#VeteranOfTheDay Army Veteran Earl Ervin McClung

Today’s #VeteranOfTheDay is Army Veteran Earl Ervin McClung. Earl served during World War II from Feb. 1939 to Dec. 1945.

Earl grew up on the Colville Indian reserve in northern Washington State and was drafted into the military when he was 19 years old. He went on to complete basic training at Fort Wolters in Texas and paratrooper training at Fort Benning in Georgia. Earl was one of the original members of the ‘Band of Brothers’ who represented those soldiers in ‘Easy’ Company, 2nd Battalion, 506th Parachute Regiment, of the 101st Airborne Division serving during the D-Day efforts in Normandy. Earl, nicknamed ‘One Lung McClung’, was one of the first scouts to parachute down near Sainte-Mère-Église evading enemy fire. Earl received two Bronze Stars and one Purple Heart.

Earl was honorably discharged from the Army and returned stateside in Dec. 1945. He worked 17 years as a mail carrier in Denver, Colorado, and later retired as a game warden with the Tribal Games Department on the Indian Reserve on which he grew up. Earl passed away at the age of 90 in his home in Pueblo, Colorado in 2013.

We honor his service.

Nominate a Veteran for #VeteranOfTheDay

Do you want to light up the face of a special Veteran? Have you been wondering how to tell your Veteran they are special to you? You’re in luck! VA’s #VeteranOfTheDay social media feature is an opportunity to highlight your Veteran and his/her service.

It’s easy to nominate a Veteran. All it takes is an email to newmedia@va.gov with as much information as you can put together, along with some good photos. Visit our blog post about nominating to learn how to create the best submission.

Veterans History Project

This #VeteranOfTheDay profile was created with interviews submitted to the Veterans History Project. The project collects, preserves, and makes accessible the personal accounts of American war Veterans so that future generations may hear directly from Veterans and better understand the realities of war. Find out more at http://www.loc.gov/vets/.

Graphic By Damin Jung: Damin Jung is a student studying Web Design. She has a BS in International Relations and Politics.