Info on a GI, 437th CA AA AW bttn

[ted rupel]

I have a collection of letters from a KIA'd GI named Wilford F. Whaley.
His name was Wilford Whaley and he was KIA'd on 19, Feb., 1945. I have a collection of his letters from him back to his mother from 1942-1945. Initially, he was with the 437th CA AA automatic weapons Bttn. His letters start in North Africa, to Italy, and then to France. The American Battle Monuments Commission website shows that he died while with the 318th Infantry regiment, 80th Infantry Division and died on 19,Feb., 1945. He is buried at Plot H Row 9 Grave 6. How he got detached to the 318th, I am unsure of, but in one of his letters he talks of his "new assignment". There were 58 letters in the grouping with a printed bereavement card to his mother from General Marshall.
I am a teacher, and I am in the process of writing a Lilly Foundation Teacher Creativity grant to trace the war journey of this GI. I need to find out any possible extra info as I would like to use the grant to go overseas and do a photo journal study of where he was.
Also, Private Wilford Whaley, Tech 5th class, #35039349, was a fellow Hoosier like me and for some reason, I feel a great attachment to him because of his and the many brave others who served so that I and all Americans can enjoy the freedom we have today.