Cecil Earle “Buddy” McMahan » Roll of Honor

Biographical Info

Gravestone McMahan

Memorial with Cecil McMahan (courtesy: http://genealogytrails.com)

Colbert County Courthouse

Cecil McMahan

McMahan at Tidworth Barracks Engeland, june, may 1944 S. Benninger

Location grave at the  Cemetary Oakwood Cemetery Tuscumbia, Colbert County, Alabama, USA:

Where was Captain Cecil “Buddy” McMahan killed in Action?

Phase: Phase I – The “Break-Through”

On july 25th the company D and B were south of Pont Herbert, Normandy, sweeping mines and filling bomb craters on roads and making by-passes through hedgerows for the armored columns. Company A and Company C were heading for Canisy and St Gilles. “Company A was pulling in bivouac near Les Mesnil-Herman on july the 27th when a heavy incoming artillery barrage killed Capt. Cecil E. McHahan and five man of Company A, and wounded several others.” 

(Source: 17th Armored Engineer Battalion Unit History.)

Combat Command B was with Company B (from the 17th Engineers) preparing an assault on Pont Brocard, Notre Dame le Cenilly, area around Legronne and Cambernon.
The roads were mined and some roads were in bad shape as a result of the bombing, during the night of july 26th on 27th the Engieers worked to remove mines and to make the passable.

(Source: Book “Hell on Wheels, the 2nd Armored Division by Donald E Houston,  1977.)

Summary

The Unit History cleary states what happend to Captain Cecil “Buddy” McMahan, his was killed in action during a artillery bombardment at Le Mesnil-Herman on 27th of july 1944.

Location where Captain Cecil “Buddy” McMahan was killed (supposably) Les Mesnil-Herman, Normandy France:

Temorary Grave Captain Cecil “Buddy” McMahan at Saint Maire Eglise No. 2, Normandy France on 28th july 1944

McMahan Temporary Grave

Official casualty list

Official Casualtylist – Colbert- Alabama detail

Official Casualtylist – Colbert- Alabama

Official Burial Notice

Cecil E McMahan Burial notice

Cecil E McMahan KIA

Headstone Application Card

Headstone Application McMahan

The location of the house in the year where Captain Cecil “Buddy” McMahan lived with the family, as a 21 year old Student Alabama Polytechnic Institute:
Adress: 718 N Main Street, Tuscumbia, AL 35674, United States

Info from FindaGrave.com

Buddy played football in high school at Deshler High School in Tuscumbia, and was recruited to play university football at Alabama Polytechnic Institute (now Auburn University). He played college football in 1939 and 1940, and was an outstanding athlete. He left Auburn and entered the service in 1941.

US Sensus 1920

US Sensus 1920 McMahan

US Sensus 1930

US Sensus 1930 McMahan

US Sensus 1940

US Sensus 1940 McMahan

Enlistment details

Unknown

Pictures

Show slideshow

Research © by: Martijn Brandjes
Text © by: Martijn Brandjes
Photos © by: Findagrave.com, familysearch.org