JOHN ANDREW McCOWN, II 1918-1945

John McCown was born in Philadelphia on July 4th, 1918. He was educated at Wm. Penn Charter School, from which he graduated in 1936, having been a three-letter man as well as a member of the Senior Honorary Society. He graduated from the University of Pennsylvania in 1940, playing for three years on the Varsity Lacrosse team and winning his letter.

He entered the University of Virginia Law School, but shortly after Pearl Harbor he was recommended by the Club, as well as by the Ski Association of America for service with mountain troops. He received his training at Camp Roberts, Cal., and Camp Hale, Colo. He attended and was graduated from the Infantry School, Fort Benning, Ga., in December, 1942, later being promoted to First Lieutenant. He commanded the Army Assault Mountain School for many months and put through thousands of men who are now seeing service in Europe.

He was sent overseas in December, 1944, and went into action with the 10th Division (86th Mountain Infantry Regiment) on January 19th, 1945, as a member of the night ski patrol for several weeks. After a few days at a rest area he returned to the front, and was instantly killed when the patrol which he was leading was ambushed by light machine-gun fire. This was during the assault on Mt. Belvedere in the Apennines. He was buried in a military cemetery in Northern Italy.

His citation, accompanying the posthumous award of Silver Star follows:

“John McCown, 01305285, First Lieutenant, Infantry, 86th Mountain Infantry, United States Army. For gallantry in action on 20 February 1945, near Riva Ridge, Italy. When a strong counterattack had driven a company from a newly-won mountain ridge, and four men had been left behind, First Lieutenant McCown volunteered to lead a patrol back onto the ridge in an attempt to rescue the soldiers. Nearing the objective he and his men were ambushed by a superior enemy force, whose initial burst of fire killed two men and forced all to take cover. He immediately crawled forward to a position from which he could observe the enemy and direct the fire of his patrol on the hostile positions. Although wounded three times by machine gun bullets, he continued to direct the deployment of his men, calling his orders to the soldier nearest him. As he raised up to see that his instructions were understood, he was struck again, and died almost at once. His splendid heroism was an example to his men, who fought on until they were able to win their way to the objective. First Lieutenant McCown’s gallant courage and leadership have earned him perpetual fame in the finest traditions of the United States Army.”

John McCown was elected to the American Alpine Club in 1940, on the basis of four seasons of climbing, much of it in the Teton area, including four ascents of Grand Teton by various routes. In 1941 he visited the Coast Range of B. C., back-packing through the Homathko Valley to Scimitar Glacier. Had he emerged from the war, his qualities of leadership would undoubtedly have secured him a notable position in expeditionary mountaineering.

R. H. B.