CPL Richard Elwin McLouth

courtesy of John C. Monk

CPL Richard Elwin McLouth was born 26 Apr 1922 in Battle Creek, Michigan. He was the only child of William Harold and Isolette Isadore (Beach) McLouth. His father was a barber. The family moved to Lakeville, Indiana before 1930. Richard married Pauline Marie Bennett in May 1942.

Richard was drafted in December 1942. He and Pauline would have a son who was stillborn in June 1943. Richard was probably sent overseas to England sometime in the the spring of 1944. He was already a CPL when he was transferred from the replacement depot to B Company 116th Infantry on 16 Jun 1944 exactly 1 year after the death of his son. CPL McLouth went missing in action on 17 June 1944 but was returned to the unit or found on 22 Jun 1944. CPL McLouth was wounded on 8 Aug 1944 and evacuated to hospital where he died of his wound(s) on 9 Aug 1944.

CPL McLouth was repatriated and re-interred in Southlawn Cemetery in South Bend, Indiana.

We are unsure why his headstone gives his rank as SSG when all known military documents give his rank as CPL.