David Jolly: “This past December, the community of Pinellas County, Florida--indeed, the Nation--lost an American hero, William M.…”

“This past December, the community of Pinellas County, Florida--indeed, the Nation--lost an American hero, William M. Allen. Bill Allen was 83 years old and had served in the United States Army from 1949 to 1953 as a sergeant, Charlie Company, 19th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division. Mr. Allen was a prisoner of war from January 1, 1951, until August 1953, held captive during the Korean war after being overcome by Chinese troops. Mr. Allen was just 19 years old at the time. To those who knew Mr. Allen, he was one of those remarkable people that left a lasting impression on you after just a single encounter. He was a patriot. He would share his stories not for his own attention, but to impart on each of us the story of sacrifice that our men and women in uniform make so that the United States--all Americans--might live in peace, protected by those who serve. Mr. Allen's story was most human. In his own words, he wrote this about his enlistment in the Army and subsequent deployment: Then there are people like myself, the little guy who went to Korea as a young kid, still wet behind the ears, fresh out of high school, who joined a peacetime army, but soon found himself in one of this country's most controversial military and political situations known at that time. When it was over, we came home as veterans; no longer were we the kids down the street.…”