Pennsport in Philadelphia in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania — The American Northeast (Mid-Atlantic)
William "Wild Bill" Guarnere
Personal Life
William Guarnere, known as "Wild Bill," was born in 1923 in South Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the youngest of Joseph and Augusta Guarnere's ten children. At age 15, he joined the Citizens Military Training Camp, where he spent three summers. While in high school, Guarnere worked nights making Sharman tanks for the U.S. Army at Baldwin Locomotive. At age 19, he enlisted in the U.S. Army as a paratrooper, and fought with the 101st Airborne Division, also known as the Screaming Eagles, throughout Northern Europe. He lost his right leg at the Battle of the Bulge in Bastogne, Belgium, in December 1944 while trying to save a friend. He returned home in March 1945. After the war, Guarnere remained in South Philadelphia, working odd jobs, staying active in veterans organizations and keeping Easy Company united through annual reunions. He married Frances Peca in April 1945. They had two sons, Eugene and William Jr. At the time of his death, they had nine grandchildren and had 14 great grandchildren.
Guarnere, who was featured in the 1992 book Band of Brothers and portrayed in the 2001 HBO miniseries of the same name, visited elementary schools around the country to speak about his war experiences. One of the last surviving members of Easy Company, he died on March 8, 2014.
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Location. 39° 55.839′ N, 75° 8.886′ W. Marker is in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in Philadelphia County. It is in Pennsport. Marker is on South 2nd Street north of Reed Street, on the right when traveling south. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 250 Reed St, Philadelphia PA 19147, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker. Edward "Babe" Heffron (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named Edward "Babe" Heffron (here, next to this marker); a different marker also named William "Wild Bill" Guarnere (here, next to this marker); Pennsport Veterans Memorial (about 500 feet away, measured in a direct line); Mount Moriah Temple Baptist Church (approx. 0.2 miles away); A Summary of Mummery (approx. ¼ mile away); The Colored Conventions: A Buried History (approx. ¼ mile away); The Grand Battery (approx. ¼ mile away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Philadelphia.
Credits. This page was last revised on January 28, 2024. It was originally submitted on January 28, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia. This page has been viewed 52 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on January 28, 2024, by Devry Becker Jones of Washington, District of Columbia.
