Bill Guarnere

A Philadelphia paratrooper whose reckless bravery and unbreakable bond with Babe Heffron defined Easy Company's spirit.

William J. "Wild Bill" Guarnere Sr. was a United States Army paratrooper who served as a non-commissioned officer with Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, in the 101st Airborne Division during World War II. Born in South Philadelphia on April 28, 1923, he was the youngest of ten Italian-American children. Guarnere gained early military experience through the Citizens Military Training Camp at age 15 by lying about his age. He dropped out of high school to work at Baldwin Locomotive Works building Sherman tanks before enlisting on August 31, 1942. His service included combat jumps in Normandy and the Battle of the Bulge, where he earned a reputation for recklessness against the enemy.

Quick Facts

Character name

William J. Guarnere Sr.

Affiliation

Easy Company
2nd Battalion
506th Parachute Infantry Regiment
101st Airborne D

Nickname

Wild Bill

Role

Non-commissioned officer (Sergeant)

Status

Deceased (March 8, 2014)

Lore & Background

Guarnere earned his nickname "Wild Bill" due to a reckless attitude toward the enemy, fueled by hatred for Germans after his older brother Henry was killed in action on January 30, 1944, while serving as a medic with the 1st Armored Division in Italy. On D-Day, he was known for his aggressive actions, but the specific incident of defying First Lieutenant Richard Winters' order to hold fire near Sainte-Marie-du-Mont is not documented in reliable sources.

Later that morning, Winters named him 2nd Platoon's sergeant during the assault on Brécourt Manor, where 13 paratroopers took on about 50 Germans defending four 105 mm guns. Richard Winters described Guarnere as aggressive and a good soldier, but the phrase "natural killer" is not a direct quote from Winters' autobiography. The nickname reflected his fierce loyalty and willingness to engage the enemy immediately, traits that made him a feared and respected figure within Easy Company.

Reader's Guide

Born in South Philadelphia on April 28, 1923, Guarnere tricked the government into accepting him at age 15 for the Citizens Military Training Camp by claiming he was seventeen. He worked at Baldwin Locomotive Works before enlisting on August 31, 1942, training at Camp Toccoa, Georgia. He served with Easy Company from D-Day until a final artillery barrage in early 1945 cost him his right leg near Foy. After returning to the US in March 1945, he wore an artificial leg briefly before discarding it for crutches once full disability was secured. In 2007, he co-authored Brothers in Battle, Best of Friends with Edward "Babe" Heffron and Robyn Post. Guarnere remained lifelong friends with Heffron, serving as his best man in 1954 and godfather to his daughter Patricia. He died of a ruptured aneurysm on March 8, 2014, at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia.

Did You Know?

After being wounded and demoted, Guarnere tried to walk out of the hospital with his leg covered in black shoe polish to rejoin Easy Company.
He lost his right leg trying to save his friend Joe Toye during an artillery barrage near Bastogne on January 3, 1945.