PVT Edward Adam Labuz

PVT Edward Adam Labuz b. 19 Jan 1919 - d. 23 Nov 1944, son of Stanley and Teresa Frances (Orszulak) Labuz. Born in Utica, New York, he had a twin brother who also served in the Army as well as several other siblings all of whom survived him. Both his parents had immigrated from Poland (Galacia). Edward enlisted at FT Dix on 22 Mar 1944 and was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry when he was killed. He is memorialized at the Netherlands American Cemetery.

PVT Norman William Milbury

courtesy of Des Philippet

PVT Norman William Milbury was born in Kingston, New Hampshire in 1907. He was the 2nd of 9 children of William Burpee and Edith Clark (Burpee) Milbury. His father had been born in Annapolis County, Nova Scotia, Canada. His father supported the family by farming. Norman completed high school and worked in various manufacturing jobs. In December 1931, Norman married Edith E. Clements. They would have a son and a daughter. In 1942, Norman and Edith were living at 35 Summer Street in Athol, Massachusetts.

Norman was drafted in March 1944. Immediately after his initial training he was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 27 Oct 1944. PVT Milbury was killed in action on 23 Nov 1944. 

PVT Milbury rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

Brother, Theodore Milbury, was a Seabee during the war.

1SG Henry Lester Brightwell

1SG Henry Lester Brightwell was born 17 June 1913 in Roanoke, Virginia to HenryWycliffe and Flora Etta (Dowdy) Brightwell.  The family only had 3 children.  In 1920 his father was a "tinner" or roofer, in 1930 a sheet metal worker for the steam railway and in 1940 a gang leader on the steam railway.  He made a very good living in 1939, $2121.  Henry Lester was working as a file clerk for an electrical power company and made $1080 in 1939. 

Henry was a SGT in the National Guard when his unit was federalized in February 1941.  It is probable that he stayed with his unit through all the training and missions they had before D-Day and participated with Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry in the landing.  He was promoted to SSG prior to the landing and to 1SG on 20 Jun 1944.  On 4 Sep 1944 he went to hospital as a non-battle casualty.  On 9 Sep 1944 he was returned to duty.  On 22 Nov 1944 he went to hospital with a serious wound (artillery?) and died of wounds on 23 Nov 1944. 

1SG Brightwell is buried in Fair View Cemetery in Roanoke, Virginia.

Henry's brother, Woodrow Carlyle Brightwell, also served begging the war at the rank of SSG of infantry in the local National Guard unit. 

PFC Julius Everett French

PFC Julius Everett French was born 16 Sep 1910 in Elk Point, South Dakota to Robert and Ethel Ardel (Harkness) French.  The family farmed. In 1930 both Julius and his father were working odd jobs to support the family.

When drafted at the end of September 1942, Julius was living in Snohomish, Washington and driving for a living.  Julius was sent overseas and on 24 Oct 1944 was transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry.  PFC French was killed in action on 22 Nov 1944.

PFC French was buried in Netherlands American Cemetery.

CPL Alvin Edward Wolf

CPL Alvin Edward Wolf was born 7 Apr 1924 in Harlan, Kansas. He was the youngest and only son of the 2 children born to Herman Andrew and Vera (Eisele) Wolf. Both families were of German descent and had spoken German in their homes when they were children. The family farmed on rented land, first near Harlan and then near Washington, Kansas. 

Alvin was drafted in February 1942 and after completing his military training he was sent to England and assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 29th Infantry Division. It was likely with this unit that he trained for the amphibious assault and landing in which he took part on 6 or 7 Jun 1944. He remained with this unit until CPL Wolf was transferred to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry as a "basic soldier" on 14 Aug 1944 probably executing duties of security for the battalion headquarters and as a courier. He was cited and received a Bronze Star for his actions on Hill 203 near Vire, France, a fight for which the battalion received the Distinguished Unit Citation. CPL Wolf was then transferred to B Company 116th Infantry to serve as a squad leader. It was with this unit, in bitter fighting at Setterich, Germany that he performed actions, including the destruction of a machinegun position, that earned him a Distinguished Service Cross. CPL Wolf was killed in action at Koslar, Germany on 22 Nov 1944. 

