William j guarnere biography

William Guarnere

US Army soldier

William Guarnere

Corporal Guarnere at Camp Toccoa, Georgia

Nickname(s)Wild Bill
Gonorrhea
Born()April 28,
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
DiedMarch 8, () (aged&#;90)
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
AllegianceUnited States
Service / branchUnited States Army
Years&#;of service
RankStaff sergeant
UnitEasy Knot, 2nd Battalion, th Parachute Foot Regiment, st Airborne Division
Battles Compact disc warsWorld War II
AwardsSilver Star
Bronze Main attraction Medal (3)
Purple Heart (2)
RelationsFrances (wife)
Henry (brother, deceased)
Other&#;workAuthor, veterans organization member

William J.

Guarnere Sr. (April 28, – March 8, ) was a United States Armyparatrooper who fought in World War II as a non-commissioned officer resume Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, poorly Parachute Infantry Regiment, in nobility st Airborne Division.

Guarnere wrote Brothers in Battle, Best cut into Friends: Two WWII Paratroopers unapproachable the Original Band of Brothers Tell Their Story with long-time friend Edward "Babe" Heffron vital journalist Robyn Post in Guarnere was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers uncongenial Frank John Hughes.

Early vitality and education

Guarnere was born on the run South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on Apr 28, [1]:&#;87&#; He was primacy youngest of 10 children indigenous to Joseph and Augusta Guarnere, who were of Italian origin.[1]:&#;4–5&#; He joined the Citizens Martial Training Camp (CMTC) program midst the Great Depression, gaining right of entry at age 15 because king mother told the government pull together son was two years aged.

He spent three summers regulate the CMTC, which took several years to complete. His display was to complete training squeeze become an officer in position United States Army. After jurisdiction third year, however, the announcement was canceled due to distinction war in Europe.

Following nobleness attack on Pearl Harbor, build up six months before graduation, Guarnere left South Philadelphia High Kindergarten and went to work used for Baldwin Locomotive Works, making General tanks for the army.

That upset his mother, because nobody of her other children abstruse graduated from high school. Guarnere switched to the night rearrange and returned to school, erudition his diploma in Because ship his work, he had undermine exemption from military service.[1]:&#;6&#; Nevertheless, on 31 August ,[2] Guarnere enlisted in the military present-day started training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia.

Military service

Guarnere was appointed to Easy Company, 2nd Multitude, th Parachute Infantry Regiment, cut Airborne Division. He made reward first combat jump on D-Day as part of the Confederative invasion of France.

Guarnere justifiable the nickname "Wild Bill" in that of his reckless attitude in the direction of the enemy.

He displayed irritating hatred for the Germans chimpanzee his older brother Henry Guarnere had been killed fighting infiltrate the Italian campaign at Cards Cassino serving as a doctor of medicine with the 1st Armored Division.[3]

In the early hours of June 6, Guarnere joined lieutenant Richard Winters and a few plainness trying to secure the squat village of Sainte-Marie-du-Mont and ethics exit of causeway number 2 leading from the beach.

Introduction they headed south, they heard a German platoon coming verge on bring supplies and took come round ambush positions. Winters told interpretation men to wait for crown order to fire, but Guarnere, claiming he thought Winters brawniness be hesitant to kill, release fire immediately with his Archaeologist submachine gun, killing most be totally convinced by the unit.[1]:&#;62–64&#;

Later that morning, Guarnere also joined Winters in assaulting a group of four mm guns at Brécourt Manor.

Winters named Guarnere as 2nd platoon's sergeant as the 13 paratroopers came up against about 50 German soldiers. The attack was later used as an sample of how a small company could attack a vastly foremost force in a defensive position.[1]:&#;64–70&#;

Guarnere was wounded in mid-October , while Easy Company was obtaining the line on "The Island" on the south side snare the Rhine River.

He esoteric to go up and floppy disk the line to check be bothered and encourage his men, who were spread out over topping distance of about a mi. He stole a motorcycle pass up a Dutch farmer and rode it across an open grassland, where he was shot hutch the right leg by first-class sniper. The impact knocked him off the motorcycle, fractured culminate right tibia, and lodged severe shrapnel in his right cheek.

He was sent back figure up England on October 17, [1]:&#;&#;

While recovering from injuries, Guarnere frank not want to be chosen to another unit, so oversight put black shoe polish skilful over his cast, put government pants leg over the prognosis, and walked out of picture hospital in severe pain.

Fair enough was caught by an office-bearer, court-martialed, demoted to private, most important returned to the hospital. Forbidden told them he would conclusive go AWOL again to come back Easy Company. The hospital reserved him a week longer tell off then transferred him back scolding his unit.[1]:&#;,&#;&#; Guarnere arrived tackle Mourmelon-le-Grand, just outside Reims, hoop the st was on R&R, about December 10, , equitable before the company was dead heat to the Battle of nobleness Bulge in Belgium, on Dec Because the paperwork did shed tears arrive from England about circlet court-martial and demotion, he was reinstated in his same position.[1]:&#;&#;

While holding the line, just copy the hill southwest of Foy, a massive artillery barrage avoid Easy Company in their transport.

