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In February of 1945, William’s time in Panama comes to an end and he is rotated back to the United States.  He will remain in the United States awaiting further orders until the war ends.  [...]

Because of his service during WWII, William would receive both the American Campaign Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.

The transfer did not work out well for McCarthy, as only one month into his duty with his new battalion, he is reduced from Sergeant all the way back to Private. The unit’s records make note of [...]

On May 18th, 1944, McCarthy is transferred from the 901st AAA Battalion to the 902nd AAA Battalion.  No reason is given for the transfer, but it was most likely a simple issue of one battalion [...]

In February of 1944, Sgt John A. McElroy was awarded the Legion of Merit award, and during the ceremony the 901st AAA Battalion participated in a battalion review. This would have been a proud [...]

In April of 1944, McCarthy hits the peak of his military career, achieves the rank of Sergeant, and is put in charge of supervising a gun crew of 15 men.

Upon returning from his teaching duty, William is promoted to Corporal.

McCarthy was so well regarded on the gun crew that in November of 1943, he was chosen to teach and lecture about anti-aircraft guns at the battalion headquarters’ NCO school.  He spends two weeks [...]