Oral history interview of William Wargel. William Alois Wargel was drafted into WWII (1943-1945) into the Army Air cops, 345th Bomb Group, 498th Squadron, 5th Air Force, serving as a Staff Sergeant. He was a mechanic, engineer, and gunner. He saw action in the Pacific Theater, in the South Pacific, including New Guinea, Philippines, Leyte Island, Ie Shima (the island off Okinawa where Ernie Pyle was killed), and was part of the liberation of the Philippines. He completed 39 missions as a top turret gunner on the B-25 Lady Lil. He was awarded 3 air medals.