Missing information?
Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?
Submit- Full
name
MC CLELLAN, William Blaird - Date of
birth
9 July 1914 -
Age
30 - Place of
birth
Casper, Natrona County, Wyoming -
Hometown
Worland, Washakie County, Wyoming
Personal info
Military service
- Service
number
O1288772 -
Rank
Captain -
Function
unknown -
Unit
39th Infantry Regiment,
9th Infantry Division
-
Awards
Silver Star with Oak Leaf Cluster,
Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Death
-
Status
Killed in Action - Date of
death
1 April 1945 - Place of
death
Southern sector of the Ruhr pocket, Germany
Grave
-
Cemetery
American War Cemetery Margraten
| Plot | Row | Grave |
|---|---|---|
| O | 7 | 13 |
Immediate family
-
Members
Ella B. Mc Clellan (mother)
Margaret R. Mc Clellan (sister)
George H. Mc Clellan (brother)
Patricia (Merry) Mc Clellan (wife)
More information
William B. Mc Clellan attended the University of Wyoming with the class of 1934.Both his parents were born in Canada.
He married an English girl, Patricia Merry. The marriage took place on 30 August 1944. After a short honeymoon, the couple returned to duty, the bride to her position as a member of the staff of the Bank of England and Lt McClellan back to active duty.
He was first stationed in England, and later saw service in North Africa, Sicily, France.
He was awarded the Silver Star Medal a first time for gallantry in action in North Africa. During the attack east of El Guettar on 1 April 1943, Lt McClellan, on his own initiative and without orders, took several riflemen and proceeded ahead of the main troops, and succeeded in knocking out the opposition. The next day he made an important reconnaissance for his company through mountainous terrain which aided the company in taking its objective. On both occasions he exposed himself to heavy machine gun and artillery fire.
Captain McClellan was promoted shortly before his death.
Source of information: Raf Dyckmans, Sebastiaan Vonk, www.abmc.gov, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.ancestry.com - 1930 Census / Headstone and Interment Record, www.fold3.com - WWII Draft Registration Card, www.9thinfantrydivision.net, www.newspapers.com - Casper Star-Tribune
Photo source: www.findaqgrave.com - Des Philippet, www.ancestry.com - University of Wyoming Yearbook 1934