Capt Jerry Roy McDonald, USAAF
11 Jan 1924
28 Feb 1945
Lorraine American Cemetery,
St Avold, France
Tag Archive | McDonald
These honored dead
“…that from these honored dead we take increased devotion to that cause for which they gave the last full measure of devotion — that we here highly resolve that these dead shall not have died in vain — that this nation, under God, shall have a new birth of freedom — and that government of the people, by the people, for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”
Abraham Lincoln
Soldiers’ National Cemetery dedication
Gettysburg, Pennsylvania
19 Nov 1863
Pvt. Thomas McBurnett (1841-6 Aug 1862)- Co B, Cobb’s Legion, Georgia Volunteers, CSA
Brother of Pvt Joshua McBurnett
Enlisted 30 Jul 1861 at Bowden, Carroll, GA
Died at Brigade Hospital, Richmond, VA
Pvt. Joshua McBurnett (1843-30 Jul 1863)- Co B, Cobb’s Legion, Georgia Volunteers, CSA
Brother of Thomas McBurnett
Enlisted 30 Jul 1861 at Bowden, Carroll, GA
Died at General Hospital No 27, Richmond, VA
Pvt. Wesley Paul McBurnett (20 Nov 1895- 8 Oct 1918)- Co K, 141st Infantry, USA
Nephew of Thomas & Joshua McBurnett.
Killed in France during Meuse-Argonne Offensive.
Capt. Jerry Roy McDonald (11 Jan 1924- 28 Feb 1945)- 338th Fighter Squadron, 55th Fighter Group, 8th Air Force, USAAF
13 Dec 1944 – Awarded 2nd Oak Leaf Cluster to Air Medal
02 Feb 1945 – Awarded 4th Oak Leaf Cluster to Air Medal
16 Feb 1945 – Promoted from 1st Lieutenant to Captain
17 Feb 1945 – Awarded 5th Oak Leaf Cluster to Air Medal
28 Feb 1945 – Killed in Action
Flew 58 missions, crashed over Munich, Germany.
Buried at Lorraine American Cemetery, St Avold, France.
“Our debt to the heroic men and valiant women in the service of our country can never be repaid.
They have earned our undying gratitude. America will never forget their sacrifices.”
Harry S Truman
Address Before a Joint Session of Congress.
April 16, 1945
A hero's memorial
Back in May, around Memorial Day, I posted about a distant relative who died in WWII. Capt Jerry Roy McDonald’s fighter was downed near Munich, Germany on 28 Feb 1945. He was only 21 years old.
At that time, I wrote to the American Battle Monuments Commission and requested a photograph of his headstone in Lorraine American Cemetery in St Avold (Moselle), France.
That photograph arrived today…and it is simply wonderful! I have tears in my eyes as I type this!
A 16″ X 20″ color lithograph of the cemetery, with the Memorial in the center surrounded with the bleached white headstones of many of its 10,489 heroes is accompanied by a very interesting booklet containing a history of the cemetery, a discussion of the battles that went on in the area and more photographs.
(The lithograph as much better than my photograph, believe me! It is too large for my scanner and photography isn’t one of my talents! 
)
At the top right corner of the lithograph is affixed a 3″ x 5″ black and white photograph of Capt Jerry R McDonald’s headstone:
Thank you, my dear Jerry, for helping to maintain the freedoms that we enjoy today. You are not forgotten.