CPL Wolf was repatriated and re-interred in the Fairview Cemetery in Smith Center, Kansas.

PFC Birger Ernest Levendahl

PFC Birger Ernest Levendahl was born 21 Oct 1911 in Merrill, Wisconsin the youngest of four children of Gustav Emil and Ingererd Mary Levendahl. Both parents were natives of Aland, Finland.  His father worked in a sawmill and died in 1927. Brother, Armas Carl Levendahl died in 1932 age 31. His sister, Claudia Levendahl, worked as a gardner to support the family for a while. By 1940, Birger was supporting his mother and nephew by working as a "common laborer" and reported a 1939 income of $455.

Birger entered Army service in December 1942. We suspect that he served with other units before or after being sent to the European theater but he was transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry on 19 Jun 1944.  PFC Levendahl served as a rifleman and was wounded on 11 Jul 1944 and evacuated to hospital. After returning to the unit, PFC Levendahl was killed in action on 22 Nov 1944.

PFC Levenhdahl was repatriated in 1948 and buried in Merrill Memorial Park in Merrill, Wisconsin.

Older brother, Walter Gustav Levendahl, born in Aland, Findland, served in the Army in the first World War.

PVT Ora Franklin Stout

Ora Stout at age 18

PVT Ora Franklin Stout was born 23 Sep 1923 in Nappanee, Indiana. He was the youngest of the 8 children born to Otto Franklin and Bessie Violabelle (Robinson) Stout. His father worked as a finisher at a furniture factory and the family lived in a home they owned at 356 West Lincoln Street in Nappanee which was valued at $1400. By 1940 Ora's father doesn't appear to have been working but Ora was, as a dishwasher at B & B Cafe as well as attending high school. 

Ora was drafted in March 1943 beginning his military life at Camp Perry, Ohio. After completing military training he was sent to England and then on to the replacement depot. PVT Stout was transferred to E Company 116th Infantry on 24 Oct 1944. He was killed in action near Setterich, Germany. 

PVT Stout rests forever in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

1SG Larkin Leander Witherspoon

1SG Larkin Leander Witherspoon was born in Jefferson, North Carolina on 11 Oct 1918. He was the 8th of 10 children born to Alexander Graham and Geneva Ann (Shatley) Witherspoon. His father farmed near Jefferson but when the sons were old enough to work the farm Alexander took a job working on a local road crew funded by the Works Project Administration (WPA) eventually becoming a foreman and earning a reported $468 in 1939. The family was fortunate to have owned the farm from before the onset of the Great Depression and this may have been what allowed Larkin and his siblings to complete high school and yet Larkin was farming for the family in 1940. 

Larkin, perhaps sensing the coming war, enlisted in the U.S. Army in September 1940. We don't know what duties or assignments he may have had but it is likely that he had not gone overseas before he married Wilma Dare Absher in Jefferson on 27 Jan 1944. 1SG Larkin was sent overseas and  assigned as First Sergeant of Headquarters and Headquarters Company 2nd Battalion 116th Infantry reporting on 4 Sep 1944. However, he was needed in E Company 116th Infantry and assigned to that unit on 10 Sep 1944. He served with E Company until he was killed in action on 22 Nov 1944.

1SG Witherspoon was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in Friendship Baptist Church Cemetery in Jefferson, North Carolina. 

Larkin and Wilma had a son born 3 Nov 1944. Brothers Wade Harrison Witherspoon and William Willford Witherspoon also served in the U.S. Army during WW2. Grandfather's William Harrison Witherspoon and Riley Shatley served in the Confederate States Army during the Civil War. 

PFC Milton Raymond Bailey

PFC Milton Raymond Bailey was born abt 1924 to Frederick and Nellie (Horigan) Bailey. His father was a plumber.  Nellie died in 1939, Fred in 1941.

After entering the service and receiving medic training Milton was sent overseas and assigned Medical Detachment 116th Infantry and attached to Anti-Tank Company 116th Infantry.  He was relieved of attachment and returned to the Medical Detachment on 18 Jul 1944.  Promoted to PFC on 13 Nov 1944, PFC Bailey was killed in action on 22 Nov 1944.

PFC Bailey is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery. 

