William L. Bagnard

January 22, 1923 – October 8, 2016

The Army Garden Room is a generous donation by the Bagnard Family to honor the life and service of William L. Bagnard.

Bill served his country with valor during World War II, landing on Omaha Beach on D-Day with the 29th Infantry Division of the First U.S. Army.  The commander of his landing craft was unable to get close enough to the shore, and many of the soldiers who jumped off the boat drowned from the weight of their own equipment.

Bill made it to the beach, separated from any of the members of his landing party, and joined forces with another soldier he had never met. Together, they destroyed a bunker and cannon that was raining fire on the landing troops and fought the enemy unsupervised for several days.

They continued together through the Battle of the Hedgerows and ultimately joined up with General George Patton to fight in the Battle of the Bulge.

In the end, Bill was one of six survivors of a fighting force of 1,200 soldiers who had begun the conflict as brothers in arms.

The Bagnard Family pays tribute to all of the members of the armed services, including the “Greatest Generation,” who fought so selflessly to preserve the freedom that we all enjoy today.

We stand on the shoulders of those who came before us.