Photo

Photo detail

The first Stars and Stripes group to land in France, publishers of the "Beachhead Bulletin." Front row, left to right, Charles Kiley, Walter Newfield, James Grainey, Leonard Ruder. Second row, Francis Jackson, William McNamara, Jacob Miller, Peter Hansson..Stars and Stripes Museum and Library

Stories this photo appears in:

Tease photo

Alexandria: WWII Veteran Dies at 95

Bill McNamara survived Normandy invasion.

At 15 years old, Bill McNamara was determined to join the U.S. Cavalry. But when he walked into the local armory one Friday night, he was told he was too young. Not to be dissuaded, he walked around the block, stepped back inside and this time gave his age as 18 to the recruiter. The year was 1936 and McNamara had joined what would become America’s Greatest Generation, one of thousands who left for battlefields half a world away never knowing if they would ever see home again.

Comments

Sign in to comment