(Photo courtesy of "Kat")
Grave marker for in New Section, Plot D of the
Mount Olivet Cemetery , Middletown (Monmouth County), New Jersey |
James J. "Mac" McMahon
entered the service October 14, 1942. He was immediately sent to
Camp Upton, NY where he volunteered for airborne training. Mac
was sent to Camp Blanding, Florida, assigned to the Headquarters
Company, 1st Battalion of the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment
(508th PIR).
Mac received basic
infantry training and concurrently completed the first phase of
parachutist training at Ft. Benning GA followed by advanced
field training at Camp Mackall, NC. The regiment shipped out on
October 28, 1943 and landed in Belfast, Ireland twelve days
later. After another three months of advanced training and
weapons qualifications, the regiment moved to Nottingham,
England where they began the final phases of training for the
coming invasion of Europe.
Following several months
of arduous training including two night parachute jumps and
field exercises, they boarded trucks and moved to the RAF
Folkingham Air Base.
On D-Day, June 6, 1944, he
was one of more than 2200 men of the 508th that parachuted into
Normandy. The regiment was not relieved for 33 days. He was
one of approximately 950 men left in the unit; the others had
been killed, captured or wounded. On July 12, 1944, they moved
to Utah Beach where he boarded an LST and sailed to England.
On September 17, 1944 Jim
was again in combat after parachuting into Holland during
Operation Market-Garden. He fought in and around the city of
Nijmegen until the unit was relieved on November 11, 1944
On December 18, 1944 the
508th was sent to Werbomont, Belgium where they established a
defensive position as the Battle of The Bulge broke out. The
unit was without winter clothing, equipment or shelter as it had
been hastily sent into action. Mac fought in bitter cold and
snow until March until the regiment was relieved in March 1945.
During these campaigns
James McMahon performed outstandingly as the Battalion Wire
Chief, a dangerous function that often required exposure to
enemy observation and fire. “Mac”, as he was known, was an Hq
1st “Hells Half Acre” survivor, a particularly vicious battle in
Normandy.
Mac was one of the
quietest men in Hq 1st. He was always reluctant to discuss his
wartime experiences and accomplishments. His WW II comrades
recall that he performed his duties efficiently, often without
direction, always without supervision, and consistently under
the most dangerous battlefield conditions.
As Chief of the battalion
wire section, Mac was responsible for the operational efficiency
of the wire communications systems connecting the battalion
headquarters with the frontline rifle companies. Mac maintained
continuous surveillance of this highly vulnerable network that
was often disrupted by enemy patrols or artillery fire. These
frequent wire breaks had to be quickly located and repaired or
the wire replaced. Locating and repairing these breaks, required
that Mac and his few men operate day and night, in all weather,
often exposed to enemy small arms and artillery fire.
His awards include the
Combat Infantry Badge, Parachutist Badge with two combat jump
stars, Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (EAME) medal
with an Invasion Arrowhead and four battle stars, Presidential
Unit Citation, the French and Belgian Fourrageres, the Orange
Lanyard of the Royal Netherlands Army, and numerous defense
medals including the Occupational Medal with Germany Bar. |