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William "Giggy" Sayers

U.S. Army
1950-1953
Korean War

William “Giggy” Sayers was born July 22, 1932 in Stapleton, Staten Island. He was the third child of
Donald Sayers and Helen Mathis Sayers. William graduated from Public School 14 and attended McKee Vocational and Technical High School.

He left school and enlisted in the U.S. Army in 1950; there he received his high school diploma.
William was a top athlete who was a star for many of the Staten Island diamond and gridiron
teams. They included Tompkinsville Blue Jays, Rinky Dinks, Brown Bombers and Leiblich’s
Bakery. At fifteen, he was the first Black player for the Huttner-Pasqualini team. As he got older, golf became his passion. He played a few days a week after retiring, then in later years, he was an Ambassador for the South Shore Golf Course.

In 1950, William was stationed in Fort Benning, Georgia. He was then shipped to Pusan (now called Busan), South Korea in 1951. William was a PFC (Private First Class) in the 5th RCT (Regimental Combat Team) (Triple Nickels “555”). He earned the Combat Infantry Badge, National Defense Service Medal, 5th RCT Patch, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal, and the Bronze Star Medal.

He was a member of the Allan F. Kivlehan chapter of the Korean War Veterans Association and was very proud of being a Korean War Vet. When the monument opened in Washington, DC, we were there. Former President Clinton had a beautiful ceremony. We took a second trip to show the statues to the grandchildren.

William passed away on Nov 8, 2013. He is survived by his beloved wife Karen, daughter JoAnne Sayers, sons Guy and Jay Sayers and his legacy of grandchildren and great-grandchildren. He was preceded in death by brothers Clarence, Thomas, and Ronald; his sisters Barbara Shannon, Eleanor Joann Bellamy; and stepdaughter Serrae Cortez.

William “Giggy” Sayers was a wonderful husband and father, he is sorely missed.

Sponsored by Mrs. Karen Sayers & Family


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