“A Bridge Too Far From Hero Street” follows William Sandoval’s journey from a boxcar in Silvis, Illinois to a battle in a forest in Holland. Born into an impoverished family of twelve, Willie performed migrant farm work alongside his parents and siblings until his father took a job with the Rock Island Railroad. The Sandovals and other Mexican immigrants made their homes in boxcars in the rail yard. As a young man Willie became an accomplished boxer.

Answering a call to service following the attack on Pearl Harbor, Willie became an Army paratrooper. He survived several battles over the next two years (Salerno, Anzio), before he was killed at age 21 in October 1944 following his involvement in the largest air assault in history–Operation Market Garden. An interview with military historian John C. McManus, the author of “September Hope: The American Side of a Bridge Too Far”, highlights Willie’s participation. Marc Wilson, the author of “Hero Street, USA” is also featured.

Eight sons of Mexican immigrants from the block-and-a-half long 2nd Street in Silvis, Illinois were killed in combat in World War II and Korea–more lost than any other street in America. The street was renamed Hero Street in 1968.