Band of Brothers Loses One

Guarnere in the 1940s and Hughes in “Band of Brothers” (HBO)

One of my favorite television mini-series—and arguably one of the best in the history of cable television—was HBO’s Band of Brothers. The series followed the members of Easy Company—part of the U.S. Army’s 101^st Airborne division—as they fought through Europe during World War II.

And in terms of war-related drama and action, it simply doesn’t get any better.

Unfortunately, one of the “brothers” has passed away. SSgt. William “Wild Bill” Guarnere—portrayed on-screen by actor Frank John Hughes—died of a ruptured aneurism on Saturday night. He was 90 years old.

Guarnere and Hughes finally meet (HBO)

“He lived a good life,” Guarnere’s son said the morning after his death. “He traveled a lot [and] pretty much did everything he could have done.”

One of those things was serving our great nation and even losing a leg while trying to save one of his battlefield comrades. The best word to describe Guarnere—and I know of no one who might dispute this—is hero. And that is exactly what the world lost this weekend.

Rest in peace, Wild Bill. And thanks for everything…