Bedford in Bedford County, Virginia — The American South (Mid-Atlantic)
USS Osprey, AM-56
The First Casualties
| — | Awarded Two Battle Stars for World War II Service | — |
Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 3, 2026
1. USS Osprey, AM-56 Marker
For the Normandy invasion, everything hinged on achieving a rapid build-up of Allied forces on the beaches. In addition to coastal defense, the German’s had sown thousands of mines throughout the English Channel. But, before any Allied soldier could arrive in France, a fleet of minesweepers needed to clear navigable channels for the landings.
The USS Osprey (AM-56) was one of 2,300 minesweepers assigned this task. Built at Virginia’s Norfolk Naval Shipyard and commissioned in 1940, this Raven-class minesweeper began service in the Caribbean and participated in Operation Torch during the North African campaign. On 3 April 1944, she departed for England to take part in Operation Neptune, the naval phase of Operation Overlord.
After a storm delayed the planned invasion 24 hours, the Osprey set sail on 5 June, one vessel of a large minesweeping flotilla clearing pre-arranged channels to the beaches. Beginning at approximately 0630, the ships of Mine Squadron 7, called Squadron “A”, departed English ports to begin sweeping operations. Disaster struck at 1755 when the USS Osprey struck a mine, blowing a large hole in the
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These six men are considered the first Allied forces to die in the invasion, perishing on 5 June 1944:
• Lieutenant Junior Grade Van E. Hamilton, Arkansas
• Fireman First Class Walter J. O’Bryan, New York
• Seaman Second Class John P Medvic, Pennsylvania
• Quartermaster Second Class Emery W. Parichy, Illinois
• Motor Machinist’s Mate Second Class Joseph Vanasky Jr., Ohio
• Motor Machinist’s Mate Third Class Cleo C. Whitscell, Michigan
The minesweepers were an important, but too often unheralded contributors to victory in Normandy. They not only cleared the German naval mines, they marked the navigable channels, acted as guide ships for navigation, guarded against German E-Boats and submarines, and rescued stranded personnel in the water. It is little wonder
Photographed by Tom Bosse, July 3, 2026
2. USS Osprey, AM-56 Marker
Marker is located at the bottom right of this picture.
In 2019, the bell from the USS Osprey was recovered, and after an extensive restoration effort, was returned to the US Navy. At a dedication ceremony for the bell in 2022, Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Mike Gilday remarked”…let us be strengthened by the courage of the Osprey’s Sailors, let us be heartened by their valor, and let us be inspired by their memory to preserve our freedom.”
Dedicated on 6 June 2026 Given by Lt. Col. Boyd Campbell, USMC (Ret.) and Lt. Col. Margar Kuhn, USMC (Ret.) in memory of the courageous actions taken by the brave men of the USS Osprey.
Erected by National D-Day Memorial.
Topics. This historical marker is listed in these topic lists: War, World II • Waterways & Vessels. A significant historical date for this entry is April 3, 1944.
Location. 37° 19.813′ N, 79° 32.175′ W. Marker is in Bedford, Virginia, in Bedford County. It can be reached from Overlord Circle, on the left when traveling south. Marker is located at the National D-Day Memorial. Touch for map. Marker is in this post office area: Bedford VA 24523, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Southwest Virginia. It is also in the American South and specifically in the Upper South. Globally, it is in North America, the Western Hemisphere, the Western World, and the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once the territory of the Mississippian Culture, one of the original Thirteen Colonies, one of the Confederate States of America, and the Antebellum South.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: Tin Cans Save the Day on D-Day (here, next to this marker); USS Arkansas, BB-33 (here, next to this marker); USS Texas, BB-35 (here, next to this marker); USS Nevada, BB-36 (here, next to this marker); USS Rich, DE-695 (here, next to this marker); Mulberry Harbors at Normandy (here, next to this marker); USS Augusta, CA-31 (here, next to this marker); USS LST-5 (here, next to this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Bedford.
Also see . . .
1. USS Osprey (AM-56). (Submitted on July 25, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
2. Bell of the USS Osprey Returns to the U.S. Navy. (Submitted on July 25, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee.)
Credits. This page was last revised on August 5, 2026. It was originally submitted on July 25, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. This page has been viewed 15 times since then. Photos: 1, 2. submitted on July 25, 2026, by Tom Bosse of Jefferson City, Tennessee. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.
