William Schaufler was born January 1, 1916 in Cullman. His parents were Albert and Loretta M. Schaufler. He earned the nickname “Shoo-Fly” while working as a popular shoeshine boy at the Cullman Drug Store.
Schaufler served in the Army during World War II as a paratrooper. His obituary stated that his feet were frozen and he received an arm injury before returning home to Cullman. Once healed, he volunteered to serve in Japan, but was injured again and sent home.
When the Korean War began, Schaufler volunteered once again to serve his country. He was attached to the 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. On September 9, 1950, Schaufler was killed in action in South Korea near the Nam River. He was 34 years old.
According to his biography on Ancestry.com, “In July 2013, the Congressional Gold Medal was awarded, collectively, to the First Special Service Force (FSSF) in recognition of its superior service during World War II. On February 3, 2015, surviving FSSF veterans were in Washington D.C. to accept this momentous recognition on behalf of their fellow forcemen who could not be there.”
William “Shoo-Fly” Schaufler is buried in the Cullman City Cemetery. He is also honored at Cullman’s Veterans Park.
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