Pierce.  Each of them is commemorated on the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall in Washington, D. C.

The Opening of the Becker Family military exhibit at the Glen Ellyn History Center located at 800 N. Main Street is Memorial Day, Monday, May 26 at 1:00 p.m.  William S Becker, his sisters and their families will gather to open the exhibit to the public at that time.  Call 630-469-1867 for information.



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