PFC Tullio Richard Grassi

PFC Tullio Richard Grassi was born 5 Nov 1924 in Cleveland, Ohio to Frank and Lucia M. (Clemente) Grassi.  His father worked as a public school custodian and a carpenter and was an Italian immigrant.  Tullio graduated from high school.

Tullio was drafted in March 1944.  He received his infantry training and was sent to Europe. PFC Grassi was killed in action on 22 Nov 1944.

PFC Grassi was repatriated in 1948 and buried in Saint Mary's Cemetery in Cleveland, Ohio.

PVT Francis Jarvis Linn

PVT Francis Jarvis Linn was born 29 May 1924 in Harrison, Missouri. Francis was the adopted son of Forest G and Mary Alma (Leath) Linn of Bronaugh, MO. Francis Linn attended Bronaugh High School in Vernon County, Missouri. 

 

He entered the Army in February 1943 and trained in Camp Beal, CA; Camp Blanding, FL; and Camp Shelby, MS. He went overseas in May 1944 and served in England, France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. PFC Linn was assigned to M Company 28 Jun 1944, reassigned to Cannon Company on 8 Jul 1944 and finally to B Company on 19 Aug 1944.  Killed in Action 22 November 1944, Koslar, Germany, his awards include the Purple Heart. He is buried in Plot E, Row 10, Grave 9, American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Limburg, Netherlands." 

 

They also erected a memorial centotaph with the family burials in Bronaugh.

SSG Warren Carlisle Cook

SSG Warren Carlisle Cook was born 23 Jan 1917 in Pike County, Georgia to Benjamin Franklin and Pearl Eugenia (Bloodworth) Cook.  The family farmed to support themselves.  Warren was the baby of the family being born 8 years after the next youngest child. 

Warren enlisted in the regular army at Pope Field, Fort Bragg, North Carolina for 3 years on 18 May 1939.  We are unclear how, but he was assigned to L Company 116th Infantry before D-Day and made the landing with L Company.  He was reported as wounded on 8 Jun 1944 and evacuated to hospital.  He returned was dropped from the rolls on 21 Jun 1944.  On 21 Oct 1944 he returned to the unit from the replacement depot.  He may have been in hospital all that time or assigned to other duties in other units.  On 21 Nov 1944 he was wounded again and again evacuated to the hospital.  He died of wounds on 22 Nov 1944. 

SSG Cook was returned to the U.S. in 1948 and is buried in Rehoboth Baptist Church Cemetery in Griffin, Georgia together with his parents.

PVT George Llewellyn Fox

PVT George Llewellyn Fox was born 8 Sep1918 in Maidencreek, Pennsylvania to George Warren and Ellen Nora (Wesner) Fox.  His father worked in a garage.  On 26 Jul 1941, George married Kathryn E. Werner at Leesport, Pennsylvania.

George went into the army in November 1943.  In July 1944 he was sent overseas and on 24 Oct 1944 he was transferred from the replacement depot to E Company 116th Infantry.  PVT Fox was killed in action less than a month later, on 22 Nov 1944.

PVT Fox is buried in Eplers Church Cemetery in Leesport, Pennsylvania. Kathryn never re-married. 

SGT William Collins Wessels

courtesy of Corey & Douglas Marshall-Steele

SGT William Collins Wessels was born 5 May 1914 in Newstown, Virginia. He was the only child of William Herbert and Ethel Pauline (Collins) Wessels. His father was a farmer but died in May 1917 of pulmonary tuberculosis. Ethel remarried 5-years later. Step-father Dorsey Bundick was also a farmer. However the Great Depression was hard on everyone and in 1940 both Dorsey and William were working on the state road crew as laborers earning a total income in 1939 of $920. William had managed to complete high school.

William was drafted in April 1941. After completing his basic military training he was assigned to Cannon Company 116th Infantry and trained with that unit in the United States and in England after the regiment went to England in September 1942. William was eventually promoted to SGT and landed with the unit on D-Day, 6 Jun 1944. SGT Wessels was reduced in rank to PVT on 5 Jul 1944. Whether or not this had anything to do with being wounded by an artillery shell at about the same time is unknown. While he was treated there is no record of PVT Wessels being evacuated.  He continued to fight with the unit and was again promoted to SGT on 15 Sep 1944. SGT Wessels continued to fight with Cannon Company until killed in action on 22 Nov 1944. 

