Group of 10 (Col W.F. Magill, CO, 363rd Inf, 91st Inf Div)

Group to Colonel William Fulton Magill, Jr, 363rd Infantry Regiment: Legion of Merit, wrap brooch, numbered “7611″, unnamed; Bronze Star, with one oak leaf cluster, slot brooch, unnamed; Mexican Border Service Medal, slot brooch, unnumbered; World War I Victory Medal, no bars; American Defense Service Medal, slot brooch; American Campaign Medal; Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal, with three stars; World War II Victory Medal; Army Occupation Medal, clasp “Germany”; Italy Cross of Military Valor. With matching embroidered ribbon bar set and Combat Infantryman’s Badge, marked “Sterling”. With an original copy of Magill’s Legion of Merit citation (folded) for service in Italy from 4 July through 9 September 1944 as commander of the 363rd Regimental Combat Team. Plus, photocopied service record data.

Colonel Magill’s Legion of Merit citation reads: “…for exceptionally meritorious conduct in the performance of outstanding services in Italy from 4 July to 9 September 1944. When the 363rd Regimental Combat Team, command by Colonel Magill, entered combat for the first time near Riparabella, Italy, he directed every phase of the operation from a position near the front lines, made more difficult by the mountainous nature of the terrain. He directed artillery fire, heartened his troops and their commanders and solved the difficult problems of supply and evacuation, and because of his unruffled calm and his combat skill, his regiment made a noteworthy record in its first days of battle. Later, as a member of the staff of a special task force and as commanding officer of the forward elements of the force, his exceptional military imagination and skill contributed much to the swift capture of the valuable port of Livorno. By his ability and warm human understanding, he knit the men of his command into a superior fighting force which distinguished itself in every engagement in which it took part…”. His initial Bronze Star was “for meritorious service in action from 17 July 1944 to 29 July 1944, in the vicinity of Pisa and Leghorn, Italy.” His second Bronze Star was “for meritorious service in combat from 16 April 1945 to 30 April 1945, in the Italian Campaign.”

Colonel Magill served as a private first class in the 3rd Oregon Infantry and was commissioned in 1917, remaining in the United States. For service on the Mexican Border as a first lieutenant, 44th Infantry, from Vancouver Barracks, Washington, Magill received federal Mexican Border Service Medal #8657 (location unknown). He served in various infantry units between the wars, commanded the 174th Infantry in the United States and 363rd Infantry in Italy. In 1946, he was an administrative officer with the Veterans Administration and, in 1951, became commander of the Bremerhaven Port of Embarkation in Germany. In 1954, he became the deputy post commander of the Presidio of San Francisco. Colonel Magill retired in August 1954. He died in 1964 and is buried in the San Francisco National Cemetery.