Vaghi Directed Omaha Beach Traffic

At age 23, U.S. Navy Ensign Joseph Vaghi served as beachmaster for the Easy Red sector of Omaha Beach on D-Day, a role he compared to being a traffic cop at a busy intersection. After landing at 7:35 a.m., he directed troops, vehicles, and supplies across the exposed beach while German machine-gun and artillery fire struck around him. Amid the battle, he unexpectedly encountered his Providence College classmate Edward Gallogly, who greeted him with, "Hi Joe, what the hell are you doing here?" Gallogly survived the war and later became lieutenant governor of Rhode Island.

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