George McCall
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
George McCall, "Snow, cold and killing were miserable"
Rank: S/ Sgt
Branch of Service: Army
Name of Outfit: 75th Infantry Division
Enlistment/Commissioning date: March 26, 1943
Separation date: February 16, 1944
Period: WW II
George E. McCall was born in Biwabik, MN on April 30, 1922. He attended Biwabik High School and graduated 1939. He went on to continue his education at Virginia Junior College for the years of 1940-1944. He also spent went to Pratt Institute of Science and Technology in Brooklyn, New York for 1943-1944. In 1947-1948, he attended Gustavus Adolphus College. Before he joined the service, he had two civilian jobs at the National Youth Association and Clearwater Gravel Company.
George E. McCall was inducted into the Army on March 26, 1943. He was a staff sergeant and a rifle NCO, squad leader and platoon guide with Company C, 289th Infantry Regiment, 75th Infantry Division in the Ardennes, Rhineland and Central Europe. He fought in the Ardennes, Colmar P in France, Maas Rivier in Holland and Ruhr Pocket in Germany.
"On Dec. 20, 1944, we entered combat in the Battle of the Bulge with 41 men in platoon. On Jan. 24, 1945 the platoon consisted of myself and five replacements. In Belgium we lived in foxholes. The snow and cold and killing were miserable experiences."
He received the:
Combat Infantryman Badge,
Good Conduct Medal,
European-African-Middle East Campaign Service Medal with three bronze battle stars,
American Campaign Service Medal,
World War II Victory Medal and two overseas service bars.
He was discharged on Feb. 16, 1946 where he returned to Duluth.
After the service he had two jobs, one as an Engineer Helper and Clerk at Piokanos Mathew Mining Co. and he worked in the Operating Department and held management positions at the Duluth Missabe and Iron Range railway Company. He retired in Duluth Missabe and Iron Range in 1983.
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The following story was taken from an interview conducted by Mr. Andrew Lian, a student at Ordean Middle school. The narrative tells the story of George McCall’s experiences during World War II.
George McCall was born in Biwabik, Minnesota and is now 80 years old. He was drafted into the United States Army when he was about 20 years old. He received a letter from the government starting; “Greetings, your friends and neighbors think you should be in the army.”
McCall served in the army as a staff sergeant. He was a rifleman squad leader and a platoon guide in an infantry division. While serving he was stationed in Florida, Brooklyn, Kentucky, England, France, Belgium, Holland, and Germany. McCall fought in the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium, Colmar Pocket in South France, Maas River Crossing in Holland, and the Ruhr Industrial Pocket in Germany.
He fought in the Battle of the Bulge during January and February of 1944. It was very cold, they had poor clothes, lived outside most of the time, and food was not available every day. Serving in the war made McCall more tolerant of things and changed his values. He attends annual reunions for his division.
