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William Larimore Colvett

William Larimore Colvett

April 22, 2026

headshot photo of William Larimore Colvett

Rank: 1st Lieutenant
Branch: Army
UT Major/Affiliation: Agriculture – 1939
Hometown: Alamo, TN

  • Nov. 10, 1916 – Dec. 16, 1944
    • From Alamo, Tennessee
  • Agriculture – 1939
    • Principal and an agriculture teacher at Gadsden High School
  • 1st Lt – Army
  • KIA in Belgium. Battle of the Bulge
    • 393rd Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division
    • Battle of Elsenborn Ridge
  • Nance Cemetery in Crockett County, Tennessee

William Larimore Colvett (Nov. 10, 1916 – Dec. 16, 1944) was from Alamo, Tennessee. He graduated from the University of Tennessee with a degree in Agriculture in 1939 and was the principal and agriculture teacher at Gadsden High School in Crockett County, Tennessee, before the start of the war. Colvett volunteered in the United States Army and was commissioned as a 1st Lieutenant assigned to the 393rd Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division. The 393rd was sent to reinforce the frontlines on the Belgium-German border at the end of 1944. They were surprised on December 16th by a German strike using armored divisions on their defensive positions at Elsenborn Ridge, Belgium. Unknown to them at the time, this turned out to be the start of the German offensive that ultimately began the Battle of the Bulge. 1st Lt. William L. Colvett was killed during the German assault on their dug-in defensive positions on the ridge on December 16th. The 393rd and the rest of the 99th Infantry Division continued to hold against the Germans for several days, even having to call artillery down on their own positions to interrupt the German advance, and their success was vital for stalling out the German advance. 1st Lt. William L. Colvett is buried at Nance Cemetery in Crockett County, Tennessee. 

Back to Veterans Memorial Page

Colvett Gravestone
Picture of newspaper clippings.
Colvett obituary
Colvett promotion to 1st Lt.

Tennesseans and War

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