William Guarnere

Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends William Guarnere

William Wild Bill Guarnere and Edward Babe Heffron were among the U. S. Armys first paratroopers members of the 101st Airborne Division in an elite unit called Easy Company. Arguably the bravest, most physically fit, and most tight-knit group of soldiers the Army has ever produced, the unit was called upon for every high-risk operation of the war, including D-Day and the Battle of the Bulge. Born eighteen days apart and growing up blocks from each other in South Philly, Guarnere and Heffron didn't meet until they joined Easy Company. Through much of 1944, the friends fought side-by-side until Guarnere lost his leg in the Battle of the Bulge and was sent home. Heffron went on to liberate concentration camps and capture Hitler's Eagles Nest hideout. United by their experience, the two reconnected at the wars end and have been the best of friends ever since. Their story is a tribute to the lasting bond forged between comrades in arms and to all those who fought for freedom.