Lt. Col. Clay Elwood McCullough was born in River Forest, Illinois, on April 2, 1906, to John E. McCullough and Daisy McCullough and had a brother. His family resided at 815 South Sixteenth Avenue, Maywood, Illinois. He graduated from Irving School and Proviso Township High School in 1924. After high school, he went to Crane Jr. College in Chicago, and then the University of Illinois from 1927 through 1930 when he received a bachelor of science degree in engineering. He married Dorothy Burgoyne on April 25, 1931, and became the father of a son.
Clay joined the Illinois National Guard on May 3, 1929, and held the rank until June 25th. He resigned as an enlisted man, and on July 1st he was commissioned a second lieutenant in ordnance. He was promoted to first lieutenant on August 3, 1936, and on May 3, 1937 was made a captain in ordnance and then was transferred to infantry. He registered with Selective Service on January 15, 1941. He was inducted into the regular Army in April 1942 and his serial number was O 265 805.
He trained at the following bases in but when he was at each one is not known. Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri, Fort Knox, Kentucky, Fort Benning, Georgia, Fort Belvoir, Virginia, and Camp Bowie, Texas. At some point, he was assigned to the 124th Engineer Battalion, 13th Armored Division, 3rd Army under General George Patton. He was wounded, in his right upper chest and his right leg while attempting to find a location for the American troops to cross the Isar RIver and evacuated to England. On June 3, 1945, in Cambridge, England, he died from his wounds. His wife requested that he be buried in American Military Cemetery, so he was buried at the Cambridge American Military Cemetery, Cambridge, England, in Plot D, Row 6, Grave 83. He was awarded the Purple Heart and Silver star.
Citation Read: “For gallantry in action in Germany. On 15 April 1945, in operations near Plattling and Memming, Germany, advance of the entire division was stymied on the north bank of the Isar River. His energetic, personal reconnaissance, technical skill and sound judgement enabled troops to effect a successful crossing with minimum delay despite heavy concentration of enemy artillery fire. While engaged in the selection of a suitable site for the river crossing, Lt. Col. McCullough was severely wounded. The courageous and heroic devotion to duty displayed by this officer are in keeping with the highest traditions of the Armed Services.”
