Donald Irvin McCafferty
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Donald Irvin McCafferty was born in Duluth, MN., June 30, 1920. He was inducted into the Army Sept. 19, 1941 at Ft. Snelling, MN. and departed the continental United States December 21, 1943. He served in Company A Boat BN 533 ENGR Boat and Short Regiment as a Construction Equipment Operator 359.
His battles and campaigns include the Bismarck Archipelago, New Guinea, Southern Philippines (Liberation) and Luzon.
His decorations and citations are the:
American Defense Service Ribbon,
American Theater Service Ribbon,
Asiatic Pacific Theater Service Ribbon,
Philippine Liberation Ribbon,
Good Conduct Medal-43 and the
Bronze Arrowhead Medal.
He returned to the United States November 16, 1945. After boarding a troop train to return home, the train was stopped in Wyoming by a huge wildfire. Because the train carried construction equipment operators and some equipment, they were "enlisted" to help fight the fire for about a week before they could reboard the train and continue on.
He was finally separated from the army November 17, 1945 at Camp McCoy, WI.
He returned to Duluth, Minnesota and after many years, continued his equipment operating skills for the City of Duluth, eventually retiring as the West Duluth Tool House Foreman.
He lived in Duluth until his death January 26, 1996.
