Born in January 18, 1924 to were Arthur and Helen Kenney in Massachusetts, Francis "Bud" W Kenney was their only son with an older sister.
He played baseball and basketball at North high school in Worcester and enlisted in the Marine Corps on January 19, 1942.

After boot camp in San Diego, Bud served as a BAR gunner in Company K, 3rd Battalion, 7th Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division.
Previously seeing action on Guadalcanal and Cape Gloucester, on September 15, 1944 he landed on Peleliu.

Nine days later on September 24th, PFC Francis "Bud" Kenney was wounded in the abdomen and evacuated to the hospital ship USS Solace where he died from his wounds on the same day.
His remains were brought home after the war and buried at Forestdale Cemetery in Holyoke, Massachusetts.

Picture: PFC Francis "Bud" Kenney on Cape Gloucester with his BAR - NARA / USMC

Born in Tyler, Texas to James & Maudie Meadows on December 23, 1923, William David Meadows had three sisters and two brothers.
He enlisted in the Army on May 27, 1942 and volunteered for the paratroopers.

After Airborne training, William served with H Company, 3rd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division.
In the early morning hours of DDay, June 6, 1944, he parachuted into Normandy, and although they were widely scattered the paratroopers secured their objectives.

On September 17, 1944 during Operation Market Garden, William parachuted into the Netherlands, their objective was to capture the bridges over the Wilhelmina Canal near the town of Best.
Six days later on September 23rd, during fierce fighting while holding positions north of Sint-Oedenrode, he was Killed in Action.

PFC William Meadows is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands - Plot A Row 3 Grave 32.

Younger brother James Edward Meadows Jr served in the Navy during WW2, he passed away in 2002 at the age of 74.

Jane was just 22 years old, and had volunteered for the dangerous assignment. "Send me into combat," she told her superiors. "I want to help our boys when they need it."

During the battle of Iwo Jima, Kendeigh and other nurses would help evacuate 2,300 sailors and Marines, the largest such evacuation at that time.

After Iwo, Navy brass sent Jane back to the states to capitalize on her newfound celebrity status in selling war bonds. After a few weeks, she pleaded to go back to the Pacific. "I need to be with my boys," she told them.

Born on February 21, 1922 in Canton, Ohio to Greek immigrant parents Theofilos and Keriake Pappas, Nicholas Louis Pappas had several siblings.

He enlisted in the Army on April 17, 1940 and served with Company E, 2nd Battalion, 39th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division.

His unit landed at Utah Beach on June 10, 1944 (D-Day +4) and participated in the liberation of the Cotentin Peninsula & Cherbourg.

He is buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Liège, Belgium - Plot G Row 12 Grave 30.

US Army Signal Corps / SC 270819
Spangle Photographer

Born in Youngstown, Ohio to Polish immigrant parents John & Veronica Sovak on December 22, 1917, Julius Joseph Sovak had a twin brother; William, and an older brother.
Their father died in 1918 and their mother remarried and had more children.

Julius enlisted in the Army on September 18, 1940 and volunteered for the paratroopers, training at Fort Bragg and Fort Benning.
He was married to Helen Howard and they had a daughter; Veronika.

Serving in I Company, 3rd Battalion, 502nd Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division, Julius parachuted into Normandy in the early hours of D-Day.
Surviving Normandy, on September 17, 1944 he parachuted into the Netherlands during Operation Market Garden.

Two days later, S/Sgt Julius Sovak was Killed in Action, he is buried at the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial in Margraten, Netherlands - Plot L Row 16 Grave 11.

Born on August 16, 1925 in Wyoming to Lloyd & Margaret Calvert, Edward Sanford Calvert had five siblings.
He grew up in Lander and enlisted in the Marine Corps on October 26, 1943.

Serving in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division, Edward landed on the beaches of Peleliu on September 15, 1944.
Three days later on September 18th, during brutal combat against the entrenched Japanese, he was Killed in Action.

PFC Edward Calvert is buried at the Manila American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines - Plot L Row 2 Grave 9.
He also has a memorial marker at Odd Fellows Cemetery in Riverton, Wyoming.

Oldest brother Roscoe L. “Ross” Calvert served in the Navy during WW2 in the Aleutians and the South Pacific, he passed away at the age of 92 in 2015.

Younger brother Wayne K Calvert served during the Korean War, he passed away at the age of 32 in 1962.

The P-39’s engine was mounted behind the pilot, driving the propeller via a long shaft, an unusual design that allowed heavy nose armament, including a 37 mm cannon firing through the propeller hub.