Metzler, William S. “Guillermo” “Bill” born 21-04-1922, in Naco, Cochise County, Arizona, United States, 
to Francico Esteban “Frank” Metzler (1875–1963) 
and his wife Julia, born Sanchez, Metzler (1887–1973). 
William had three sisters and five brothers :Alfonso Metzler (1907–1990), Herminia Metzler, Bernal (1910–2005), Antonio Metzler Jr. (1913–1988), Frank Metzler Jr (1914–1984), Amelia Metzler Pain (1917–1999), Robert Sanchez Metzler (11920–1983), James Sanchez Metzler (1925–2011) Their son James served in the Korean War and Hortencia Metzler Cota (1929–1996). The young family moved to Cananea during 1913 and then moved permanently to Naco in 1914.
“Bill” Metzler was 20 years of age when he enlisted in the U.S. Army on 18-08-1942. Born and raised in Naco, Arizona, he was a handsome, fun-loving young man, a good friend and a devout Catholic, who played the guitar and sang. After extensive training in Georgia Bill was certified as a “qualified parachutist” and was awarded silver wings. 
Training intensified in North Carolina and Kentucky. It is written that it took 5,300 enlisted volunteers to get 1,800 graduates of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment 
“Easy Compagnie”, under command of Lieutenant Thomas Meehan III.
In late August-early September, 1943, he was among the U.S. military personnel aboard the S.S. Samaria 
that sailed to England. Soldiers from the 101st Airborne Division 
under command of Brigadier General Don Forrester Pratt 
began boarding aircraft in England on 05-06-1944 in preparation for the D Day invasion 
of occupied France. William, with the 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division,was among the 139 officers and men in Company E, known as Easy Company who boarded aircraft which would take them to their drop zones.
E Company, 2nd Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the 101st Airborne Division, the “Screaming Eagles”, is a company in the United States Army. The company was referred to as “Easy” after the radio call for “E” in the phonetic alphabet used during World War II. By the time the company was pulled off the line, 22 of its men had been killed in action, mostly in Stick 66, and another 43 had been wounded, for a 47% casualty rate. Richard Dick” Winters‘
roster records that of the 139 men of Easy Company who left England on the night of 5 June, just 69 enlisted men and five officers were left: Winters; his three platoon leaders Buck Compton 
, Harry Francis “Welshy” Welsh
and Warren Richard Roush; 
Warren Roush survived the war and died 04-02-1999 (age 82) in Springfield, Clark County, Ohio, USA. and Roush’s assistant Francis L. O’Brien. third row left 
Francis O’Brien was born circa 1920. He was a First Lieutenant (US Army), paratrooper.
William died in December 1944 in Bastogne, Luxembourg, Walloon Region, Belgium from killed In Action (WWII – Battle of the Bulge).
Death and burial ground of Metzler, William S. “Guillermo” “Bill”.
William, with the 506th PIR, 101st Airborne Division,was among the 139 officers and men in Company E, known as Easy Company who boarded aircraft which would take them to their drop zones behind Utah Beach in Normandy, 
France on June 6, 1944. The transports hit a large cloud bank and began to separate. Soon German anti-aircraft guns began firing. The paratroopers of Easy Company were in the vanguard of the invasion of occupied France and came down in and around Ste. Mere Eglise.
Easy Company remained in combat for 53 days clearing the area behind the invasion beaches. The company suffered heavy casualties during and after the invasion. William Metzler, age 22, was one of those killed in action. He was awarded the Purple Heart 
posthumously. William’s remains were returned to his home of Naco, Arizona, on 27-04-1948. Rites were held on 28-04-1948 in the Naco, Arizona Catholic Church with his six brothers (Alfonso, Antonio, Frank Jr., Julio, Roberto, and James) serving as pallbearers. Francis was then laid to rest in the family plot at Panteon Municipal in Naco, Sonora. A military graveside service was held at 5:00 p.m. that day. The Bisbee American Legion escorted his body after obtaining permission from the Commandante of the Mexican Customs for the district to cross the border bearing arms. A monument of field-stone bases with black granite plaques was dedicated to the men of Easy Company who lost their lives in June 1944. William Metzler is among the brave honored by this Memorial located at Brécourt Manor in France. 
William is also honored on the World War II Memorial dedicated in Bisbee, Arizona on 08-12-2008. The Memorial is located off southbound Highway 80 out of Bisbee on the Lavender Pit Overlook. A third Memorial located at Evergreen Cemetery in Bisbee honors his contributions. E Company, 506th Regiment, 101st Airborne is the subject of the HBO Series “Band of Brothers.” 
William’s name appears in the list of Easy Company soldiers included in the documentary at the conclusion.
Metzler, William S. “Guillermo” “Bill” is buried at the Panteón Municipal de Naco, Naco, Naco Municipality, Sonora, Mexico.C. Panteón, 84184 Naco, Son., Mexico.
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