“Portraits of Heroes” was an outdoor photo exhibit during the D-Day 80th Anniversary events at the National D-Day Memorial ground and on this page for public access. Submissions were provided by the public during a six-month period ending May 6, 2024. Each hero represented here served in the Normandy Campaign (June 6 – August 31, 1944) during World War II.
80th Anniversary of D-Day
Portraits of Heroes
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| Portrait | Position in Photograph | wdt_ID | wdt_created_by | wdt_created_at | wdt_last_edited_by | wdt_last_edited_at | First Name | Middle Name or Initial | Last Name | Suffix | Date of Birth | Hometown | 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 | Anonymous | Photo 1 | Photo 2 | Photo 3 | Banner ID |
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1 | cfullman | 04/30/2024 03:28 PM | Adam Nubbe | 05/24/2024 05:02 PM | Larry | Cecil | Arrington | 05/29/1921 | Waynesville, NC | 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 | |||||
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2 | cfullman | 04/30/2024 03:28 PM | Adam Nubbe | 06/03/2024 01:08 PM | Noel | William | Baker | 01/26/1925 | Bridgeport, CT | 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 | ||||||
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3 | cfullman | 04/30/2024 03:28 PM | Adam Nubbe | 06/03/2024 01:18 PM | Robert | Earl | Barss | 12/20/1922 | Greenfield Center, NY | 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 | |||||
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4 | cfullman | 04/30/2024 03:28 PM | Adam Nubbe | 06/03/2024 12:55 PM | Floyd | Clark | Bennett | 11/22/1918 | Portland, OR | 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 | |||||
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5 | cfullman | 04/30/2024 03:28 PM | Adam Nubbe | 06/03/2024 01:21 PM | Luigi | Carlo | Bianco | 05/29/1924 | New Canaan, CT | 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 | ||||||
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6 | cfullman | 04/30/2024 03:28 PM | Adam Nubbe | 06/03/2024 01:09 PM | William | Clayton | Blackwell | 08/08/1919 | Christiansburg, VA | 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 | |||||||
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7 | cfullman | 04/30/2024 03:28 PM | Adam Nubbe | 06/03/2024 01:24 PM | Edward | C. | Blake | 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 | ||||||||||
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8 | cfullman | 04/30/2024 03:28 PM | Adam Nubbe | 06/03/2024 01:15 PM | Joseph | T. | Dawson | 03/20/1914 | Temple, TX | 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 | ||||||
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9 | cfullman | 04/30/2024 03:28 PM | Adam Nubbe | 06/03/2024 01:23 PM | H. | Carter | Fisher | 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 | ||||||||||||||||||
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10 | cfullman | 04/30/2024 03:28 PM | Adam Nubbe | 05/24/2024 05:02 PM | Bernard | George | Ganse | 07/31/1917 | Hershey, PA | 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 | First Name | Middle Name or Initial | Last Name | Suffix | Date of Birth | Hometown | 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 |
All Portraits of Heroes information is provided as submitted, with no guarantee of completeness or accuracy.
The National D-Day Memorial Foundation assumes no responsibility or liability for any errors or omissions.
Submissions for Portraits of Heroes will reopen in advance of the commemoration of the 81st anniversary of D-Day in 2025.