William H. Strauch was born on August 8, 1915 in Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. He was the son of Elvin William Strauch and Annie E. Rehrer Strauch. He resided in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania prior to the war. He enlisted in the Army on March 15, 1941, prior to the war, in Wilkes Barre, Pennsylvania. He was noted, at the time of his enlistment, as being employed as a Stock clerk and also as Single, without dependents. William served as a Second Lieutenant and Navigator on B-24J "The Flying Cloud" #42-73324, 374th Bomber Squadron, 308th Bomber Group, Heavy, U.S. Army Air Force during World War II.

B-24J #42-73324 took off from Chengkung, China on a combat mission. After take off the crew was never seen or heard from again. The entire crew of 6 was lost on this mission on June 24, 1944. Having actually gone "Missing" on the above date, he was not officially declared by the military as being dead until February 13, 1946. His name is commemorated on the Walls of the Missing, Manila American Cemetery, Taguig City, Philippines. He also has a cenotaph located in Saint John's Lutheran Cemetery, Pine Grove, Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania.

2Lt Strauch was one of over 2000 Americans who lost their lives defending China from their Japanese invaders from 1941-1945. He is also commemorated on the The Monument to the Aviation Martyrs in the War of Resistance Against Japan in Nanjing, China.

Source of information: www.findagrave.com, www.abmc.gov