05/25/2026
This morning Wyandotte Nation honored Army Veteran Major William Gyami. He served in World War II and Korea.
William H Gyami, Jr was born in 1921, the son of William Harrison Gyami, Sr., who was one of the last full-blooded Wyandotte. Bill Gyami graduated in 1939 from The Wyandotte Consolidated High School with 36 other students, including his lifelong friend and fellow veteran Leaford Bearskin.
During World War II, First Lt Gyami was a fighting member of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the famous 82nd Airborne Division. Lt. Gyami had taken part in three major campaigns, one of which is Operation Market Garden before being captured during the battle of the (Belgium) Bulge. In the March 1945 Miami News Record newspaper, the following was posted: “Mr. and Mrs. Will Gyami have received word that their son, Lt. Will Gyami Jr, a paratrooper who had previously been reported as missing, is now a German prisoner”. As a German prisoner of war, Lt. Gyami was forced to march from December 28 to February 20 to reach a prison camp. In this camp, the prisoners were fed grass soup, a loaf of bread made from sawdust and coffee made from acorns. A loaf of sawdust bread was to feed 10 men. This meal was served once every 24 hours.
Lt. Gyami managed to escape from the prison once, but was recaptured and was a prisoner of war for 125 days before Allied forces and American troops arrived and freed the prisoners.
After World War II, the 26-year-old Lt Gyami enlisted for a six-year hitch in the Army Infantry Brigade. This was reported in The Miami News Record newspaper by U.S. Army M/Sgt Leland Bearskin, officer in charge of the local Army recruiting station.
Bill Gyami retired from our country’s military as a Major. During his military career he served in World War II and Korean war. He was awarded the following:
Three major Battle Stars
The Combat Infantryman’s Badge
The European and American Theater Ribbons
Three Presidential Citations
The Purple Heart
The Bronze Star
