Irving Eugene Hosmer was born on April 16, 1919 in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Technician Fourth Grade in the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He was killed by a German shell in Normandy on July 8, 1944 at the age of 25 and is now buried in Normandy American Cemetery, Colleville-sur-Mer, France. His name is commemorated on the First Infantry monument in Omaha Beach, France and ranked as a Sergeant.