DOWNS, WILLIAM J.

AURORA, Ill., Dec. 20 (INS) – Mrs. Rosemary Downs of Aurora was acting as hostess at a Christmas party of telephone employees last night when she received word of her husband’s death in Korea.

Her husband, Sgt. William J. Downs, was killed in action Dec. 8 [1950] in the rear guard action of the Seventh Marine [Regiment] in the retreat toward the evacuation, port of Hungnam.

Sergeant Downs was a great-grandson of Samuel McCarty, founder of Aurora. He served with Carlson’s Raiders during World War II.