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99-year-old Bill Kendall of Henderson, NV appears on episode #580 of Hometown Heroes, airing June 13-16, 2019. A native of Boston, MA, Kendall saw himself as “Lucky Billy” after surviving invasions in Sicily, France, and the Philippines during World War II.

Listen to Hometown Heroes to find out why Bill is thankful he graduated 16th in his class of 200 from Navy radio school. Had he been ranked higher in the class, his assignment would have been different. Eventually assigned to the 2nd Naval Beach Battalion, he would establish communication, through radio and other media, during the initial stages of Allied landings. His Navy training in radio would become a gateway toward a long career in the broadcast business, starting at a radio station in Santa Maria, CA, taking him to the United Nations in New York City, and eventually landing him in Hollywood with CBS.

To learn more about the actions of the 2nd Beach Battalion in the invasion of Sicily in July, 1943, as well as the unit’s experiences at Normandy’s Utah Beach on June 6, 1944, check out this account from the battalion’s commanding officer, John F. Curtin.

Among the memorable TV shows Bill would contribute to throughout his career are All in the Family, Hee Haw, Sonny and Cher’s Comedy Hour, and Good Times. You can see more of his credits at IMDB.com.