Donald H. Mc Cracken

Donald H. McCracken

Company A 1st Battalion 22nd Infantry

4th Infantry Division

KIA 11/18/1944

Donald Hendry McCracken was born in Brockport, Monroe County, New York on February 12, 1913.

Prior to entering military service he was employed by Prudential Insurance Company
in Erie, New York.

He was drafted into the Army at Buffalo, New York on June 11, 1942. His home of residence was listed as
Erie County, New York. He had completed four years of college and was married. His civilian occupation
was listed as insurance salesman. His religion was listed as Protestant.

The date of his commission could not be found. He was assigned to Company A on July 13, 1944.

He was promoted to 1st Lieutenant while serving in Company A on September 2, 1944.

1st Lieutenant McCracken was killed in action in Germany on November 18, 1944, the second day
of the 22nd Infantry's participation in the Battle of the Hürtgen Forest.

After action interviews with officers of the 22nd Infantry conducted during the war provide
the following description of McCracken's death:

"On 18 November, the company started off in column of platoons, with the 1st platoon leading. A heavy barrage
of mortar and artillery once again greeted the advance; tree bursts were particularly frequent, and the scrub pine
was slashed and tangled across the path of advance. An artillery shell killed Lt. Donald H. McCracken,
company executive who had just been promoted from his position as weapons platoon leader.
Lt. McCracken’s old platoon sergeant, T/Sgt. Clement Schelsky, cracked completely upon receipt of the news;
he was evacuated for combat exhaustion."

Donald H. McCracken photo taken 1940

Photo by Jack Rousseau from Ancestry.com

Article from the Buffalo Evening News, Saturday December 9, 1944 page 10

Courtesy of Julien Woestyn

Burial:
Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery and Memorial
Henri-Chapelle
Liege, Belgium
Plot: Plot A Row 2 Grave 22

Grave marker for Donald H. McCracken

Phot by Des Philippet from the Find A Grave website

¹ Photo by Jack Rousseau from Ancestry.com

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