By Krista Finstad Hanson

For the Times

According to the 32nd Infantry division website, the “Red Arrow” division was originally established with National Guard members from Wisconsin and Michigan. Some of their training took place at Camp McCoy in Wisconsin. The entire National Guard was ordered into service prior to the U.S. entry in WWII by President Roosevelt in September 1940. Their report date was Oct. 15, 1940. The 32nd Division first reported to Camp Beauregard in Louisiana. On April 22, 1942 the division left San Francisco and was sent to Australia. They were stationed at Camp Woodside and Camp Sandy Creek near Adelaide. In July of 1942, they moved to Camp Tamborine (later called Camp Cable) near Brisbane.

The 32nd division was involved in the Papuan campaign from September of 1942 to January 1943, the New Guinea campaign from January 1944 to November 1944, the Leyte campaign from November 1944 to January 1945, and the Luzon campaign from January 1945 to August 1945.

Darlington soldier, 2nd Lieutenant Homer D. McGettigan, served in the South Pacific with Company K (Monroe) and Company I (Platteville) of the 128th Infantry of the 32nd Division of the U.S. Army.

Homer Daniel McGettigan was born on Oct. 29, 1913 in Darlington in Lafayette County, Wisconsin to John and Hannah (aka Annie) (Leary) McGettigan.

From the 1920-40 U.S. Census, the McGettigan family lived in Darlington. The household in 1920 consisted of father John, mother Annie, and children Nellie (Ellen Mary), William, James, Paul, Mary, and Homer. Father John was a cobbler. From the 1930 U.S. Census, the family included the parents and two sons, Paul and Homer. 

Homer’s mother Annie (Leary) McGettigan died on May 5, 1938 in Darlington. 

From the 1940 U.S. Census, the McGettigans lived in Darlington in the same house they lived in 1935. The household included father John (70) and son Homer D. (26), who had four years of high school. Homer was a proprietor of a grocery market.

On Oct. 15, 1940, Homer D. McGettigan enlisted for service with the National Guard prior to U.S. entry in World War II. He was single, without dependents and had 1 year of college. He enlisted in Monroe as a Private with the Infantry.   

From the February 17, 1943 Grant County Herald notice titled “Latest News from the U. S. Service Front,” the notice stated that “The War Department last week announced the award of silver stars to Wisconsin men for conspicuous gallantry near Buna Village, New Guinea.” The list included Sgt. Homer McGettigan of Darlington and Sgt. Robert E. Fiechter of Monroe along with four others.

From the March 29, 1943 The Capital Times article titled “Darlington Man Gets Citation,” more information is provided. The article states that McGettigan and two other men “routed a Japanese ambush on the Buna trail.” The notice quoted the citation which stated the three men “with disregard for their personal safety volunteered to accomplish a mission which consisted of locating an enemy ambush reported to be 1,500 yards from their unit on the proposed route of advance of the unit the following day.”

From the April 1, 1943 The Platteville Journal and Grant County News still more information is provided that McGettigan and Corp. Frank Reese of Milwaukee “wiped out an enemy ambush 1500 yards from their unit area. They approached to within 25 yards of the enemy machine guns and placed a volley of hand weapon fire so successfully that there was no return fire.”

From the June 5, 1945 Wisconsin State Journal article titled “Lieut. McGettigan Killed on Luzon,” the news from Darlington was that “Second Lieut., Homer McGettigan, 31, former Darlington merchant, was killed in action May 13 on Luzon, his father, John McGettigan, learned Sunday.

A member of Company K, Monroe national guard unit, Lieut. McGettigan went on active duty Oct. 21, 1940, and received training at Camp Beauregard and Camp Livingston, La. Shortly after Pearl Harbor, he went overseas with Company I (Platteville) and was in action with the 32nd division through the Buna, East Indies, and Leyte campaigns.

On July 23, 1943, he received the Silver Star for gallantry in action in New Guinea on Nov. 18, 1942. A sergeant then, he led two others in successfully wiping out a Japanese machine gun nest. In January, 1945, he received a battlefield promotion to second lieutenant.

The veteran was born in Darlington on Oct. 29, 1913, and was a graduate of the Darlington public schools.

Surviving, besides his father, are three brothers, Paul, Darlington, and William and James, both of Milwaukee; two sisters, Mrs. Elroy George and Mrs. Joseph Wocker, both of Milwaukee, and his fiancee’, Bernadine Peters, Darlington…”

2nd Lieutenant Homer D. McGettigan was killed in action on May 13, 1945 in Luzon. He was buried at Fort William McKinley, in Manila, Philippines. He received the Silver Star and Oak Leaf Cluster, and the Purple Heart, awarded posthumously. 

2nd Lieutenant Homer D. McGettigan is on the National WWII Memorial’s Gold Star Honor list for Lafayette County, Wisconsin.

Thank you, 2nd Lieutenant Homer Daniel McGettigan, for your service to and ultimate sacrifice for this country. We honor you and remember you.