Memorial Sgt William F. Finley

Sgt William F. Finley is being honoured in Cherbourg because he was the first allied soldier to reach City Hall on 26th June 1944.

Sgt William F. Finley :
Born 25th June 1924 in Macon – Illinois
Service number: 16161745
9th Infantry Division – 39th Infantry Regiment

He served on almost all European theaters and was wounded during the Sicily campaign for which he received a Purple Heart. He returned to the United Kingdom and took part in the Normandy landings and liberation of Western Europe. He died of wounds inflicted in Germany a few weeks before the end of the war on the 1st April 1945.

Sgt, Finley is buried in Margraten, SectionA/row 14/grave 18.

He was decorated with:
Silver Star (posthume)
Bronze Star with Oak Leaf
Purple Heart

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Source

• Text: Rudi Triki
• Photos: Rudi Triki