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Seamus Doyle

Seamus Doyle (11 March 1920-16 June 1944) was a US Army Sergeant who served in the US 82nd Airborne Division.

Biography[]

Seamus Doyle was born in Dublin, Ireland, but later emigrated to the United States. He was raised by his mother and knew little of his father other than being named after him. He also had a sister. Doyle arrived in Boston where it can be assumed is where he grew up until the US entered World War II and he volunteered to become a paratrooper.

Due to poor sight conditions, thousands of paratroopers landed miles away from their meticulously planned objectives, covering the east coast of the Cotentin Peninsula.

Soon after landing, Doyle met Corporal Joe Hartsock from the 101st Airborne Division, whom he saved from a German soldier while stuck in a tree. The two stayed with each other for much of the morning until Hartsock was given the location of his squad mates near Utah Beach, by then Seamus was comfortably with his own unit.

By June 15, Seamus was promoted to Sergeant. At that time he met Hartsock again - also now a Sergeant - as elements of both the 101st and 82nd Airborne took control of the Baupte commune. The two worked together as their units pressed forward to St. Sauveur, a strategically vital city that would pave the way for the 4th Infantry Division to take Cherbourg.

During the attack on St. Sauveur, meeting in the square and still fleeing the German forces, Doyle shouted to Hartsock. At that moment, a tank came around the corner and fired at Doyle. Doyle was parried by a direct hit from the bullet.

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