William G. Dabney

William Garfield Dabney (June 24, 1924 – December 12, 2018) was an African-American resident of Roanoke, Virginia, who served in World War II. He was awarded the Legion of Honor (Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur) for his actions during the invasion of Normandy. Notably, Dabney — the last known surviving soldier from the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the only all-black unit in the D-Day landings — did not receive the honor until the sixty-fifth anniversary of D-Day – 18 days shy of his eighty-fifth birthday.

William G. Dabney

William Garfield Dabney (June 24, 1924 – December 12, 2018) was an African-American resident of Roanoke, Virginia, who served in World War II. He was awarded the Legion of Honor (Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur) for his actions during the invasion of Normandy. Notably, Dabney — the last known surviving soldier from the 320th Barrage Balloon Battalion, the only all-black unit in the D-Day landings — did not receive the honor until the sixty-fifth anniversary of D-Day – 18 days shy of his eighty-fifth birthday.