Thomas E. McCall
United States Army Medal of Honor recipient (1916-1965)
Thomas Edward McCall (May 9, 1916 – September 19, 1965) was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions during the Battle of Monte Cassino in World War II.
Biography
McCall joined the Army from Veedersburg, Indiana, and by January 22, 1944, was serving as a staff sergeant in Company F, 143rd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. On that day, near San Angelo, Italy, he led his machine gun section in the crossing of the Gari River (erroneously identified as the Rapido) despite intense German fire. After all his men had been either killed or wounded, he single-handedly used his machine gun to destroy two enemy machine gun positions and charged a third before being captured by the Germans. For his actions, he was awarded the Medal of Honor the next year, on April 17, 1945.
McCall also served and was wounded in the Korean War, reaching the rank of Master Sergeant.
McCall died at age 49 and was buried in Spring Vale Cemetery, Lafayette, Indiana. He drowned while rescuing his 8-year-old son, Thomas.
Medal of Honor citation
Staff Sergeant McCall's official Medal of Honor citation reads:
For conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at risk of life above and beyond the call of duty. On 22 January 1944, Company F had the mission of crossing the Rapido River in the vicinity of San Angelo, Italy, and attacking the well-prepared German positions to the west. For the defense of these positions the enemy had prepared a network of machinegun positions covering the terrain to the front with a pattern of withering machinegun fire, and mortar and artillery positions zeroed in on the defilade areas.
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