1944 WWII Stars & Stripes Newspaper US Armed Forces European Theater Vol 4 #248

Description

This is for a Vintage August 19, 1944 "The Stars and Stripes Daily Newspaper of the U.S. Armed Forces in the European Theater of Operation, Vol. 4 - No. 248, New York, N.Y. - London, England - France" Printed in England. It is in a shrink wrap and some kind of support backing. This was done sometime in the past by the previous owner. The wrap was not removed from the newspaper. The newspaper appears to be in very good collectible condition. The newspaper appears to yellowed, lightly stained and has a few minor creases and folds. It measures approx. 17 3/4" x 11 3/4" A very nice World War II Military Collectible.
This newspaper at one time in the past belonged to U.S. Army SSG William Cecil Sears, Jr.
William Cecil Sears Sr., father of
SSG William Sears Jr.
served in the U.S. Army during World War II. He was assigned to the 86th Infantry. During WW II Mr. Sears served in France, Belgium and Philippines and was honorably discharged in 1946.
Below is additional information about SSG William Cecil Sears Jr.,
After graduating from Sanderson High School in Raleigh he joined the Army, from which he retired as a staff sergeant. SSG Sears was in the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, First Ranger Battalion in Savannah, Ga., 509th Airborne, Vicenza, Italy, and the 2nd Ranger Battalion, Tacoma, Wash.
As a member of the 2nd Ranger Battalion, he participated in Operation Urgent Fury on the Island of Grenada to rescue American medical students. During this operation, he received wounds that lead to his retirement. SSG Sears was a recipient of the Purple Heart and Bronze Star for Valor, Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal with Arrowhead Device, Combat Infantryman Badge, Parachutist Badge with Combat Star, Ranger Tab, Valorous Unit Award, Good Conduct Medal and the Army Commendation Medal.
Here is part of a newspaper article from the Sunday Democrat and Chronicle, Rochester, N.Y. dated August 26,1984, concerning SSG William C. Sears during the Grenada Invasion (Operation Urgent Fury, Oct. 25, 1983 - Dec. 15,1983)
Flying in two groups of four, the helicopters, UH-60 Black Hawks, flew into the military compound. The lead helicopter landed and discharged its troops. But another ' chopper, when it was about 6 feet from the ground, was struck in the tail rotor by ground fire. It spun into a third helicopter that was already deploying its troops. A fourth helicopter, trying to avoid debris, lurched to its left and bounced on the ground, cutting its own tail rotor off. Unaware of the damage, its pilot tried to take off again and landed on Staff Sgt. William C. Sears, who was putting a fresh magazine of ammunition into his weapon at the time. Spec. 4 Philip S. Grenier was killed by the rotor from that helicopter. Struck and killed by flying rotor blades from the earlier collision were Sgt. Stephen E. Slater and Spec. 4 Kevin J. Lannon. When the fourth helicopter landed on Sears, his back and both his legs were broken, and his lungs later collapsed because nearly all his ribs were broken as well. Sears is now paralyzed from the waist down.