17th Airborne Officer

James H M c C L U R K I N was born in 1920 in Alabama. He enlisted in the Army in May of 1943 and having a degree in Agriculture under his belt, he was sent to OCS at Fort Sill almost immediately. He was a member of Class 83-43 which started July 1, 1943 and he graduated as a Field Artillery Officer on September 22 1943; a 90 day wonder.

2nd Lt M was then assigned to the 464th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion and trained with them in the States until shipping out for the ETO in February of 1945. It was at this point that the 464th was transferred from the 13th Airborne Division to the 17th. The Battalion arrived in France on March 11, 1945 and on March 24 the unit made the Varsity jump. It was here that Lt M was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor. After landing by parachute near Wesel, Germany, under intense German artillery and small arms fire, he directed the assembly and firing of a 75mm Howitzer into enemy machine guns and snipers. He remained in combat until V-E Day. The 464th did not participate in occupation duties for long heading back to the States (and the war in the Pacific!) in July of 1945. The 464th remained at Camp Kilmer until its deactivation on October 25, 1945

M C C L U R K I N made the Army his career. When the war ended, he left the Officer Reserve Corps and was accepted into the Regular Army in July of 1946. He retired as a full-bird Colonel and passed away in 1987 and is buried in North Carolina.

This uniform came to me missing the 17th patch which I delicately sewed back on matching the "ghosts" perfectly. There aren't any signs of insignia on the other sleeve. It is a beautiful cut down 4-pocket which has plastic exposed buttons versus the gold eagle versions. The wings are pinback and simply marked "Sterling". Please take some time and look through the documents I have been able to obtain and remember the sacrifices this brave red-legged officer made. Thanks for checking it out!