The Bedford Boys: One American Town's Ultimate D-day Sacrifice (23 page)

“Who says England doesn’t get snow?” John Schenk, far right, and friends standing outside their barracks, winter 1942–43.
Ivylyn Hardy.

Pride Wingfield and John Schenk in Ivybridge, England, summer 1943.
Ivylyn
Hardy.

The Bedford boys leave Ivybridge bound for Omaha Beach, spring 1944.
Allen Huddleston.

Jack Powers, just before being selected to join the elite 29th Division Rangers, England, 1943.
Eloise Rogers.

“God was looking after me.” Allen Huddleston outside Company A’s recreation room, Ivybridge, 1943.
Allen Huddleston.

“What have I gotten into?” New Yorker John Barnes, who joined Company A as a replacement in early 1944.
John Barnes.

“A first-class fighting force.” Bedford boys from Company A after twelve months of rigorous training in England. Front row, right to left: Earl Newcomb beside Roy Stevens. Back row: right to left, John Wilkes, Andrew Coleman, Jack Powers, unidentified soldier, Gordon Henry White.
Elva Newcomb.

Bob Slaughter of Com– pany D, one of a miraculous few who landed on D-Day on Omaha Beach and was still fighting at the war’s end. Photograph taken in Germany, March 1945.
Bob Slaughter.

Boat Team Number Five, one of seven Company A boat teams that were scheduled to land on Omaha Beach. Photograph taken near the D–1 “sausage” a few days before D-Day. Standing in the back row, left to right: Clyde Powers, Harold Wilkes, unidentified soldier, Lieutenant Edward Gearing, Roy Stevens. Bottom row, fifth from left: John Barnes.
John Barnes.

The top brass. Allied Supreme Commander General Dwight D. Eisenhower, pointing, and General Bernard L. Montgomery, far right, chief architect of Overlord, watching invasion practices in March 1944.
National Archives.

“The greatest armada the world has ever seen.” Landing craft similar to ones used by Bedford boys are shown in foreground, LSTs (Landing Ship Tanks) behind them, in an English port just prior to the invasion.
National Archives.