The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, SGT William Preston Krell, RA13334975, who died in the service of his country on November 28th, 1950 in North Korea. The cause of death was listed as MIA to KIA. At the time of his death William was 19 years of age. He was from Hazleton, Pennsylvania. William's Military Occupation Specialty was 2745-Light Weapons Infantry Leader.

The decorations earned by SGT William Preston Krell include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

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Sergeant Krell was a member of Company I, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while fighting the enemy in North Korea on November 28, 1950. His remains were not recovered. His name is inscribed on the Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial. Sergeant Krell was awarded the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.

I did not personally know Billy Krell. He was my father's best friend. They grew up together in Hazleton, Pennsylvania. My dad told me great stories about how Mrs. Krell welcomed him into her family after he lost his mother when he was nine years old. I have read letters sent by Billy's mom to my dad after Billy was reported MIA. The letters are heartbreaking because the family did not know the fate of their only son. My father joined the military hoping to follow Billy to Korea but was sent to Germany instead. My dad remembered Billy and the great times they shared until he died in 1989. (Cindy Reedy)