RESIDENCE (DURING WWII):
Waterloo, Black Hawk County, Iowa
FULL NAME:
John R. McElroy
ARMY SERIAL NUMBER (ASN):
O-416607
- DATE OF BIRTH: Apr 27, 1913
- DATE OF DEATH: Jul 28, 1944
DATE / PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:
-
DATE OF ENLISTMENT:Jan 7, 1942
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PLACE OF ENLISTMENT:Carlise Barracks, Pennsylvania
ORGANIZATION:
-
MAIN UNIT:9th Infantry Regiment
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SUBUNIT:Regimental Medical Detachment
RANK / POSITION IN UNIT (LAST KNOWN):
-
RANK:Captain (Cpt.)
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POSITION IN UNIT:Battalion Surgeon
BATTLES AND CAMPAIGNS:
✭ Normandy Campaign (6 June – 24 July 1944), ✭ Northern France Campaign (25 July – 14 September 1944)
DECORATIONS AND CITATIONS (AWARDS):
🎖Purple Heart, 🎖European–African–Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
SUMMARY OF HIS SERVICE:
"Departed from the USA on October 5, 1943. Served with the 83rd Division, 331st Infantry, and was killed during Operation Cobra while assigned to the 2nd Division, 9th Infantry. He was promoted to First Lieutenant on June 27, 1941, and to Captain in 1943. His remains were brought home, along with those of 1,753 other American soldiers, on the SS Eric C. Gilbert in January 1945. He was laid to rest on February 10, 1945.
He left behind a wife, Louise Roth (Lehrman) McElroy, and a daughter, Kathleen ""Kathie"" Jean McElroy, whom he never had the chance to meet"
