Tech Sgt. Leslie C. Abbott Jr.Abbott Jr. was 22 years old and was on the landing craft

with Captain Fellers.

Staff Sgt. Gordon H. White Jr.White Jr. was 23 years old. He was on the landing craft

with Captain Fellers.

PFC. Wallace R. CarterBack home, “Little Wallace Carter” was a pro at games

of chance like pool and earned the nickname “Little Snake Eyes” to set him apart from his big brother whose

nickname was “Big Snake Eyes.” On D-Day he was 21 years old.

PFC. John D. CliftonCame in on the second wave, 19 minutes after the rest of Company A. He was the radio operator. Clifton got

shot within a few yards of Ray Nance. He was 20 on D-Day.

Tech Sgt. Frank P. Draper Jr.He came from the “wrong side of the tracks.” Draper excelled in high school in Bedford Co. at baseball and

football. On D-Day, he was injured when his boat damaged its rudder trying to back out. He was

transferred into another boat. Draper was 25 years old on D-Day.

Captain Taylor N. FellersCaptain Fellers was ill with a severe sinus infection on

the day of the invasion and could have remained in England, but he said, “I trained you and I’ve come to die with you if that’s what it takes.” He was not a fan of the

invasion plan, but he went with his fellow Bedford boys.

PFC. Nick N. GillaspieHe was 26 years old on D-Day.

PVT. Bedford T. HobackBedford Hoback was a part of a set of two brothers from

Bedford, VA. He was 30 years old.

Staff Sgt. Raymond S. HobackRaymond Hoback was one of two Hoback brothers. He

was 23 years old.

PVT. Clifton G. LeeLee was 26 years old and was on the landing craft with

Captain Fellers.

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Technician George E. CrouchThe 26-year-old was a cook under Sgt. Newcomb with

Broughman, another Bedford boy.

Technician Cedric C. BroughmanHe was 31 years old on D-Day. He was a cook under

Sgt. Newcomb with Crouch, another Bedford boy.

Sgt. Robert “Tony” MarsicoMarsico was 35 years old on D-Day, a Yankee

baseball player in the 116th Infantry. He got shot in the leg and in the arm. He was quoted saying “I thought the invasion would be pretty hot, but I didn’t know it

was going to be like that.”

Sgt. Robert GoodeHe was a jeep driver under the leadership of fellow

Bedford boy Sgt. Allen Huddleston. They would both be drilling before leaving on 6 June 1944 and that was when Huddleston hurt his ankle. Huddleston said that

they both fell pretty badly.

Sgt. Anthony M. ThurmanHe was 25 years old on D-Day. He got hit in the arm and the shoulder on the beaches that day, suffering

from nerve damage.

Sgt. Henry “Clyde” PowersPowers landed on D-Day with Roy Stevens. He was

a half to a set of brothers from Bedford, just as Stevens was. He saved Roy Stevens from the water after they landed in Normandy. Unlike Stevens who

sought revenge for his friends that died, Clyde Powers mourned for the losses. He was 28.

Sgt. Allen Huddleston24-year-old Bedford boy Allen Huddleston missed the

D-Day landing due to suffering a broken ankle in training. Of his broken ankle he says, "I guess I was just lucky.” On September 30th he suffered a severe

shoulder wound.

Sgt. Roy Stevens One of the Stevens family, Roy Stevens was 24 years

old on D-Day. When exiting his landing craft and heading for the beach, Stevens almost drowned.

Luckily, Bedford boy Clyde Powers was there to keep him from drowning. He vowed to kill a German for

everyone of his buddies that was killed.

Sgt. Earl NewcombHe had learned to cook in a Civilian Conservation

Corps (CCC) camp, so when he joined Company A in 1934, it seemed a natural transition to Mess Sergeant. Earl had made a vow too, get hot food to Company A

whenever humanly possible. On D-Day he was 30 years old.

1st LT Ray E.NanceHe was in Richmond for Officers training when Company A was activated. He knew most of the

Bedford Boys, although his platoon did have men he did not know in it. He knew that Captain Fellers was strict and didn’t want to let him or his platoon down.

He was 29 years old on D-Day.

Sgt. Harold E. WilkesHe was in a landing craft with Fizer,

PFC James W. WatsonWatson was 29 years old on D-Day.

Sgt. Jack Mitchell On D-Day, he was 34 years old. He helped Sgt.

Newcomb take water and food to what was left of Company A. He was Company A’s supply sergeant.

PFC Charles W. FizerOn D-Day, Fizer served on a boat team. He was 30

years old on 6 June 1944.

PFC James LancasterOn D-Day, Lancaster was 23 years old.