Private Warren Howard “Midge” Mack, Service Number 34719032
Warren Howard Mack was born in Johnson City, Washington County, Tennessee on 19 March 1925. He was the son of Vatin Mack and Dorothy Ann Brown, an ordained minister. Vatin was a veteran of World War I having served with the United States Army. Dorothy ministered at the New Mt. Hope Fire Baptized Holiness Church just down West Eighth Avenue where they lived and Warren grew up.
Warren was a happy go lucky lad that really enjoyed life, playing sports and woodworking. He was small in stature, but big of heart and his family’s pet name for him was Midge, short for midget, which he wasn’t, but siblings can be mean at times. He attended school and had completed two years at Langston High before leaving and starting work at the Nehi Bottling Works.
He enlisted in the United States Army on 31 July 1943 at Camp Forrest in Tullahoma, Tennessee with service number 34719032. After completing basic training, he was assigned to the 3203rd Quartermaster Service Company, 24th Quartermaster Battalion, 559th Quartermaster Group. Shortly thereafter they sailed for England.
Before redeployment to France on 5 September 1944, his unit was stationed at Burton-on-Trent, Staffordshire, England and assigned to the 9th United States Army. After arriving France and they helped to secure the port city of Brest. Warren’s unit was then reassigned to the 3rd United States Army under the command of Lieutenant General George S. Patton, Junior to begin his drive east across France to Germany. On 14 March 1945, just five days short of Warren’s 20th birthday, he was shot in the chest and killed in the town of Dulken, North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany. He served in two unit campaigns, Northern France and the Rhineland.
Warren was interred in the United States Military Cemetery at Margraten, Holland. He was placed in Plot T, Row 6, Grave 140 at 0900 hours on 17 March 1945. Warren’s disinterment occurred on 22 July 1948 and his journey home began. He arrived Johnson City via the railway, Southern #46 at 0952 hours on 2 November 1948. Warren was met by Mr. J.D. Ledford from the Ledford Funeral Home. The escort was told that there was to be no military honors given for Warren and that he was to be buried at 1400 hours today at West Lawn Cemetery and he was free to return to Atlanta, Georgia. The escort contacted his superior and informed him of the circumstances and was told to go ahead and return.
In January of 1949, a bronze military marker was placed on Warren’s grave. Sadly, just after that his grave was vandalized and the marker stolen. A replacement marker was said to have been ordered years later by the Ledford Funeral Home, but it never arrived. So, Warren’s grave has been unmarked for nearly 62 years, but that ended at 1100 hours on 28 May 2011 with a dedication and memorial service with full military honors this time. His sister Delila Mack Sparks and her husband John attended. Also in attendance was Warren’s childhood friend Mr. Hugh Collie who served in the United States Army during World War II.
WELCOME HOME WARREN!!! Thank you for your service to us and our nation.
Nothing Is Ever Truly Forgotten!!! We Remember…
–Submitted by Allen D. Jackson, USAF (Ret)
- Rank: Private
- Date of birth: 19 March 1925
- Date of death: 14 March 1945
- County: Washington
- Hometown: Johnson City
- Service Branch: Army/Army Air Forces
- Division/Assignment: 559th Quartermaster Group
- Theater: Europe
- Conflict: World War II
- Burial/Memorial Location: West Lawn Cemetery, Johnson City, Washington County, TN
- Location In Memorial: Pillar XIX, Middle Panel
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