John David Magrath was born in East Norwalk, Conn. on July 4, 1924. He volunteered for the Army during his junior year in high school with three friends. The four friends had been members of the Norwalk Ski Club. Magrath was sworn in on March 4, 1943 at Hartford, Conn. He suffered an appendicitis shortly after arriving at Camp Hale, Colo. and was sent home to recuperate. Magrath served with Companies A, F and M of the 86th Infantry regiment before joining Company G of the 85th Infantry Regiment. He was killed in action near Castel dʹAiano, Italy on April 14, 1945, the first day of the 10th Mountain Divisionʹs spring offensive. Magrath was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for single-handedly silencing several enemy machine gun emplacements by using a captured German machine gun. He was the only member of the 10th Mountain Division to be so honored during World War II. A monument in his honor was dedicated at Fort Riley, Kan. on August 17, 1955.
From the description of John D. Magrath papers, 1943-2000 [manuscript]. (Denver Public Library). WorldCat record id: 123570536
