Posted by Terry Powers on April 16, 2023:

William H. Marslender 1949 Cullum No. 17312-1949 | September 5, 2007 | Died in El Paso, TX Cremated. Inurned in Ft. Bliss National Cemetery, Ft. Bliss, TX William Henry "Bill" Marslender was born in Beaufort County, NC, the only son of Bryan and Laurita Marslender, and grew up with his three sisters, Arlene, Linda and Ann, in Washington, NC. Being the only boy in the family, he was known as "Brother" to his sisters and also to everyone else in town. Bill's father was a well known sheriff, superior court clerk and juvenile judge. He passed away after Bill graduated from West Point. Bill became king of the family and, as recalled by his sisters, when asked by his mother, in front of them, whether he wanted chicken or pork chops for supper, he replied pork chops. Ann looked at Linda and said, "Linda, I think I'd like pork chops for supper. How about you?" It became a standing famAAily joke that when decisions were made, Bills' opinion was the only one that mattered. In high school, Bill wrote generally for the school paper and covered sports for the town paper. To help out, Bill delivered newspapers on his bicycle. Bill and his sisAAters all agreed that "We didn't have much money, but we were never poor". On one occasion, Bill and his classmates were presAAsured to skip class so as not to take a test. Bill and only two others showed up for the test. This impressed the school superintendent, who, seeing that Bill had the courage to do the right thing even when going against the crowd, recommended him for appointment to West Point. After graduation from high school, Bill enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was seAAlected for bombardier training and, while in this training, received an appointment to West Point. One week before completing his bombardier training and receiving his comAAmission and wings, he left for West Point. While at West Point and against all odds, Bill had the same two roommates, Roger Kuhlman and Fletcher McMurray, for all four years. Bill attributed this to Fletcher's ability "to talk anyone into anything." On graduation, Fletcher talked Bill's sister Linda into marrying him. One year after graduatAAing from West Point, all three ended up in Korea, where Fletcher and Roger were killed and Bill was wounded. Having been so close, Bill mourned their deaths for the rest of his life. While in Korea, Bill served with the 1st Cavalry Division and was awarded the Purple Heart, Bronze Star and Silver Star. As reported in Harry Maihafer's book, From The Hudson To The Yalu, Bill's platoon of the 7th Cavalry Regiment was the first to cross the heavily damaged Kesong River bridge, the capture of which was compared to that of the intact Ludendorff Bridge over the Rhine River at Remagen in World War II. With Bill leading, the platoon crossed under fire and took up a position on the far bank. Seeing two of his sergeants hit by enAAemy snipers and unable to reach his parent company, he told battalion that he could not stay in his present position exposed to eneAAmy snipers. From retired First Sergeant John J. Pelew's book, Charlie Company, Saddle Up-Lock & Load, Korea, who was then a PFC in Bill's platoon, "LT Marslender felt his only choice was a bayonet charge on the hill to our front. I looked to the right where he was standing, as he screamed the order, '1st platoon, fix bayonets, and on my signal charge the hill to our front and I damn well want to hear the 7th Cavalry Regiment batAAtle cry, Garry Owen.' Bill Marslender blew his whistle, we charged up over the bank screaming our battle cry and in a fierce atAAtack, charged across a small field, then up the slope in the face of their small arms fire. I don't know how many of our guys were hit on the charge, but those North Koreans not already dead fled their positions and the hill was ours. If General George Custer could have seen our fierce charge up the hill, and heard us screaming, he would have been proud of his 7th Calvary Troopers." When he returned from Korea, Bill cashed his paycheck for 13 months, bought a car and an engagement ring. While at West Point, Bill had met Rosellen Brown, sister of K-2 Company mate Bill Brown. With ring in hand, Bill asked Ellen to marry him. She accepted, and they were soon off to the 82nd Airborne and, later, to Europe with the "Big Red One". After returning from Europe, Bill reAAsigned his commission and moved to Shreveport, LA, where he was manager of Caddo Light Aggregate Company, engaged in developing a new process for making light weight aggregate. He later worked for Featherlite Corporation in Ranger, TX, and El Paso, TX, becoming general manager of the El Paso plant and manager of all West Texas operations. After 15 years he left Featherlite, earned his real estate appraisal license and started his own business, Mars Appraisal Associates, where he worked until his death. In El Paso, Bill was very active in sevAAeral local organizations, including Grace United Methodist Church, the West Point Association of Graduates, Purple Heart Association, YMCA and others. He was a wonderful husband, father, brother and friend. Bill was preceded in death by his sisters, Linda Schrock and Arlene Whitley. He is survived by his wife of 55 years, Rosellen Brown Marslender; son Richard Perry Marslender; daughters Ramona Marslender and Arden Evans; sister Ann Herring; and eight grandchildren. - Family and classmate

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