Devins Teehan McGuire Post 237
Honoring the many who made the ultimate sacrifice.
CHARLES DEVINS was the first local man killed in World War I. Others were Harvey Gooch and Robert Spencer.
FRANCIS TEEHAN was the first local man killed in World War II. He received the Silver Star posthumously.
WILLIAM McGUIRE was the first local man killed in the Korean War. He had received the Silver Star award.
His obituary:
Services for Sgt. William McGuire, 24, will be held at 9:15 a.m. Thursday in the Ryan funeral home, Janesville, and at 10 o’clock in St. Augustine’s Catholic church. Burial will be in Mt. Olivet cemetery. The rosary service will be held at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the funeral home.
Staff Sgt. McGuire, veteran of World War II, was killed in action in Korea Aug. 29, 1951. Last April he spent an emergency leave in Footville with his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Miles McGuire. He was wearing the Silver Star awarded him for “bravery over and above the call of duty” in taking a hill in the Korean action.
At the conclusion of his furlough he volunteered for further action in Korea and was promoted from corporal to staff sergeant. He was assigned to Korea for a period during World War II as a member of the 77th division. At the time of his death he was in Korea for the third time.
Sgt. McGuire was born on a farm near Cainville Center, March 1, 1927 and attended Rock County schools. Enlisting before he was 18 he saw service in World War II in Okinawa, Cebu, Okito, Korea and Japan.
He re-enlisted in May 1950, and was sent to Korea after eight weeks training at Fort Ord, Calif. He was with the 32nd division during the historic battle of the Chosen reservoir. He won the combat infantry badge, Victory medal, Korean campaign ribbon, good conduct medal and other World War II citations.
Surviving are his parents; five sisters, Mrs. Lawrence Lockwood and Mrs. Earl Burchard, both of Janesville, Mrs. Margaret Knutson, Long Beach, Calif., Theresa and Elizabeth McGuire, both at home; four brothers, Cpl. John McGuire, Tucson, Ariz., Thomas, Patrick and Michael McGuire, all home.