Submit Photo - National D-Day Memorial

Portraits of Heroes is an outdoor photo exhibit introduced during the D-Day 80th anniversary commemoration events at the National D-Day Memorial in 2024. Each hero represented served in the Normandy Campaign (June 6 – August 31, 1944) during World War II. We are currently seeking submissions for the 2025 display, May 26 – June 8 during our Memorial Day and D-Day 81st anniversary commemoration events. Individuals verified by our research team to have died on June 6, 1944, during the Normandy invasion, will be included in the Faces of the Fallen display and the Necrology Project database.

If you submitted a photo in 2024, you do not need to resubmit.

Step 1/3: Introduction

Before we begin, did the veteran you are honoring serve with the Allies' Normandy campaign during Operation Overlord (June 6, 1944, to August 31, 1944)?(Required)

If you do not know whether the service member you are honoring served during the Normandy campaign, you may be able to find information about your honoree’s service history online through Fold3, Find A Grave, or similar resources. A list of ground and air units that participated in the Normandy campaign is available to reference here (opens in a new tab/window).

Yes

We thank you for your time and consideration in honoring a veteran. However, we are only collecting information and photos about veterans who participated in the Normandy campaign from June 6th, 1944 to August 31st, 1944.

We encourage and welcome you to view the many other ways you can recognize and honor a veteran and support the National D-Day Memorial.

Thank you for your time!

Step 2/3: Honoree Details

On this section, we'll ask you a series of questions to identify and describe the veteran you are honoring. Most of these questions are required, including the photo field.

Honoree's Full Name(Required)

Prefix First Middle Last Suffix

Honoree's Date of Birth(Required)

Honoree's Hometown(Required)

Is This Honoree Still Living?(Required)

Yes

Honoree's Date of Death(Required)

Honoree's Place of Burial(Required)

Honoree's Details Regarding the D-Day Normandy Campaign

Next, we'll ask you details regarding the military organization the Honoree served with during the Normandy campaign. Please answer this as best you can.

Allied Nation With Which the Honoree Served?(Required)

Honoree's Branch of Service(Required)

Honoree's Division/Group/Taskforce

Honoree's Unit/Squadron/Ship

Honoree's Service #

Honoree's Highest Service Rank Achieved

Honoree's First Date of Service in France

When did the Honoree arrive, whether engaged in the Normandy campaign or

Honoree's Last Date of Service in France

Brief Description of Honoree's Service (Limit 500 Characters)

Digital Photograph of Honoree

Photograph of Honoree(Required)

Accepted file types: jpg, jpeg, tif, tiff, Max. file size: 128 MB.

Date Photograph Taken (If Known)

If This is a Group Photograph, Please Describe/Identify Where the Honoree Is

For example, if the Honoree is in a group photo where service members are standing in three rows: "Center row, 4th person from the left wearing a cap"

Step 3/3: Your Contact Information

Lastly, please provide your contact information in case we need to contact you to confirm or clarify any details you submitted. We will also attribute your Honoree with your name unless you ask us to remain anonymous below by checking the appropriate checkbox.

Your Name(Required)

Prefix First Last Suffix

Your Phone Number(Required)

Your Email Address(Required)

Your Mailing Address(Required)

Street Address Address Line 2 City State / Province / Region ZIP / Postal Code Country

Your Relation to the Honoree(Required)

If Other, Please Describe Your Relation to Honoree(Required)

Would You Like This Submission to Remain Anonymous to the Honoree/Public?

Yes, I wish that my name will not be published or associated with the veteran I am honoring on the Memorial’s printed programs, on the project’s webpage, and on the Memorial’s app.

Unless you check the checkbox above, your name will be associated with the veteran you are honoring on the Memorial’s printed programs, on the project’s webpage, and on the Memorial’s app.

CAPTCHA

This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

Browse The Portraits of Heroes Database

The embedded table below is larger than most displays will present in full view.
You may scroll both horizontally and vertically below.

When searching: only single or partial words are supported (a full name will return zero results).

