PFC Harold B. McCarn Records

Harold B. McCarn

 Born February 14, 1923 in Randolph County, North Carolina

 Died  March 16, 1945 east of the Rhine River in Germany (Killed in Action during WWII)

                               

 

Harold Bernice McCarn was born in Randolph County, North Carolina on February 14, 1923.  His parents were Bernice McCarn and Nina Stout McCarn.  Harold’s McCarn grandparents (Daniel and Mary Ann McCarn)  lived in Liberty, North Carolina and his Stout grandparents (John Edward  and Ada Rebbeca Stout) lived in Coleridge, North Carolina.  Harold had two siblings – Jewel (4 years younger) and Charles (6 years younger).

 

Harold’s father, Bernice, was the school principal at Seagrove, North Carolina.   After the great depression in 1929, times were very hard financially for everyone in the area.  Bernice relocated the family to Elon, North Carolina for a better teaching job.   Harold attended college at Elon College in Elon, North Carolina. 

 

In 1942/43 Fairchild aircraft had opened a new factory at nearby Burlington, North Caroline to built the Fairchild AT-21 advanced trainer.  This brought much needed jobs to the area.  Possibly as a result of seeing this, the McCarn family applied for jobs at the Martin Aircraft factory in Baltimore, Maryland.  The B-26 Marauder was manufactured at the plant.  Bernice, Nina, and Harold all got jobs at the Martin factory.  The family relocated to Baltimore sometime during 1943.  Harold’s sister, June, stay behind in North Carolina for her senior year of high school.  She graduated in May or June of 1944, and then relocated to Baltimore.  Both of Harold’s parents would retire from Lockheed Martin (the successor to the Martin Company).   Harold’s mother, Nina, held a top secret clearance and would not discuss her work with the family.

 

Harold was inducted into the U S Army during 1944.  His enlistment date at Fort Bragg, North Carolina was June 24, 1944.  He was sent to Camp Blanding in Starke, Florida to the Army’s new Infantry Replacement Training Center.  After completing training at Camp Blanding, Harold returned to Baltimore and married Helen Middlestadt in November 1994, immediately prior to departing for the Europe.  Harold then traveled by ship to Europe to join the war against Nazi Germany. 

 

Harold appears to have arrived in Europe during late November or early December 1944.  He served as a rifleman in 60th Armored Infantry Battalion, 9th Armored Division.  His unit fought in both the Battle of the Bulge and the Battle for the Bridge at Remagen.  He was one of the first troops to enter the German heartland during March 1945 when he crossed the Ludendroff railway brigde at Remangen, Germany.  He was killed in action on March 16, 1945 east of the Rhine River while capturing the autobahn.   The war in Europe would end 53 days later on May 8, 1945.  He is buried at the Henri-Chapelle American Military Cemetery in Belgium.

PFC Harold B. McCarn's Military Timeline

From Harold's U.S. Army records and various historical reference materials, we know the following:

  1. Enlisted US Army at Fort Bragg, NC started on 24 June 1944 (date confirmed)
  2. Basic Training US Army at Infantry Replacement Training Center, Camp Blanding (Starke, FL) 10 July to 3 November 1944 * (date estimated)
  3. Left for Europe via ship 17 November 1944 * (date estimated)
  4. Arrived Europe as replacement assigned to Company A, 60th Armored Infantry Battalion, 9th Armored Division in early December 1944 * (date estimated)
  5. Battle of the Bulge - December 1944  **   (click for more info)
  6. Battle for Bridge at Remegan - March 1945  **    (click for more info)
  7. Killed in Action east of the Rhine River while capturing the autobahn in Germany on 16 March 1945 (date confirmed)
  8. Buried Henri-Chapelle American Military Cemetery, Belgium (1945)


 

* The highlights dates are estimated but can not be confirmed.

 

** Harold's WWII combat history is based on the history of the 60th Armored Infantry Battalion, 9th Armored Division.  Click here to download historical records.

 

Please remember as you review these battles, many other young men died.  This website does NOT seek to gloriy war only to honor the sacrifice given and remind your future generations of the horror and tragedy of war.



DISCLAIMER - All the information below is being pieced together from various military history records.  There is no way to make sure that it is 100% correct.  As new information is received this page will be updated and/or corrected to agreed with new factual information.





Photos PFC Harold B. McCarn's military records

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