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| Captain Eugene McGee served on Attu Island with these men from the 17th Infantry Regiment. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/77042379/eugene-leo-mcgee http://www.usmilitariaforum.com/forums/index.php?/topic/143375-operation-landgrab-the-battle-of-attu/ |
Eugene L McGee never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on July 14, 1918 in Montana. His parents Leo and Nellie were born in Wisconsin and Montana, respectively. His father worked as a lumber mill saw filer. Eugene was an only child. By 1940 Eugene had completed two years of college and was still living at home.
He accepted a commission as a second lieutenant after graduating from the University of Oregon. He eventually became a captain (in a battlefield promotion at Attu) in the HQ company of the 1st or 3rd Battalion of the 17th Infantry Regiment, 7th Infantry Division.
The Japanese had captured the Alaskan island of Attu at the same time they fought the Battle of Midway. It would take nearly a year for the Americans to land troops to retake the island. Captain McGee participated with the 17th Infantry Regiment when it landed on May 11, 1943. Despite poor weather and inexperienced troops, the Americans managed to overcome stiff resistance for the rest of the month.
During one attack in late May, Captain McGee saved a number of American lives when he moved to an exposed position that allowed him to order fire on a Japanese machine gun that was about to place his men under fire.
On May 29, 1943 the Americans were surprised by a banzai attack that overran Captain McGee and about another dozen men in a tent. They held out until they exhausted all ammunition. After the fighting the Americans found 60 dead enemy soldiers near the tent. With the Americans out of ammunition, the Japanese were able to carry out a bayonet charge. Rather than attempt to flee to safety on his own, Captain McGee carried out a wounded officer. McGee was fatally wounded at this time.
Captain McGee was posthumously awarded the Silver Star.
His grave is at River View Cemetery in Portland, Oregon.
Last year on this date I profiled Silver Star and Bronze Star hero and P-51 pilot Lloyd Whitley. You can read about Lloyd here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
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