William Edward Harrigan, Korean War CasualtyPorter County Data on Korean War Casualties . . . .
William Edward Harrigan
Corporal, Company K, 31st Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division
Date of Birth: August 24, 1930
Date of Death: March 23, 1953
Burial: St. Patrick Cemetery (Chesterton)
Cause of Death: Killed in Action (Old Baldy/Pork Chop Hill area)
Awards: Purple Heart, Combat Infantryman's Badge, Korean Service Medal, United
Nations Service Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Korean War Service Medal
Hometown: Chesterton
Burial Note: Corporal William Edward Harrigan is buried in St. Patrick Cemetery
in Chesterton, just three tombstones away from another Korean War soldier killed
in action, Sergeant First Class Norbert A. Brzycki.
Newspaper Notices:
2 Area GI's Bodies In US
Bodies of two 22-year-old Porter county servicemen, killed within 48 hours in
action on Old Baldy mountain in Korea, have been returned to the United States.
They are Cpl. William E. Harrigan, 22, husband of Mrs. Audrey Harrigan and son
of Mr. and Mrs. Michael Harrigan, Chesterton, and Pfc. Gene Leeper, 22, son of
Mr. and Mrs. Charles Leeper, Garyton.
Harrigan was killed March 23, and Leeper on March 24. Bodies of the victims are
being sent to the Brooklyn Army base and later will be brought her for burial.
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Source: The Vidette-Messenger, Valparaiso, Porter County, Indiana; May
12, 1953; Volume 26, Number 263, Page 6, Column 3
Funeral Rites For Bill Harrigan Next Monday
Funeral services for Cpl. William E. Harrigan, 22, who was killed in action,
March 23, 1953, in Korea will be held at 10:00 a. m. Monday, May 25, at St.
Patrick's church with Fr. Ralph G. Hoffman officiating. The remains will
arrive here at 6:10 a. m. Friday, May 22, and friends may call at the
Edmonds Funeral Home, after 6 p. m. Saturday, May 23. Rosary will be recited
2:30 p. m. Sunday, May 24, at Edmonds Funeral Home. The American Legion Post
No. 170, will perform the traditional military honors at the burial in St.
Patrick's cemetery. Cpl. Harrigan was a member of St. Patrick's Holy Name
society.
Cpl. Harrigan is survived by his wife, Audrey Sundwall Harrigan, and son,
David, seven months of age, and parents, Michael and Mary Harrigan of RFD 1,
a sister, Mrs. Barbara Jones, of Porter, a brother, Michael Harrigan,
Chesterton; Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Harrigan, Crown Point, paternal
grandparents; Mrs. Mary Botwar, East Chicago, material grandparent.
William E. Harrigan was born in Indiana Harbor, August 29, 1930, and lived
in Chesterton about 20 years. He graduated from Chesterton high school in
1949 and married Audrey Sundwall, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Allen Sundwall,
214 S. 8th st., October, 1951. He was employed as a pipefitter at Youngstown
Sheet and Tube and on June 13, 1951, entered the army as an infantryman. He
was sent to Japan, July 30, 1952, and then to Korea. Here on Pork Chop hill
with Company K of the 31st Regiment he was killed in action March 23, 1953.
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Source: Chesterton Tribune, Chesterton, Porter County, Indiana; May
21, 1953
Return to
List of
Porter County Korean War Casualties
Information abstracted and transcribed by Steven R. Shook