Position in Photograph	wdt_ID	wdt_created_by	wdt_created_at	wdt_last_edited_by	wdt_last_edited_at	Last Name	First Name	Middle Name or Initial	Suffix	Hometown	Date of Birth	Date of Death	Place of Burial	Allied Nation Served	Branch of Service	Div/Grp/Task	Unit/Squadron/Ship	Service #	Highest Rank Achieved	First Date of Service in France	Last Date of Service in France	Biography Notes	Verified	Verification Notes	Submitter	Photo 1	Photo 2	Photo 3	Banner ID
	1	cfullman	04/30/2024 03:28 PM	Adam Nubbe	05/24/2024 05:02 PM	Arrington	Larry	Cecil		Waynesville, NC	05/29/1921	12/09/2008	Waynesville, NC	United States	Army	30th Infantry Division	120th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Battalion, H Company	20 454 471	Staff Sgt	06/10/1944	09/10/1944	Larry Cecil Arrington (Waynesville, NC) landed on Omaha Beach on 10 June 1944 with the US Army 30th Infantry Division, whose first objective was to secure the high ground north of the Vire et Taute Canal. The 30th Division fought its way through the hedgerows of Normandy, across France, through Belgium, and into Germany. Cecil was severely wounded by enemy mortar fire on 21 October 1944 near Aachen, Germany, and was discharged 19 September 1945 at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.	Yes	Obituary, Fold 3	Jerry Arrington	Larry Cecil Arrington.jpeg			P-4
	2	cfullman	04/30/2024 03:28 PM	Adam Nubbe	06/03/2024 01:08 PM	Baker	Noel	William		Bridgeport, CT	01/26/1925	04/19/2006	St. Michael Cemetery, 2205 Stratford Avenue, Stratford, CT 06615	United States	Navy	Drew Two	Drew Two	8078847	Signalman Third Class V6 USNR SV	06/10/1944		Noel W. Baker - See article from Bridgeport Post, July 7, 1944 - Local Navy Man Helped Capture Nazi Fort Near Cherbourg, Press Despatches Reveal. Medals - American Area Victory World War II European African Area 1 Star	Yes	Fold3, Provided Article	Maureen Baker	Noel William Baker.jpg			P-1
	3	cfullman	04/30/2024 03:28 PM	Adam Nubbe	06/03/2024 01:18 PM	Barss	Robert	Earl		Greenfield Center, NY	12/20/1922	09/24/2015	North Milton Cemetery, Town of North Milton, Saratoga County, NY	United States	Army	225th Searchlight Battalion	Battery A, 1st Platoon	32 741 587	T-5 / Corporal	06/17/1944	04/14/1945	Corp. Robert E. Barss, Searchlight Operator, 225th AAA S/L Bn, Battery A, 1st Platoon. On 7 June 1944, he landed on Omaha Beach, assigned to beach-head airstrip 6 at St. Mere Eglise. He guided allied planes to safety, identified and illuminated enemy planes for automatic weapons fire. On 4 August, joined the defense of Port of Cherbourg, employed the SCR 268 for AAOR warning, provided homings for allied planes and defended against enemy aircraft. On 14 April 1945, he advanced into Germany.			Kathy Barss Clark	Robert E Barss Camp Davis 9.1943.JPG	Robert E Barss High School Graduation 6.1942.jpg	Robert E Barss Someplace in Eng or France 1944.jpg	P-2
	4	cfullman	04/30/2024 03:28 PM	Adam Nubbe	06/03/2024 12:55 PM	Bennett	Floyd	Clark		Portland, OR	11/22/1918	02/05/2003	Willamette National Cemetary, Portland, OR	United States	Army Air Forces	9th Air Force	IX Troop Carrier Command	19047738	Major	06/06/1944	06/06/1944	On the afternoon of D-Day Floyd Bennett was a C-47 Copilot towing a glider transporting men and materials for the 82nd Airborne Division to a landing zone near Sainte-Mère-Église, Normandy as part of Mission Elmira. The aircraft went over the landing zone and released the glider. As the aircraft turned away, enemy ground fire hit both engines and the aircraft crash landed, wounding him. He received the Air Medal for his actions as well the Purple Heart and Presidential Unit Citation.	Yes	Obituary - Newspapers.com	Curtis and Mary Nicolaisen	Floyd Clark Bennett.jpg			P-3
