John McGrath (soldier)

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John McGrath
Born	c.1920 Carlstadt, New Jersey
Died	April 24, 2012 (age 92) Elmwood Park, New Jersey
Allegiance	United States
Service/branch	United States Army
Rank	Technician Fifth Grade
Unit	Easy Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 101st Airborne Division
Battles/wars	World War II D-Day Battle of Normandy
Awards	Silver Star Bronze Star (w. OLC)
Relations	Irene Blauvelt (wife) John Jr. & James (sons)
Other work	Truck driver, firefighter

Technican fifth grade John "Jack" McGrath, Sr. (c. 1920 – April 24, 2012) was a United States Army soldier who served with Easy Company during World War II. He is mentioned in the book Band of Brothers written by historian Stephen E. Ambrose.^[1] McGrath was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Stephen Walters.

Military Service

McGrath was drafted to the army, and he volunteered for paratrooper. He joined Easy Company at Fort Bragg. McGrath made a combat jump into Normandy on D-Day. On June 13, 1944, he and Lt. Harry Welsh knocked out a German StuG III assault gun with a bazooka during the Battle of Bloody Gulch near Carentan. During the war, he was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star Medal with clusters.

McGrath participated in Operation Market Garden in September, 1944. He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, but at the time he was with HQ platoon so he was slightly. behind the line. McGrath was the one who found Hilter's car, and tested if it was bulletproof. McGrath never got hit although he went through all the campaigns with Easy Company until the end of the war. ^[2]

Later Life

Afterwards he worked as a truck driver, and as a volunteer firefighter, and served as fire chief from 1970 to 1971, and later as a fire inspector. He was married to Irene (née Blauvelt) McGrath for 64 years; they had two sons, John Jr. and James.^[3]

References

↑ Levin, Jay (25 April 2012). "John 'Jack' McGrath of Elmwood Park, hero depicted in 'Band of Brothers,' dies at 92". northjersey.com. Retrieved 31 March 2013.
↑ "The Unknown Story of T/5 John McGrath E/506". triggertimeforum.yuku.com. 27 November 2011. Retrieved 23 September 2013.
↑ "John 'Jack' McGrath Sr. Obituary". The Star-Ledger. 26 April 2012. Retrieved 31 March 2013.

Persondata
Name	McGrath, John Sr.
Alternative names	McGrath, "Jack"
Short description	American soldier
Date of birth	c. 1920
Place of birth	Carlstadt, New Jersey
Date of death	24 April 2012
Place of death	Elmwood Park, New Jersey

v t e Band of Brothers

Military units	"Easy company" 506th Infantry Regiment 101st Airborne Division

Characters	Richard Winters Lewis Nixon Ronald Speirs Herbert Sobel Thomas Meehan Frederick "Moose" Heyliger Norman Dike Robert Sink Thomas Peacock Robert Brewer Jack Foley Ed Shames Bill Evans Carwood Lipton Donald Malarkey Darrell "Shifty" Powers Johnny Martin Eugene "Doc" Roe George Luz Denver "Bull" Randleman Frank Perconte Lynn "Buck" Compton Joseph Liebgott Charles 'Chuck' Grant Harry Welsh Edward "Babe" Heffron Joe Toye William "Wild Bill" Guarnere Floyd 'Tab' Talbert Leo Boyle Ed Tipper Alex Penkala Warren "Skip" Muck Joseph Lesniewski Walter "Smokey" Gordon Donald Hoobler Terrence "Salty" Harris Burton 'Pat' Christenson Mike Ranney Earl 'One Lung' McClung Bill Kiehn James 'Moe' Alley Wayne 'Skinny' Sisk Robert 'Popeye' Wynn John 'Jack' McGrath Albert Blithe Eugene Jackson Alton More David Kenyon Webster Roy Cobb Renee Lamarie (Nurse)

Other Easy Company Members	Forrest 'Goody' Guth Robert Rader Rod Bain Paul 'Hayseed' Rogers Rod Strohl Herman 'Hack' Hanson Amos 'Buck' Taylor Dewitt Lowrey Gordon Carson Robert Burr Smith Ed Pepping (Medic) Al Mampre (Medic) Clancy Lyall

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