When William Fowler Bourland was born on November 1, 1889, his father, Beauregard, was 27 and his mother, Jessie, was 20. He had two brothers and one sister. He served in the U.S. Army during World War I as a Captain in Company C, 1st Engineer Combat Battalion, 1st Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action on October 9, 1918 at the age of 28 and is now buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Arlington County, Virginia, USA. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross and it cites as follows:
William F. Bourland First Lieutenant, U.S. Army Company C, 1st Engineers, 1st Division, A.E.F. Date of Action: October 8 - 9, 1918 Citation: The Distinguished Service Cross is presented to William F. Bourland, First Lieutenant, U.S. Army, for extraordinary heroism in action near Verdun, France, October 8- 9, 1918. On October 8, leading his company to the assault of a hill, First Lieutenant Bourland captured many prisoners and machine guns. On October 9, while defending the hill, the enemy launched a counterattack of greatly superior numbers, but, in the face of great danger, Lieutenant Bourland proceeded to an outpost, and by skillful direction he contributed greatly to the successful defense of the hill. He was killed while in command at this outpost. General Orders No. 27, W.D., 1919 Home Town: Rock Springs, TX.
His name is commemorated on the First Infantry Division monument in St. Juvin, France and ranked as a First Lieutenant.