John W. Mcclain

Lieutenant Colonel John W. McClain served as Platoon Leader 23d Infantry, 2d Infantry Division, during 1942 and 1943 at Fort Sam Houston, Texas and Camp McCoy, Wisconsin, going to North Ireland in 1944. He was promoted to Captain in 1945, and saw combat as a Company Commander in the European Theatre of Operations. | Lieutenant Colonel McClain reverted to Master Sergeant in 1946 and served as a ROTC instructor at Henderson State Teachers College, Arkadelphia, Arkansas. He returned to commissioned status in 1948 and was assigned as an instructor with the Oklahoma National Guard, Muckogee, Oklahoma, through 1950. After joining the 279th Infantry, 45th Infantry Division as Regimental Adjutant at Camp Polk, Louisiana, in 1950 he served in numerous assignments which include Regimental Operations Officer, Korea, G3 Section, Far East Command, Tokyo, Japan and Chief Philippine Military District, Manila, Philippine Islands. Upon graduating from the Associate Advance Course, Fort Benning, Georgia in 1955, Lieutenant Colonel McClain became Assistant Chief of Staff, 8th Infantry Division, Fort Carson, Colorado.  After attending the Command and General Staff College, Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, in 1956 he served in the G3 Section 8th Infantry Division, Germany and as Operations Officer, USA, Intelligence, Military Police and Special Weapons School, Europe, at Oberammergua. Lieutenant Colonel McClain became an instructor in the Command and Staff Department, USAIS, Fort Benning, Georgia in 1959. He was promoted to Lieutenant Colonel in 1960. | Lieutenant Colonel McClain’s decorations include: the Bronze Star Medal w/ three Oak Leaf Clusters, and Device, Combat Infantryman Badge 2d Award, Commendation Ribbon with Medal Pendant, and the Purple Heart w/2 Oak Leaf Clusters.