William Arthur Joyner was born March 24, 1909 to Jesse Barnett Joyner (1879-1961) and Lillie May Sanders (1889-1978), the second child and oldest son of 10 siblings.

Pvt. William Arthur Joyner joined the U.S. Army on April 14, 1943 and served in the South Pacific during World War II. He was wounded in action on Bougainville Island in the Solomons group on March 19, 1944.  He was discharged on Nov. 17, 1945.

Pvt. William A. Joyner died on Nov. 1, 1978 and is buried at Memphis Memory Gardens.

Pvt. Arthur Joyner Earns Purple Heart

Pvt. Arthur Joyner was wounded in action on Bougainville Island in the Solomons group March 19, according to information received this week from the Adjutant General’s office by his wife, Mrs. Louise Joyner, of Memphis.

Pvt. Joyner, who was born and reared near Munford, has been overseas seven months and has taken part in several engagements. He has been awarded the Purple Heart. Mrs. Joyner, the former Miss Louise Simmons, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Simmons of Drummonds, is also a native of Tipton county.

Since word has been received of Pvt. Joyner’s being wounded, it has been learned that he is recovering from his wounds at a base hospital in the Southwest Pacific.

The Covington Leader, April 20, 1944; pg. 1

Clipped from The Commercial Appeal, Fri, Nov 03, 1978 ·Page 12