Thomas Edward McCall (May 9, 1916 – September 19, 1965) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the Battle of Monte Cassino in World War II.
Biography McCall joined the Army from Veedersburg, Indiana, and by January 22, 1944, was serving as a staff sergeant in Company F, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. On that day, near San Angelo, Italy, he led his machine gun section in the crossing of the Gari River (erroneously identified as the Rapido1944: la battaglia di S.Angelo in Theodice e la confusione tra i fiumi Rapido e Gari , 1944: the Battle of St. Angelo in Theodice and the Confusion between Rapido and Gari rivers.) despite intense German fire. After all his men had been either killed or wounded, he single-handedly used his machine gun to destroy two enemy machine gun positions and charged a third before being captured by the Germans. For his actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor the next year, on April 17, 1945.
McCall also served and was wounded in the Korean War, reaching the rank of Master Sergeant.
McCall died at age 49 and was buried in Spring Vale Cemetery, Lafayette, Indiana. He drowned while rescuing his 8-year-old son, Thomas.
Medal of Honor citation Staff Sergeant McCall's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
Awards and decorations
BadgeCombat Infantryman Badge1st rowMedal of Honor2nd rowSilver StarBronze Star MedalPurple Heart3rd rowArmy Commendation MedalPrisoner of War MedalArmy Good Conduct Medal4th rowAmerican Defense Service MedalAmerican Campaign MedalEuropean-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal5th rowWorld War II Victory MedalArmy of Occupation Medal National Defense Service Medal6th rowKorean Service Medal United Nations Service Medal KoreaKorean War Service MedalUnit awardsKorean Presidential Unit Citation
See also
List of Medal of Honor recipients List of Medal of Honor recipients for World War II
References