101-year-old veteran recalls World War II battle in Italy

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101-year-old veteran recalls World War II battle in Italy
By Drew C. Wilson, The Wilson Times
Jul 17, 10:09 AM
Billy Earl Kirby, 101, was injured in one of World War II's worst battles, the Rapido River crossing at Cassina, Italy. The former Zebulon, N.C., resident now lives at The Landing, an independent living facility in Wilson, N.C. (Drew C. Wilson/The Wilson Times via AP)

Billy Earl Kirby’s own blood helped give Italy’s Rapido River its second name, “Bloody River.”

Kirby, a native of Osage, Texas, was a 23-year-old Army infantryman when he was injured in one of the fiercest battles between American and German forces in World War II.

PO1 William "Chip" Nagel Lt Col Charlie Brown SSG Michael Noll Lt Col John (Jack) Christensen Cpl Vic Burk SGT Charlie Lee PO2 Marco Monsalve SGT David A. 'Cowboy' Groth ] SSG William Jones Sgt (Join to see) SrA John Monette SFC Bernard Walko SPC Michael Terrell SMSgt Anil Heendeniya CPL Douglas Chrysler A1C Medrick "Rick" DeVaney GySgt Jack Wallace SGT Mark Anderson CPL LaForest Gray SGT Steve McFarland