This is the grave of Captain Robert Ware, M.D. who volunteered to go in early because he knew he would be needed. He was KIA on the beach. Please remember him with gratitude on this anniversary of D-Day.
Joe Ware, San Antonio
Source: Blake (Laughing Wolf) of Blackfive blog
According to Private Bob Sales (interview available on YouTube), Dr Ware landed on Omaha Beach in the 3rd wave, however, he wasn’t supposed to land until the afternoon when the beach was clear. .. Dr Ware was the battalion doctor of which Private Sales was a soldier. .. It appears that Dr Ware had heard of the carnage and mass casualties sustained by the first two waves and must’ve decided to come in early on the third wave .. because he knew he was needed. .. Private Bob Sales, who’d come in on the second wave and was on the beach, saw his landing craft come in and drop the ramp. .. Private Sales says that Dr Ware was first off the craft, he recognised him due to his “flaming red hair”. .. Sadly as soon as the ramp dropped, his craft was fired upon by a German machine gun crew. .. Private Sales said that as soon as Dr Ware tried to leave the craft he was cut down. .. Lest we forget
Captain Robert Barnes Ware, M.D., son of Reuben Barnes Ware, M.D., grew up in Amherst, Virginia. In 1940, he volunteered for service in the Virginia National Guard, served in the 29th Division, and was appointed Battalion Surgeon for the First Battalion (Companies A-D). Company A was later known as “The Bedford Boys”; Company B was from Lynchburg, Virginia. He volunteered to go in with his men on the early dawn run to Omaha Beach on June 6, 1944 even though he could have waited until the beach had been secured. He is buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in France.