Thomas McReilly "Mac"

Thomas McReilly "Mac" (May 17, 1924 - September 11, 2001) was a Irish - Anglo - American from Belfast who came to live in America in the 1930's. He has a Northern Irish Accent or a "Belfast Accent" as he calls it, but he knows English quite well.

Early Life
Thomas was born in Belfast, UK in the Spring of 1924. His father had previously survived the Sinknig of the Titanic in 1912 as a Crewman of the Passenger Liner, a Seaman. Thomas never went to school in Belfast since he wasn't at the right age to be able to get enrolled yet. He always enjoyed hearing his father tell stories when Thomas was a boy.

Coming To America
At age 5, Thomas' Family moved to America where they later lived in Johnston, Pennsylvania. He was quite shy as a lad at his new school. He rarely talked to anyone at school at first, after awhile he got used to everyone and began to speak and made lots of friends.

Military Career
Mac enlisted in the 3rd US Infantry Division August 12, 1940 and lied about his age to get in when he was only 16. He first saw combat in Africa in 1942 later going onto fighting in the Italian Campaign in 1943 - '44 in Sicily. Then finally he fought out the last of the war in Germany where he met a boy named Hans Bixel at the Colmar Pocket in 1945 who was a Obergefreiter (Corporal) in the Wehrmacht. After the US - French Victory at the Colmar Pocket that February, the 3rd Infantry Division went onwards to Nuremburg where they stayed there till the wars end in May.

When the war ended, Mac had a wife, and 4 children and continued to live in Pennsylvania.

Later Life
After the war, he had recieved a letter from Hans in 1947 who is still living in Kansas. It read:

Dear Mac,

Your boy Audie Murphy saved me greif when I voluntarily surrenderd to him and your Division at the Colmar Pocket. You and him are the closest feller's I know who remainded my friends after the war. Most of my friends in Germany are serving for their war crimes and got what they deserved. Shame on them I say ... Maybe you, me, and Mr. Murphy can catch on a beer sometime! Help get out families to nkow each other aswell.

Sincerely,

Hans Bixel

Mac took Hans' advice, him, Hans, and Audie Murphy got together with their families in the summer of 1948 and did that ever summer till Audie Murphy's death in 1971.