MITCHELL OLIN MCGUIRE
Mitchell Olin McGuire was born 11-Jul 1907 in Truxton, Lincoln County Missouri. His parents were John Frederick McGuire (1864-1946) and Susie E. Schamma (1886-1949). He had four sisters: Mertie, Lucy, Elda, and Nellie and four brothers: Theodore, Fred, Harry, Joseph, and Clarence. In 1930, according to the Federal Census, Mitchell was living at 1532 Gallagher Avenue in St. Charles MO.
When Mitchell registered for the draft, he was working for the WPA. The Works Progress Administration (WPA) was a New Deal program that employed millions of people during the Great Depression. The WPA was created by President Franklin D. Roosevelt in 1935 to help relieve unemployment and increase purchasing power. At the time he was living at 316 South 5th Street in St. Charles. He was married and working as a laborer in the construction industry. He was 22 years old. By 1940, the census says Mitchell was renting a home at 1912 4th Street in St. Charles. He was now 32 years old and married to Evelyn (they later divorced).
Mitchell enlisted in the Army on 19-May 1941 at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis MO. His enlistment indicates that he had completed grammar school, and his civilian occupation was semi-skilled welders and flame cutters, and he was divorced without dependents. His serial number was 37057282.
Mitchell was an engineer assigned to the U.S. 9th Army, XVI Corps, comprising the 29th, 75th, 79th, and 95th Infantry Divisions. They entered combat in Normandy France in September 1944. They liberated Caen France. He later served in the 11th Corps.
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