Thomas Francis McCay

Marine Corps Reserve | Service Number 450670

Born

March 16, 1924
in Elizabeth, NJ

Parents

Thomas Albert McCay
Marguerite (McTiernan) McCay (d. 1942)

School

Details unknown

Pre-War Employment

Singer Manufacturing Company

Entered Service

September 1, 1942
at New York, NY

Joined First Battalion

October 25, 1942
from Seventh Separate Recruit Bn.

Left First Battalion

June 19, 1944
Killed in action at Saipan

Left Service

June 19, 1944
Killed in action

Home Address and Next of Kin

58 Delaware Street, Elizabeth, NJ – home of father, Mr. Thomas McCay

Service & Campaigns

Before joining battalion

Boot camp at New River, NC with Seventh Separate Recruit Battalion. Outposted directly to First Separate Battalion (Reinforced) at New River on 25 October 1942. Assigned to Able Company on 28 December 1942.

Roi-Namur

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Private First Class
MOS: 653 (Squad / Team Leader)

Campaign Narrative

Saipan

Outfit: A/1/24th Marines
Rank: Corporal
MOS: 533 (Demolitions)
Important Events:
June 19, 1944 – killed in action (gunshot wound, chest) while on combat patrol seeking Japanese machine gun.
Buried Plot 1, Row 2, Grave 67, Army Cemetery #1

Campaign Narrative

Individual Decorations

Medal
Purple Heart

Campaign
Saipan (June 19, 1944)

Citation
—

A Japanese machine gun was firing. His field of fire was over the top of us, yet he had to be taken care of before we started our northern drive. The C.O. picked three of us to scout his position. We located where he was from in a heavily wooded area. We started back to our company with the recommendation to bring in a tank or an airplane. In the meantime, another Japanese had a machine gun to our left, and we were about 30 yards from our company, when he opened fire on us. The Marines on the left and right of me were killed. I was in the center and fell to the ground. I was able to crawl out of the machine gun range to get medics, but it was too late.

Robert E. Tierney A/1/24th Marines

McCay, he was a typical Jersey guy, really sharp, demolition man. He got killed going after somebody who was hurt; he knew that it would probably take him away [too].