Memorial

More information

Pvt William D. McGee graduated from Arsenal Technical High School and worked for the Kroger Grocery Company before he enlisted in Indianapolis, Indiana on 11 December 1942. He arrived in England on 23 February 1945.

He was posthumously awarded the Medal of Honor. The citation stated: “Pvt William D. McGee served as medical aid man, he made a night crossing of the Moselle river with troops endeavoring to capture the town of Mulheim. The enemy had retreated in the sector where the assault boats landed, but had left the shore heavily strewn with anti-personnel mines. Two men of the first wave attempted to work their way forward, detonated mines which wounded them seriously, leaving them bleeding and in great pain beyond the reach of their comrades. Entirely on his own initiative Pvt McGee entered the minefield, brought out one of the injured to comparative safety, and had returned to rescue the second victim when the stepped on a mine and was severely wounded in the resulting explosion. Although suffering intensely and bleeding profusely, he shouted orders that none of his comrades was to risk his his life by entering the the death sown field to render first aid that might have saved his life. In making the supreme sacrifice, he demonstrated a concern for the well being of his fellow soldiers that transcended all considerations for his own safety and a gallantry in keeping with the highest traditions of the military service".

His brother Phillip served in India and Joe with the U.S. Navy in the Southwest Pacific.