Patrick Joseph McGrath was born on May 11, 1922, in Massena, St. Lawrence County, New York. He was the son of Patrick McGrath and Lillian Stiles McGrath. He worked as a machine operator before enlisting on December 3, 1942. He served in the B Company, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division, as a Private during World War II.

On September 17, 1944, during Company B's assault on a vital bridge immediately following the parachute drop on D-Day, several soldiers were wounded by well-concealed enemy fire. To protect his fellow soldiers and draw enemy fire away from them, McGrath courageously moved into an open field alone, deliberately exposing himself to hostile fire. His actions enabled his comrades to identify the enemy positions and engage them. While withdrawing to cover, McGrath was struck by machine-gun fire and killed. He is now buried in the Netherlands American Cemetery and Memorial, Margraten, Eijsden-Margraten Municipality, Limburg, Netherlands.

Silver Star Citation:
The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress July 9, 1918, takes pride in presenting the Silver Star (Posthumously) to Private Patrick J. McGrath (ASN: 12080005), United States Army, for gallantry in action while serving with Company B, 1st Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82d Airborne Division, in action on 17 September 1944, near ****, Holland. During Company B’s attack on the vital bridge immediately after the parachute drop on D-Day, several men were wounded by well concealed enemy. In order that his comrades might bring more effective fire on the enemy, Private McGrath moved into the open field alone, thereby drawing heavy enemy fire and enabling his comrades to pick out the enemy positions. During his withdrawal to cover, Private McGrath was fatally wounded by a burst of machine gun fire, but not before he personally had wounded two enemy riflemen and wounded another. Private McGrath’s courageous conduct at the cost of his life aided directly in Company B’s seizure of the bridge and were in keeping with the highest traditions of the military forces.

Sources of information: www.findagrave.com, weremember.abmc.gov, valor.militarytimes.com