This is my grand-uncle. Elmo Banning. Died June 6, 1944. Tech5, 5th Ranger Battalion.

I don’t much about the guy and I wish I did. I’m not even certain how he died though one family member said it was a sniper.

He’s buried in Normandy.

Edit: I found this obitiuary:

Sedan Times-Star – September 26, 1946

T-5 ELMO E. BANNING – Submitted by Curtis Huffman

Elmo E. Banning – Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial, Normandy, France
T-5 Elmo E. Banning was born on Jan. 14, 1924, and met his death at Normandy Beach on D-Day, June 6, 1944. He was with Company B of the Ranger Infantry Battalion, having been overseas five months receiving training in England and Scotland prior to the Normandy Invasion.

He was inducted into the service on Mar. 23, 1943, at Ft. Leavenworth, and received his basic training at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo., with the 75th Division. He was then transferred to the Rangers on Sept. 1, 1943. The other camps at which he was stationed in the States were Camp Forrest, Tenn., Fort Pierce, Fla., Fort Dix, N.J., and Camp Kilmer, N.J.

Going overseas he landed at Liverpool, England, and after five months training at various stations in England and Scotland, proceeded to Weymouth Harbor where the division boarded the HMS Prince Leopole and HMS Prince Baudouin bound for the Normandy coast. He received a citation, posthumously, and the Purple Heart was awarded to his father.

His parents were the late Mr. and Mrs. E. H. Banning, of Wauneta, who learned that on Sunday, June 25, 1944, their son had been killed in action. His brother, Lyle was serving in England at the time.

A friend and neighbor, PFC Harry Ivan Bolton, met his death the same day at Normandy Beach.

He died at 20 years old.