	5	cfullman	04/30/2024 03:28 PM	Adam Nubbe	06/03/2024 01:21 PM	Bianco	Luigi	Carlo		New Canaan, CT	05/29/1924	08/30/2009	Lakeview Cemetery, New Canaan, CT	United States	Army	4th Infantry Division	4th Medical Battalion, Company B	31 333 963	Corporal	06/06/1944		Luigi C. Bianco was inducted into the US Army on May 5, 1943. He served as a medic in Company B, 4th Medical Battalion, 4th Infantry Division, throughout the European Campaign. He landed with them on Utah Beach on D-Day. He was part of the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Ardennes, Central Europe, and Rhineland. Corporal Bianco was awarded a Bronze Star Medal for heroic action on June 14, 1944, in the area of Les Fieffe Dancel, France, as well as the EAME Ribbon with five bronze service stars and arrowhead and a Good Conduct Medal.	Yes	FindAGrave	Luann Bianco	Luigi Carlo Bianco.jpg			P-2
	6	cfullman	04/30/2024 03:28 PM	Adam Nubbe	06/03/2024 01:09 PM	Blackwell	William	Clayton		Christiansburg, VA	08/08/1919	06/14/1944	Normandy American Cemetery	United States	Army	4th Infantry Division	A/T Company 12th Infantry Regiment	13017129	T/5	06/06/1944	06/14/1944	Landed on Utah Beach and was Killed in Action on June 14,1944.			Chad Sheppard	William Clayton Blackwell.jpg			P-1
	7	cfullman	04/30/2024 03:28 PM	Adam Nubbe	06/03/2024 01:24 PM	Blake	Edward	C.		Charlottesville, VA			-	United States	Army	29th Division	116th Infantry Regiment, Company G			06/06/1944		As a member of the 29th Division, 116th Infantry, Company G survived the D-Day landing on Normandy. He served in the Normandy, Rhieland, and Northern France campaigns. He was the recipient of the Good Combat medal, Purple Heart, Distinguished Service medal, and several other medals.	Yes	Fold3	Daniel Blake (Son)	Edward Blake.png			P-2
	8	cfullman	04/30/2024 03:28 PM	Adam Nubbe	06/03/2024 01:15 PM	Dawson	Joseph	T.		Temple, TX	03/20/1914	11/28/1998	Seaside Memorial Park, Corpus Christi, TX	United States	Army	1st Infantry Division	G Company, 2nd Battalion, 16th Infantry Regiment	-	Lieutenant Colonel	06/06/1944		Dawson served in North Africa & Sicily before landing at Easy Red sector. He led his troops up "Dawson's Draw", a bluff close to the current American cemetery. He destroyed a machine gun nest with a grenade & led his men to Colleville-Sur-Mer, where he was injured. Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross by GEN Eisenhower. Fought in Belgium & Aachen, Germany after his recovery. Served in the OSS. Spoke at the 50th Anniversary, 1994. Elementary school named after him in TX.	Yes	Ancestry & FindaGrave	Dr. Debjeet Sarkar	Joseph T. Dawson.jpg			P-1
	9	cfullman	04/30/2024 03:28 PM	Adam Nubbe	06/03/2024 01:23 PM	Fisher	H.	Carter						United States								USS Arkansas, participated in D-Day landings and in Iwo Jima				H Carter Fisher 1.jpg	H Carter Fisher 2.jpg		P-2
	10	cfullman	04/30/2024 03:28 PM	Adam Nubbe	05/24/2024 05:02 PM	Ganse	Bernard	George		Hershey, PA	07/31/1917	02/28/2022	Indiantown Gap National Cemetery	United States	Army	4th Infantry Division	Company C, 4th Engineer Combat battalion	33077011	Sergeant	06/06/1944	11/05/1944	Bernard was an early draftee and entered the U.S. Army at Camp Hill, PA on 20 June 1941. His engineer company was assigned to the 4th Infantry Div and he went ashore in the first assault wave on Utah Beach armed primarily with explosives in order to deal with beach obstacles. They landed with only light resistance and moved quickly inland. Following the St. Lo breakout 4th Infantry was assigned to General Patton's 3rd Army and he remained with them until his relief from duty in March, 1945	Yes	FindAGrave, Fold3	Larry Ganse	Bernard George Ganse.jpg			P-4
Position in Photograph						Last Name	First Name	Middle Name or Initial	Suffix	Hometown	Date of Birth	Date of Death	Place of Burial	Allied Nation Served	Branch of Service	Div/Grp/Task	Unit/Squadron/Ship	Service #	Highest Rank Achieved	First Date of Service in France	Last Date of Service in France								Banner ID