Final muster for the last man from Bedford, Virginia

[Louis of PA]

This is a sketchy and far from satisfying news report. I wish they'd at least have reported his unit and branch; my guess is that he was infantry but he could have been in the Engineers who landed to clear obstacles.

He is certainly worth our salute, as are all the others.
Regards


Last Remaining Bedford Boy Dies
Bedford, VA
from ABC 13



The last remaining member of the World War Two "Bedford Boys" has died. The group was part of the D-Day invasion.


Ray Nance passed away yesterday, at 94-years-old. He was one of 34 servicemen from the Bedford area who landed on the beaches of Normandy on June 6th.


Nance was second-in-command of A Company and was also the only officer in the company who made it home. While he was alive, the veteran visited the D-Day Memorial in Bedford once a week.


Visitation for Nance is Tuesday night at Tharp Funeral Home and Crematory in Bedford.

Graveside Services are Wednesday at 11:00 a.m., at Oakwood Cemetery.

Information

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[VET70]

Company A 116th Infantry.
From the 29th Division's unit history "29 Let's Go!" by Joseph Ewing, p. 40 describing the first wave: "Ten minutes after the ramps had dropped A Company was without officers. Lt. Edward N. Garing was back where the first boat had foundered. All of the others were dead except Lt. Elijah Nance who had been hit in the heel as he left the boat, and then in the body as he reached the sands."
May he rest in peace.

[Bill H]

This was a national guard unit mobilized into the army, hence so many men from one small town served together.

The book "The Bedford Boys" gives a good history and insight into the unit.