Thomas E. McDonald

Thomas Edward McDonald was born in Clinton, Worchester County, Massachusetts on December 27, 1913.
His enlistment record lists his birth year as 1914.

Prior to entering military service he was employed at the House of Representatives in Washington, D.C.,
working for Congressman Joseph E. Casey from Massachusetts.

He was drafted into the Army on June 4, 1941 at Richmond, Virginia. His home of residence was listed
as Washington, D.C., and his civilian occupation was listed as Clerks, General Office. He had completed
one year of college and was single with no dependents. His religion was listed as Catholic.

The date of his assignment to the 22nd Infantry is unknown but he was serving as a
Private First Class with Company B 22nd Infantry at least by 1942-1943 as he is in
a Company photo taken at Camp Gordon, Georgia during that time frame.

He was awarded the Good Conduct Medal as a Corporal in Company B, in Headquarters 22nd Infantry Motorized
General Orders No. 5, dated June 8, 1943 at Fort Dix, New Jersey.

Staff Sergeant McDonald was killed in action in France near the town of La Maugerie on July 12, 1944.

Press release for the award of the Silver Star Medal to Staff Sergeant Thomas E. McDonald

From U.S., War Department, Press Releases and Related Records, 1942-1945 Box 11: B 125 - B 424
via Ancestry.com

Thomas E. McDonald

Spring of 1944

"If I am not mistaken, in the photo Uncle Pip is wearing the
European African Middle Eastern Campaign Medal
in addition to the Good Conduct Medal and American Defense
Medal, awarded for military service after the start
of WW2 but prior to Pearl Harbor. He would have qualified
for this set of medals only having served overseas.
There are no battle stars on the EAME and there is no arrowhead
- these would have been added for Normandy and DDay respectively.
Generally you only sit for a military photo after you have been promoted.
So I am assuming that this photo was taken in England when the
4th Infantry Division was preparing for DDay after he received his
promotion to Sergeant. His promotion to Staff Sergeant
(his final rank) may have occurred on the battlefield.
Location: England"

MCWalsh77

From Ancestry.com

(Website Ed., Thomas E. McDonald was indeed promoted on the
battlefield in Normandy to Staff Sergeant on June 27, 1944.
Note 4th Infantry Division SSI on SGT McDonald's
left shoulder sleeve.)

"Thomas E. McDonald military cemetery
marker in France

1944

This grave site was the original one for Uncle Pip,
before his body was returned to the US at the request of
his parents and buried in Clinton, MA. You can make out
the manicured grass and stone pathway in between the
markers. This is probably located at the temporary
American St. Laurent Cemetery, established by the U.S.
First Army on June 8, 1944 and the first American
cemetery on European soil in World War II.
The Normandy American Cemetery and Memorial
in France is located on this site today."

MCWalsh77

From Ancestry.com

(Ed., This cemetery is actually the temporary
U.S. Military Cemetery Ste. Mere-Eglise Cemetery #2.)

Thomas E. McDonald was buried in the temporary U.S. Military Cemetery,
Sainte Mere-Eglise #2 at Carentan, France and some time later
his remains were returned to the United States where he was
reinterred in Massachusetts.

Grave marker for the McDonald family, showing Thomas E. McDonald's name in the center.

Top photo of Thomas E. McDonald as a Private First Class with Company B 22nd Infantry
taken at Camp Gordon, Georgia circa 1942-1943 from the webmaster's collection