Homer McClure was born in Kingston, Tennessee to Dallas Hughel McClure and Louise C. Farmer. His parents were married in 1914 but divorced before 1920. They had 3 sons, Hobert, Homer and James Franklin McClure.
His mother remarried with Nathan Harrison Bryant and together they had three daughters and four sons.
His father also remarried with Bertha Lena Thurman and they had 3 sons. His half-brother Dallas Thurman McClure was killed in action in 1944 in France.
34th Infantry, 24th Infantry Division, Company F
Buried at Greenwood Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN
Silver Star Citation:
“The President of the United States of American, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private First Class Homer McClure, United States Army, for gallantry in action against the enemy while serving with the 24th Infantry Division at Mainit River, Leyte, Philippine Islands, on 28 October 1944. On this day the enemy was strongly entrenched on the northwest bank of the Mainit River, holding the bridge on Highway No. 2 and covering the road with intense automatic fire. A company of infantry made an envelopment of the enemy’s left flank and overcame all opposition until an enemy machine gun at the northwest end of the bridge halted the advance with deadly accurate fire. Private McClure, seeing the enemy machine gun had pinned down a portion of his platoon and had caused some casualties, worked his way forward to a position from which he could observe the enemy emplacement. He raised himself to a kneeling position and fired his rifle at a range of 30 yards into the machine gun position. After exhausting one clip of ammunition, he fell to the ground mortally wounded. His heroic attempts to destroy the one remaining position holding up the company’s advance made possible a flanking maneuver by several other men which destroyed the position. Private McClure’s bravery and disregard for his personal survival are worthy of the highest traditions of the military service.”
The Chattanooga Daily Times, 5 December 1944
Pfc. Homer McClure, husband of Mrs. Thelma R. McClure and son of Mrs. Love Bryant, 2001 Morningside Drive was killed in action with an infantry unit on Leyte Island, Oct. 28, according to official information received by his wife. A machine gunner, he had previously served four months with the engineer corps before transferring to an infantry battalion with which he was assigned to duty for the past three years.
- Rank: Private First Class
- Date of birth: 2 December 1910
- Date of death: 28 October 1944
- County: Hamilton
- Hometown: Chattanooga
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 34th Infantry Regiment, 24th Infantry Division
- Theater: Pacific
- Conflict: World War II
- Awards: Silver Star, Purple Heart
- Burial/Memorial Location: Greenwood Cemetery, Chattanooga, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XI, Top Panel
- Sponsored by: Kenneth E. Brown Jr.
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