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Regarding information about:                                                         September 21, 2001
Edward J McCracken
Military Service #38 108 515 PFC
Service History

Approx. 1 week before leaving for Burma India, while stationed at Ft.Brown, Texas, Edward J. McCracken was coming in from patrol. The dirt bank, along the road side, caved in and the horse he was on fell on him. His right arm, hand and wrist was injured. It was x-rayed and he was told it was just strained and bruised. He left for Camp Funsten, Kansas, just out of Ft. Riley, Kansas and approx. 2 weeks later, he was shipped out to Asiatic-Pacific Theater as a member of the 124th Calvary. They landed in India by way of a ship and made it to Burma on barges and by walking.

His right knee and left thigh received shrapnel from a battle in Burma in 1945. This injury was treated by a medic, which was later killed in action along with most of his squad. Later he was trapped behind enemy lines and only 4 or 5 men made it back after being separated 2 or 3 weeks. The 124th Calvary were disbanded and attached to the 475th Infantry. They were the men that opened the Burma Road. One Captain, 2 lieutenants and one 1st Sergeant of the 124th. Calvary deserted the troops and they were never seen again. The squad was doing patrol when they were cut off due to enemy troops coming up advancing on the road. To avoid being captured, they escaped and lived off the land until rejoining the 475th Infantry. While serving with the 475th Infantry, he contracted Malaria and Typhus.

It was during this time that he was presumed MIA and Killed In Action. His parents were sent notification of this and a Death Benefit payment and all back Paychecks were sent to them. The day before the checks arrived, a letter was received from my Dad telling his parents he was alive and they returned the Benefit check to the Government. Most of the 124th Calvary did not return home and many men of the 475th Infantry did not return home.

After His military discharge for 5 or 6 mo. he recieved a check for $40.00 from the military.. He was sent a notice to report for a medical check-up on 2 different occasions. Due to him seeking work as a migrant farm worker, both the letters were recieved after the date of the appointments. The checks stopped and when he followed up he was turned away.

In or about 1967 his right wrist was treated and a surgery was performed. This procedure was to re-break and clean out the gristle that had formed around the bones over the years, due to cracked or broken bone(s) not healing correctly. This formation caused pain and loss of use. When the wrist was bent or twisted, it would cause severe pain and swelling. Screws or pins were used to lock the bones into a fixed position, doing away with all movement of the right wrist..

Dr. Citron performed the surgery and billed this back to the VA??? We are not sure how it was paid and we have requested any hospital documents. To our knowledge, the VA was contacted but no paper work was signed.



His right knee had several pieces of foreign matter that was removed in 1970. This operation was preformed by Dr. Citron of Amarillo Texas, a letter is attached.

The right knee continued to swell, give way and required to have fluid drained until 1984. Finally after dealing with this, a total knee replacement was done by Dr. Charles McAdams of Denton, Texas. A second replacement was performed again in 1994 by Dr. Thomas Crofford in Sherman, Texas.

His left inner-thigh received shrapnel from the battle in Burma 1945. This is still in his body and only on occasion will give him any problems.

Over the years, family and friends have tried several times to get my dad to go to the VA for Benefits and Services. This went without any success. He would not apply for the benefits because he had always considered it to be charity. Finally, at the age of 80, he signed up for VA medical benefits and it has now been approved.

His grandchildren and I requested his service awards and we presented them to him this past June. To this day, he will not talk about his service time with out a negative reaction (ie. tears,choking-up, anxiety, etc.). It has always been a very private matter for him.

We have also received paperwork to apply for the Purple Heart Metal for him. None of the paperwork shows he was wounded in action and we have questioned him on why. He just states, "The lady asked when I was being discharged if I was hurt or wounded and I said no". By the time of being discharged, he had healed and never considered it of any consequence. He can sign his name but other than that he has very limited reading and writing skills. This may or may not have played a part in understanding the importance of any discharge question(s).

His older sister and younger brother are still alive to verify this information.
Claude Bruce McCracken                Nadine Sonleiter Ralph Citron
1626 North Highland Street                1521 North Willard Street (medical doctor retired)
Amarillo, Texas 73170 Altus, Oklahoma 73521-2011 2809 S Hayden St
806 383 4589                        580 482 0700 Amarillo, TX 79109-3506
                                                                (806) 373-0409

Eddie McCracken (son)                                                 I Edward J. McCracken have
2220 SW 93rd Street                                                        had this read and explained to Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73159                                        me. To the best of my ability
(405) 703-7231                                                these statements are true and
                                                                        correct.       

                                                _______________________
                                                                Edward J. McCracken
                                                                Military Service #38 108 515 PFC