SGT Wessels was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in Parksley Cemetery in Parksley, Virginia.

1LT Robert Thomas Hackett

1LT Robert Thomas Hackett was born 8 Sep 1922 in Ramsey County, Minnesota to Francis James and Catherine Ellen (Sammon) Hackett. 

Robert entered the service in April 1942.  2LT Hackett was sent to England and assigned to Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry.  After training with the unit for the amphibious assault he landed with that unit and was wounded on 6 Jun 1944.  Evacuated to hospital he was transferred to D Company 116th Infantry as a platoon leader on 20 Jul 1944. He was assigned to Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry as Company Commander on 3 Aug 1944.  2LT Hackett was promoted to 1LT on 14 Sep 1944.  1LT Hackett was killed in action on 21 Nov 1944.

1LT Hackett was repatriated and is buried in Calvary Cemetery in Saint Paul, Minnesota. 

PVT Stewart Melvin Smith

PVT Stewart Melvin Smith Was born 28 Dec 1913 in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan. He was the 2nd of 16 children born to Alexander and Myrtle Belle (Atkins) Smith. His "Irish" twin, Retha, who was born in early January 1913 would die just 7 days after Stewart was born. 2 other siblings would die very young. The family farmed near Bruce, Michigan. Stewart married Evelyn Mae Burr in August 1939 and the couple lived in Detroit, Michigan where Stewart worked as a carpenter for Joe Meyerhoven. The young couple would have a son just 1 year after saying their vows. 

Stewart wasn't drafted until March 1944. After completing his basic military training he was sent to Europe and transferred from the replacement depot to G Company 116th Infantry on 26 Oct 1944. PVT Smith was killed in the fighting to take Koslar, Germany on 25 Nov 1944.

PVT Smith was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery in Troy, Michigan.

Although Evelyn re-married in 1947 she took care of the paperwork necessary to bring Stewart home. Their son was adopted by Evelyn's 2nd husband and lived out his life using his step-father's name.

Stewart had brothers who also served. Robert Alexander Smith served as a CM2c in the U.S. Navy during the war. Andrew John Smith served in the U.S. Army. Jesse Wayne Smith served as a PFC in the U.S.Army 1954-1956.

PVT Ransom Theodore Eldridge

PVT Ransom Theodore Eldridge was born 1 Oct 1920 in Akin, Illinois to Joseph Wesley and Minnie Evelyn (Wilson) Eldridge. His father supported his family of 11 by farming in Franklin County, Illinois.  On 21 Sep 1941 he and Mable Louise Wilkerson were married in Cape Girardeau, Missouri.

Ransom entered service in May 1943 and after medic training was sent overseas and assigned to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry and attached to  to Headquarters 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry to work in the aid station.  He was relieved from attachment (i.e. returned to the Medical Detachment) on 27 Jul 1944.  On 21 Nov 1944 he was killed in action.

PFC Eldridge was returned to the U.S. in 1948 and is buried in the Masonic and Odd Fellows Cemetery in Benton, Illinois.

Mable remarried.  Brother Lloyd Joseph Eldridge served in the Navy during the war. 

PFC Gerald Lyons

courtesy of Des Philippet

PFC Gerald Lyons was born 9 May 1910 in Trappe, Maryland the fifth of six children of Frederick V. and Sarah Julia (Lowery) Lyons.  The family farmed.

After entering the Army, Gerald was sent to England and assigned to Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry as a light truck driver. After training with the unit for the amphibious assault and coming ashore with the unit he was promoted to PFC on 13 Aug 1944.  PFC Lyons was a non-battle casualty on 25 Aug 1944 and evacuated to hospital. He returned to the unit on 30 Aug 1944.  PFC Lyons continued to serve until 21 Nov 1944 when he was killed in action.

PFC Lyons was buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

2LT John Moreland Lambertson Jr.

