Gordon McWade Papers

Collection

Identifier: TMD319

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

Collection contains three letters written by Gordon McWade to his family (1942-1943).

Dates

1942-1943

Creator

McWade, Gordon,1917-2011. (Person)
Gordon McWade papers, 1942-1943, (Person)

Language of Materials

Material is in English unless otherwise noted.

Conditions Governing Access

The collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

All requests for permission to publish, reproduce, or quote from material in the collection should be discussed with the appropriate librarian or archivist. Permission for publication may be given on behalf of the Denver Public Library as the owner of the physical item. It is not intended to include or permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained by the customer. The imply Library does not assume any responsibility for infringement of copyright or publication rights of the manuscript held by the writer, heirs, donors, or executors. Reproduction restrictions are decided on a case-by-case basis.

Biographical / Historical

Gordon McWade was born on August 5, 1917 in Melrose, Massachusetts to Emily and Harry McWade. He graduated from Melrose High School in 1935 and then joined the Civilian Conservation Corps in Vermont. McWade enlisted in the Army in Boston on April 17, 1942 and was assigned to the ski troops that would eventually become part of the 10th Mountain Division, having been recruited by Charles "Minnie" Dole, president of the National Ski Patrol. He began his training at Ft. Lewis, Washington and was deployed with the Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion of the 87th Regiment in 1943 to fight the Japanese on Kiska Island in the Aleutians. McWade later fought in Italy, where he was awarded the Bronze Star for action at Lake Garda on April 27, 1945. By the end of his Army service he had attained the rank of T/5. After the war, McWade worked at Sager Electric in Hingham, Massachusetts for 46 years as a salesman and married Peggy McWade. After his retirement, he enjoyed skiing Mt. Wachusett with an honorary lifetime pass, bowling weekly, volunteering at the Groton Senior Center, and enjoying yearly reunions with the 10th Mountain Division. Gordon McWade died February 11, 2011 at Groton, Massachusetts.