PVT Donald H. McCrea
Today we honor and remember PVT Donald H. McCrea of the 101st Airborne Division who was killed in The Battle of the Bulge.
Although December 21 and 22, 1944, are considered to be a respite period, in which the opposing forces around the northeast sector of Bastogne sparred with one another, it did not mean a lack of daily patrols and continuing mortar and artillery barrages directed on each other’s frontline positions around the Bastogne perimeter.
One of the casualties of the ongoing fray was PVT Donald H. McCrea of Baker Company, 1st Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, who was killed in action on December 22, 1944. According to his individual personal file he was seriously wounded in the face.
Born in Washington DC on December 30, 1925, PVT Donald McCrea died at the age of 18. He was originally buried in a very shallow grave at a civil cemetery in Bastogne on December 23, 1944. He was later reburied at the U.S. Military Cemetery No. 1 of Grand Failly, France, at Plot I, Row 2, Grave 29. Since February 1, 1949, he rests eternally at the American War Cemetery Luxembourg, Plot B, Row 10, Grave 59.
PVT Donald McCrea was posthumously awarded a Purple Heart Medal.
Another Screaming Eagle had soared to the ultimate height. 🦅
Lest we forget! 🇺🇸