2LT John Moreland Lambertson Jr. was born 5 Feb 1921 in Montreal, Canada to  John M. and Margaret (Moreland) Lambertson.  His father was born in Denmark and his mother in Belfast, Ireland. They had apparently met and married in Canada where their three sons were born.  The family had been living in Montreal as recently as 1935 but by 1940 were living in Asbury Park, New Jersey. John Jr. was working as a theater manager and supporting his family.  He reported a 1939 income of $400.

John voluntarily enlisted in May 1942.  After training he was assigned to Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for the amphibious assault that would take place on D-Day on Omaha beach.  He did take place in that attack.  He continued to serve in that unit and on 20 Jun 1944 was promoted from PFC to SSG and served as the battalion Intelligence NCO.  On 5 Nov 1944 he was commissioned as a 2LT still in the same unit now serving as the Battalion S-2 (Intelligence Officer).  2LT Lambertson was reportedly on a reconnaissance mission when he was killed in action on 21 Nov 1944.

2LT Lambertson was repatriated and buried in Arlington Memorial Park in Kearny, New Jersey.

Brother, Charles William Lambertson, served in the U.S. Navy from 1944 to 1946.

PFC Anthony Peter Szabanowski

PFC Anthony Peter Szabanowski was born 28 Aug 1912 in Westport, Connecticut. He was the youngest of the 2 sons born to Konstanty and Marianna (Urbitis) Szabanowski. His father had immigrated from Suwałki, Poland in 1902 and his mother was born in Vilnius, Lithuania. His father worked as a laborer in Fairfield county, Connecticut but was lost to the family, we are unsure how, about 1914. Marianna remarried. Anthony's step-father, Aleksander Milewski, was also a native of Lithuania and and supported his family by working his dairy farm near Lisbon, Connecticut. It is illustrative of the effect of the Great Depression that the farm was valued at $4000 in 1930 but only $1000 in 1940. Anthony was still living with the family in 1930 but was working in a nearby cotton mill. He married Genevieve Dubrowski in 1938 and the couple lived in a home on Versailles Road in Lisbon which Anthony owned and which was valued at $1000 in 1940. Anthony was working as a driver for the state highway department at the time earning a reported 1939 income of $825. The couple had a boy and girl, twins, in 1940 and another son was born in 1943. Anthony said that he was unemployed when he registered for the draft.

Anthony was drafted in August 1943. After his basic military training he was sent to the European theater. PFC Szabanowski was transferred from the replacement depot to L Company 116th Infantry on 3 Sep 1944 while the unit was at Brest. He then fought with the unit until recorded as missing in action on 21 Nov 1944. The unit later corrected this in the morning report to killed in action on that day but for some reason his body was either not recovered or identified immediately.

Initially reported as missing in action he was memorialized on the tablets of the missing at the Netherlands American Cemetery. PFC Szabanowski's body was found and identified in 1973, repatriated and re-interred in the Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York.

PVT Armand Anthony DiPiero

PVT Armand Anthony DiPiero was born 11 Nov 1922 in Coraopolis, Pennsylvania to Cesidio and Maria Gemma (Moreschi) DiPiero. Both parents were Italian immigrants and his father was a case maker in a foundry.

When he was drafted in May 1943, Armand was an apprentice machinist.  Trained as a medic, he was sent overseas and assigned from the replacement depot to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry on 3 Jul 1944.  On 13 Jul 1944 he was attached to Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry to work in their aid station.  He was relieved of attachment on 18 Jul 1944.  On 3 Aug 1944 he was seriously wounded and sent to hospital.  On 25 Oct 1944 he was returned from the replacement depot to Medical Detachment 116th Infantry.  PVT DiPiero was killed in action on 21 Nov 1944.

PVT DiPiero is buried in the Grafton National Cemetery in Grafton, West Virginia.

PVT Robert Francis Schatzlein

PVT Robert Francis Schatzlein was born 3 Aug 1922 in Rochester, New York. He was the oldest and only son of the 3 children born to Frederick and Hilda Gertrude (Ryan) Schatzlein. The family owned and lived at home at 17 Superior Terrace Street in Rochester. He had numerous aunts, uncles and cousins living in the area. His father worked as a machinist earning enough to support his family and purchase the home valued at $5500 in 1930. Frederick's reported 1939 income was $1600. Robert attended Madison High School and then went to work for Defender Photo Supply Company.

