Bud Randal, 97 years young WWII Staff Sargent-Combat Engineer at Omaha Beach. He is a member of Cross of Christ Church in Liverpool New York. Bud stands next to one of the stained-glass crosses that he created and installed on each side of the sanctuary.

Enlisted in the Army in April 1943. Bud was married with his child 7 months old and didn’t think that she would be past 3 before he would get home from the war. His older brother was in the Navy and a Pearl Harbor survivor. He wanted to go, and his wife reluctantly said okay.

Sailed for England in the summer of 1943 aboard the Queen Mary- he was one of the 18,000 men and women on the ship and to say it was crowded would be putting it mildly. England was already at War and the destruction from aircraft attacks-V-2 Rockets and the buzz bombs on a weekly basis was his introduction to war. Close call, but o.k., Bud heard that around 40,000 civilians were killed during this time.

Bud is a new member of WELS-just joined about a year ago. Was ALC-ELC and didn’t agree with the changes and left the old church. He had friends at Cross of Christ and joined them for a few services and then decided to join.

Bud was married for 68 years-six children. His wife passed away when she was 90.