Hometown Heroes of WWII
McGarry: Bronze Star for recon patrol
By Michael Rocchetti
Terence McGarry (1909-1986) skillfully and stealthily led a reconnaissance patrol into enemy lines to provide timely intelligence reports and invaluable river crossing information enabling his entire regiment to successfully advance in pursuit of the enemy and attack.
He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal by his Division Commander Major General Horace McBride, for meritorious achievement against the enemy. According to the citation: “Lieutenant McGarry led a patrol early last December and by his skill and enterprise was successful in obtaining valuable information as to fords and bridges on a river then forming a barrier to the advance. The data so reported was the basis of an attack that permitted the regiment, to which McGarry was assigned, to successfully cross the river and attain the designated objective. His untiring devotion to duty and consummate skill is commensurate with the finest traditions of the Armed Forces of the Unites States.”
Lt McGarry entered federal service with the U.S. Army in February 1941. He was assigned to Company F, 318th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division. After the war, he was promoted to Captain, and became the commanding officer of a local Putnam unit - D Company, 169th Infantry, CT National Guard.
He was born in Putnam on June 10, 1909, the son of John and Sarah McGarry. He was married to Blanche (Lacasse) McGarry, and they had three children. He was a member of the Putnam Elks Lodge, and the Cargill Council of the Knights of Columbus. He died April 5, 1986 and is buried at St Mary’s Cemetery in Putnam.
Hometown Heroes is a series published in the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger with this mission: We owe it to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to make sure that they are never forgotten, and that the memory of their service and sacrifice will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the grateful people of Putnam.

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