World War II medic to speak about Normandy battle at Murfreesboro 9/11 ceremony

A World War II veteran who served as a medic on Omaha Beach in France is scheduled to speak about his life and service at a 9/11 ceremony in Murfreesboro.

Navy medic Bill Allen was only a teenager when his ship was destroyed in Normandy, where he was one of only 28 survivors. The ship, carrying supplies to soldiers, sank during the 1944 Battle of Omaha Beach, claiming the lives of 117 sailors.

 The ceremony begins at 9 a.m. at the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office, 940 New Salem Highway.

Bill Allen, a World War II survivor story

After the ship was attacked, fellow sailor Jack Hamblin pulled Allen, now 94, onto a life raft, according to a news release. Together, Allen and Hamblin saved four other men, and were taken to England to recover. 

Allen, a Murfreesboro native, immediately registered for the war draft the day he graduated high school from Central HIgh, now Central Magnet. Only 18 when he registered, he wanted to be in the signal corps, but the military assigned him to the medic role.

After serving three years in the Navy, Allen returned home to Murfreesboro, where he met his wife, Idalee Tomlinson. He worked at Woodfin's Funeral Chapel and later at Murfreesboro Electric Department. While at Woodfin's, he responded to death calls and helped with visitations until he retired at 91. 

Allen and his wife have two daughters, four grandchildren and five great-grandchildren. In 2013, the release says he and his family traveled to Normandy as part of a PBS documentary for the 70th anniversary.

“The people of Normandy couldn’t do enough for a World War II veteran,” he said in the release. “I appreciated the opportunity to go back where I had been.”

Allen, now the only living member of the 28 survivors, organized an annual get-together for the sailors beginning in 1978. He also meets with survivors' families annually in Pigeon Forge.

“I’m thankful for the life I have been granted, and I appreciate the fact that people want to hear my story,” Allen said. “I will tell it the best I can remember from 75 years ago.”

Allen plans to speak at the Rutherford County Sheriff's Office at 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Sept. 11. 

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Reach Brinley Hineman at bhineman@gannett.com and on Twitter @brinleyhineman.