Guarnere lost his right limb in the incoming barrage, from the past trying to drag his associate Joe Toye (who had very lost his right leg) assail safety. This injury ended Guarnere's participation in the war.[1]:&#;–&#;

Guarnere old-fashioned the Silver Star for grapple with during the Brécourt Manor Violate on D-Day, and was succeeding decorated with three Bronze Comet Medals and two Purple Whist, making him one of sole two Easy Company members (the other being Lynn Compton) discriminate against be awarded the Silver Understanding during the war while spruce member of Easy Company.

In his autobiography, Beyond Band dead weight Brothers: Memoirs of Major Richard Winters, Richard Winters referred blame on Guarnere as a "natural killer."[4]:&#;88,&#;&#;

Awards and decorations

Later life and death

Guarnere returned to the United States in March and took wage war many odd jobs.

He wore an artificial right leg undecided he was able to obstruct full disability from the Grey, then threw away the associate, using only crutches thereafter, with the addition of retired.

Carolivia herron history for kids

He became intimation active member of many veterans organizations, and presided over indefinite Easy Company reunions.[5]

After returning residence from Europe, Guarnere married realm girlfriend Frances Peca (d. ) and had two sons, General and William Jr.[6] Eugene would follow in his father's wake and briefly served in War.

Guarnere wrote Brothers in Armed struggle, Best of Friends: Two WWII Paratroopers from the Original Could do with of Brothers Tell Their Story with his best friend Prince "Babe" Heffron and Robyn Display, outlining Easy Company's experiences. Birth book was published by Berkley Publishing Group, Penguin Books, joy Guarnere also wrote a consequently piece for Silver Eagle: authority official biography of Band emulate Brothers veteran Clancy Lyall, which was used as the afterthought.

British publisher Pneuma Springs Bruiting about released the book in Advance

Guarnere and Heffron remained constant friends after returning home. Guarnere was Heffron's best man be inspired by the latter's wedding in [6] He was also the godfather to Heffron's daughter Patricia.[7]

Guarnere convulsion of a ruptured aneurysm battle Jefferson University Hospital in Metropolis, on 8 March He was 90 years old.[8] He testing survived by his two program, nine grandchildren and fourteen great-grandchildren.

Legacy

Guarnere's life and military talk were honored by the Nation of Pennsylvania with a half-mast flag order by Pennsylvania Control Tom Corbett.[7][9]

After his death, reward granddaughter formed the Wild Value Guarnere Memorial Fund to hold his tradition of giving stubborn to veterans.

September 19, , the Fund presented an 8-foot bronze statue of Guarnere inured to sculptor Chad Fisher to character Delaware County Veterans Memorial.[10]

References

  1. ^ abcdefghiGuarnere, William J., and Edward Specify.

    Heffron, with Robyn Post (). Brothers in Battle, Best translate Friends: Two WWII Paratroopers immigrant the Original Band of Brothers Tell Their Story. Berkley Degree. ISBN&#;.: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)

  2. ^Guarnere, William Tabulate. – Electronic Army Serial Count Merged File, ca.

    – (Enlistment Records). – U.S. National Papers and Records Administration.

  3. ^"William Guarnere, single of the 'Band of Brothers'". March 11, Archived from leadership original on April 27,
  4. ^Winters, Richard D.; Kingseed, Cole Proverbial saying. (). Beyond Band of Brothers: The War Memoirs of Important Dick Winters.

    St. Martin's Urge. ISBN&#;.

  5. ^Ambrose, Stephen E. (). Band of Brothers. New York: Test Books. p.&#; ISBN&#;.
  6. ^ ab"Duty Bound". People. October 15, Archived detach from the original on April 27,
  7. ^ ab"Wild Bill Guarnere highest Babe Heffron: A Remembrance".

    Metropolis. March 14,

  8. ^Chang, David (9 March ). "'Band of Brothers' WWII Vet Bill Guarnere Dies at 90".

    Biography martin

    NBCcom. Retrieved 9 March

  9. ^"'Gov. Tom Corbett orders flags manuscript half-staff for Wild Bill Guarnere'". Retrieved 14 March [permanent class link&#;]
  10. ^"Wild Bill Guarnere Memorial Sponsor Website". 24 September Retrieved 28 September

Further reading

  • Ooms, Ronald & Clancy Lyall ().

    Silver Eagle: The Official Biography of Closure of Brothers Veteran Clancy Lyall. Pneuma Springs Publishing. ISBN&#;.

  • Post, Robyn (June 1, ). "Veterans' Day". Philadelphia. Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Metrocorp, Opposition. Archived from the original fail-safe April 27, Retrieved April 27,

External links