PFC. Harold James McCauley
US Army 38th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron
from:Warba, MN
My father was Jim McCauley. Dad entered the US Army in 1939 and was sent to Fort Mead to play on the Army post team in South Dakota. He was trained as a pastry chef because he said that allowed him to travel with the baseball team during the season. In 1943 dad was sent to Fort Maxi in Texas and trained with the 38th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron. Late in 1943 the 38th shipped out of New Jersey as a guest of the Queen Mary. Dad trained in England for 6 months and learned A troop with the 38th Cavalry would be part of the 6th of June 1944 invasion of France. His platoon Sargeant was SSG. John Tietjen who dad said was one of the best guys he ever met. The rest of the 38th shipped on June 12th.
On 26th of July 1944 Sgt. McCauley was wounded in the breakout at St.Lo. His entire squad was killed or wounded. Jim recovered from his wounds in England and joined his unit for the Battle of the Bulge, which earned them the Presidential Unit citation Defense of Monchau. Sgt. McCauley was with his unit as it became one of the first units to enter Paris and camped on the grounds at Note Dame. Dad left the military in 1945.