Robert was drafted in March 1944. After his basic military training and a furlough he was sent to the European theater in September 1944. PVT Schatzlein was transferred from the replacement depot to I Company 116th Infantry on 29 Oct 1944 where he served as a rifleman. PVT Schatzlein fought with the unit until killed in action near Setterich, Germany on 21 Nov 1944.

PVT Schatzlein was repatriated in 1949 and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

SSG Robert Lee Patsel Jr.

courtesy of Des Philippet

SSG Robert Lee Patsel was born 7 Feb 1918 in Botetourt County, Virginia. He was the 7th of the 10 children born to Robert Lee and Emily Gertrude (Fulton) Patsel. The family was not well off. While his father repaired furniture, employment was spotty and in 1939 he reported no income while the family lived in a house at 27 Tenth Street in Roanoke, Virginia which they rented for $4 a month. Young Robert and his sister Dorothy were the only ones in the household working and only Dorothy reported an income in 1939 and that for only $185.

That was undoubtedly one of the reasons that Robert Junior enlisted in the local national guard unit. He was with that unit when it was federalized/activated in February 1941. He would have then trained with the unit at Fort Meade, Maryland, in the Carolinas and at Camp Blanding, Florida. He would have then sailed with the unit aboard the Queen Mary in September 1942. Assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 1st Battalion 116th Infantry he was later a section leader. PVT Patsel took part in the D-Day landings and was promoted to SSG on 20 Jun 1944. On 30 Jun 1944 he was wounded by a bullet in his right arm but remained on duty. On 9 Sep 1944 he was reported as a non-battle casualty (probably resulting from an accidental injury) and evacuated to hospital. He returned to the unit on 21 Sep 1944. SSG Patsel was killed in action on 21 Nov 1944 in the vicinity of Koslar, Germany.

SSG Patsel is buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery.

Robert's oldest sibling, brother S1C Arlie McKinley Patsel was killed in action on 13 Nov 1942 aboard the USS Juneau in the battle for Guadalcanal. Youngest brother SGT David Alexander Patsel served in the U.S. Marine Corps for many years.

PFC Milton Ross Matteson Jr.

PFC Milton Ross Matteson Jr. was born 1 Jul l923 in Detroit, Michigan.  He was the eldest of the 2 children born to Milton Ross and Marion Louise (Robinson) Matteson. His father worked as a purchasing agent for a paint dealer and later had his own business dealing in lumber. Milton attended Cooley High School in Detroit and then attended and graduated from Pennsylvania Military Prep in Chester, Pennsylvania. 

Milton enlisted in the Army enlisted reserves while attending the Pennsylvania Military College. He was called to active duty in July 1943. After completing training he was sent to England in January 1944 and assigned to Headquarters 1st Battalion 116th Infantry where he was to serve as ammunition handler, intelligence observer and scout. He trained with the unit and was with the unit for the D-Day landings on 6 Jun 1944 on the coast of Normandy.  On 30 Jun 1944 he suffered shrapnel in his left arm but remained on duty. Promoted to PFC on 22 Jul l944, he was wounded on 7 Aug 1944 and evacuated to hospital. PFC Matteson returned to the unit from the replacement depot on 5 Nov 1944.  He was serving as a scout when he was killed in action on 21 Nov 1944.

PFC Matteson was repatriated and re-interred in Arlington National Cemetery in Arlington, Virginia.

Milton's father served in WWI. Milton has no known relationship to PVT Earl G. Matteson who served in the same unit at the same time.

PFC John Arthur McDonald

PFC John Arthur McDonald was born 15 Apr 1925 in Syracuse, New York. He was the 3rd of 4 children and only son born to Louis Edward and Evaline Lorena (Knapp) McDonald. His father worked as a house painter.

John was drafted in August 1943. After his initial training he was sent to England. He was transferred from the replacement depot to Headquarters 1st Battalion 116th Infantry on 22 Jul 1944. Serving as a scout, PFC McDonald was wounded by shrapnel in the left leg on 21 Oct 1944 but he remained on duty. PFC McDonald was killed in action on 21 Nov 1944.

PFC McDonald was repatriated and re-interred in Oakwood Cemetery in Syracuse, New York.