John McGrath (soldier)

Technican fifth grade John "Jack" McGrath, Sr.  (c. 1920 – April 24, 2012) was a United States Army soldier who served with Easy Company during World War II. He is mentioned in the book Band of Brothers written by historian Stephen E. Ambrose. McGrath was portrayed in the HBO miniseries Band of Brothers by Stephen Walters.

Military Service
McGrath was drafted to the army, and he volunteered for paratrooper. He joined Easy Company at Fort Bragg. McGrath made a combat jump into Normandy on D-Day. On June 13, 1944, he and Lt. Harry Welsh knocked out a German StuG III assault gun with a bazooka during the Battle of Bloody Gulch near Carentan. During the war, he was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star Medal with clusters.

McGrath participated in Operation Market Garden in September, 1944. He also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, but at the time he was with HQ platoon so he was slightly. behind the line. McGrath was the one who found Hilter's car, and tested if it was bulletproof. McGrath never got hit although he went through all the campaigns with Easy Company until the end of the war.

Later Life
Afterwards he worked as a truck driver, and as a volunteer firefighter, and served as fire chief from 1970 to 1971, and later as a fire inspector. He was married to Irene (née Blauvelt) McGrath for 64 years; they had two sons, John Jr. and James.