His parents were of Irish heritage.
During World War II he served in the military as a Private of the Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment in the 101st Airborne Division, United States Army. He was one of the 140 original Toccoa men of Easy Company. He parachuted into Normandy, France on D-Day. He fought in Carentan where he suffered a serious eye injury. He received a Purple Heart and the Bronze Star for his service.
After the war, he earned a master’s degree in education at the University of Northern Colorado, then the Colorado State Teachers College. For nearly 30-years he taught English literature in Iowa and Colorado.
In 1961 he received the John Hay Fellowship from the University of California Berkeley.
Bart Ruspoli portrayed him in the HBO miniseries "Band of Brothers"
His life story was featured in the 2009 book "We Who Are Alive and Remain: Untold Stories from Band of Brothers".
In 2011 the French government bestowed on him the French Legion of Honor medal, the country’s highest honor.
2017 He was buried at Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Denver County, Colorado, USA.
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Categories: Fort Logan National Cemetery, Denver, Colorado | 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, United States Army, World War II | Band of Brothers | Bronze Star Medal | Purple Heart | Presidential Unit Citation (Army) | Army Good Conduct Medal | American Campaign Medal | European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal | World War II Victory Medal | Combat Infantryman Badge | Croix de Guerre 1939-1945 avec Palme de Bronze (France) | Chevaliers de la Légion d'honneur