The Watsonville Register-Pajaronian had but a simple message, "Bill Bottero Luzon Victim."

William Joseph Bottero was born in Watsonville, California, January 22, 1926, to Joseph and Gertrude Bottero. He was raised in the Pajaro Valley and attended Watsonville elementary schools. Later his parents divorced and his father, Joseph, left and moved to Modesto. William entered Watsonville High School and remained there until his junior year. When his mother remarried, the family moved to San Francisco where he completed high school.

In June of 1944, William Bottero joined the US Army. He was sent to Camp Joseph T. Robinson in Arkansas for basic training and to Camp Howze in Gainesville, Texas, for additional instruction. He was then assigned to the 127th Infantry Regiment of the 32nd Infantry Division serving in the South Pacific.

Bottero fought at Buna, survived the Aitape campaign and participated in the attack on Hill 508 at Leyte in the Philippines. On May 5, 1945, Private William Joseph Bottero was killed in action while attacking the Japanese stronghold in Luzon that the GI's had dubbed the "Kongo Fortress." His remains were later returned to the United States and buried in the Golden Gate National Cemetery at San Bruno in 1949.

(USDVA; WRP, June 2, 1945 1:2; Weider History Network, World War II: The US 32nd Infantry Division Battle to Control the Villa Verde Trail, 2008 http://www.historynet.com/magazines/world_war_ 2/3033626.html?page=4&c=y, [16 September 2008]; GGNC Survey)