Pvt. Winford Thelton Hadley, ser #44020062, was born on May 1, 1926, to Warner Menefee Hadley (1901-1983) and Mabel Edith Warnes Hadley (1908-1989) of Garland. A graduate of Byars-Hall High School in Covington, he entered the Army on August 18, 1944, after graduation, and was sent to Camp Forrest, Tennessee for military training.

After training, Pvt Hadley was sent overseas in December as a member of Patton’s Third Army where he served as an infantryman, with Co. C, 271st Infantry Reg, 69th Div. On March 2, 1945, he was reported missing and his status later switched to killed in action on March 2, 1945, while on patrol in Germany.

Pvt. Hadley was the firstborn of his family, and in addition to his parents, he leaves nine siblings – four brothers, Warner M. Hadley Jr., Gailey Duane Hadley, Ruie Wayne Hadley, and Marshall Ray Hadley, and five sisters, Wilma Jean Hadley, Lina Mae Hadley, Margie Loree Hadley, Margaret Eloise Hadley, and Martha Louise Hadley.