Richard W. McClenaghan
Era: World War II
Military Branch: Army
Unit Info: 125th Field Artillery
Richard W. McClenaghan enlisted in the Army on November 5, 1940. Home at entry: Duluth, Minnesota.
He served as a Technician 4th Grade, radio operator, and forward observer with Field Artillery in Tunisia, North Africa; and Naples-Foggia, Rome-Arno, North Apennines, and Po Valley, Italy.
He was thrice wounded in action in the European Theater.
Mr. McClenaghan shared the following: "The 125th Field Artillery Battalion was activated on February 10, 1941, and shipped to Camp Claiborne, Louisiana. We spent a year there. When WW II started, the 151st Field Artillery Battalion of the 34th Infantry Division was leaving first for overseas but were short of men, so 20 of us transferred to them.
"We left New York for Ireland on January 15, 1942. Spent a year training with British 25 pounder guns. Left for Algiers, Africa; landed on January 3, 1943, and convoyed to Tunisia. We sure were green horns but learned fast.
"I got wounded at Hill 609. Landed at Salerno, Italy, September 6, 1943. Battery A got six tanks that day. From then on it was hell. For one year and nine months the 34th fought up through Italy. I was wounded two more times at Altivilla and Anzio. I was sent to the U.S. for battle fatigue.
"After VE Day, I was assigned to the 329th Field Artillery Battalion going to the Pacific. Thanks to President Truman for the A Bomb, The African Campaign ended on May 8, 1943. VE Day ended the war on May 8, 1945, and my birth date is May 8, 1923. After four years, six months and 23 days, I was honorably discharged on September 2, 1945, at Camp McCoy, Wisconsin."
Mr. McClenaghan was awarded the following: Purple Heart with two Oak Leaf Clusters, Good Conduct Medal, American Defense Service Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with four bronze battle stars and bronze arrowhead, World War II Victory Medal and six overseas service bars.
Source: Hometown Heroes: The St. Louis County World War II Project. 199.
