Missing information?

Do you have any additional information you would like to share about a soldier?

Submit

Personal info

Full name
MC GIRR, Russell Blake
Date of birth
18 August 1913
Age
31
Place of birth
Penacook, Merrimack County, New Hampshire
Hometown
Merrimack County, New Hampshire

Military service

Service number
31107806
Rank
Staff Sergeant
Function
unknown
Unit
A Company,
1st Battalion,
310th Infantry Regiment,
78th Infantry Division
Awards
Purple Heart

Death

Status
Killed in Action
Date of death
9 February 1945
Place of death
Just outside Schmidt, Germany

Grave

Cemetery
American War Cemetery Henri-Chapelle
Plot Row Grave
D 16 14

Immediate family

Members
Edward Mc Girr (father)
Laura (Blake) Mc Girr (mother)
Edward Mc Girr (brother)
Ruth Mc Girr (sister)
Bernice (Stammers) Mc Gill (wife)
Jane (Johnson) Mc Girr (daughter)

More information

S/Sgt Russell B. Mc Girr enlisted in Manchester, New Hampshire on April 13, 1942.

A member of his unit, John B. Cramer, remembered: I was told at that time that the platoon was just outside Schmidt and two German soldiers, displaying a white flag, tried to surrender. A replacement NCO opened fire on them with grease gun and hence around 50 German soldiers waiting to see if the first two made it then started a firefight in which both Miles and Mc Girr were killed.

Source of information: Aimee Fogg, Peter Schouteten, www.wwiimemorial.com, www.archives.gov - WWII Enlistment Record, www.ancestry.com - Headstone and Interment Record

Photo source: www.findagrave.com - Des Philippet, Jane Mc Girr Johnson