Wild Bill Guarnere Passes At Age 90
PHILADELPHIA (CBS/AP) — William "Wild Bill" Guarnere, one of the World War II veterans whose exploits were dramatized in the TV miniseries "Band of Brothers," has died at the age of 90.
Guarnere's son, William Guarnere Jr., confirmed Sunday that his father died at Jefferson University Hospital in Philadelphia. Guarnere was rushed to the hospital early Saturday and died of a ruptured aneurysm early Saturday night.
The HBO miniseries was based on a book by Stephen Ambrose and followed the members of Easy Company from training in Georgia in 1942 through the war's end in 1945. Guarnere's combat exploits earned him the nickname Wild Bill and he lost a leg trying to help a wounded solider.
Funeral arrangements were incomplete.
Governor Corbett ordered that all United States and Pa. flags be blown at half-staff from sun up on Friday, March 14th until sun down that day at the Capitol Complex and at commonwealth facilities in Philadelphia County to honor Guarnere.
(See related photo gallery - Wild Bill Guarnere receives award from Dom Giordano.)
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