Local World War II veteran and decorated hero Edgar McKay honored
By Toni Miles
With each passing day, the number of World War II veterans still alive decreases, with the Department of Veterans Affairs projecting that the number of living World War II veterans is now below .5% of the total number of Americans who served in the conflict.
One of them is a local resident who was honored via proclamation at a recent Long Beach Board of Aldermen meeting. Family, friends and members of the Donnie Levens American Legion Post 1995 in Long Beach were on hand as Long Beach Mayor George Bass, on behalf of the Long Beach Board of Aldermen, honored Edgar Lee “Coach Red” McKay and his family with a proclamation declaring January 7 as Edgar McKay Day.
McKay, a World War II POW (prisoner of war) in Germany who was wounded in combat just prior to being captured by the Germans, received the Purple Heart and numerous other medals and citations for his valor and service in the war.
The honor coincided with another milestone for McKay, who recently celebrated his 100th birthday. Before presenting McKay with the proclamation, Bass shared the heroic, storied history and tales of valor regarding McKay and his service.
“This is one of those pleasurable things that not a lot of people ever get to do; so, on behalf of the elected Board [of Aldermen] here and myself, if you’ve ever seen a hero before, or never have…, this man is a hero,” said Bass.
“Mr. McKay entered the Army in November of 1943 as part of the 4th Armored Division, 10th Armored Infantry Regiment that marched in Europe under the command of General George Patton, and rumor was General George Patton’s son-in-law was being held prisoner in Germany,” said Bass. “Their mission was to go in and release the prisoners of the POW camp.”
“Mr. McKay’s Company, A Company… had to fight their way through … they opened the gates of the POW camp and released all of the prisoners, including the son-in-law of General Patton. Late in the afternoon, while refueling the tank, German soldiers had surrounded them and began to shoot and throw hand grenades. Then, by dark, the Germans had closed in. Their officers told them ‘every man for himself’ – either surrender or try to make it back to their lines.”
The operation, titled “Operation Baum,” was a covert mission to rescue Patton’s son-in-law, LTC John Waters, as well as the other POWs at the Stalag XIII-C POW camp in Bavaria, Germany.
“Trying to run back to the line with a fellow soldier, Mr. McKay received shrapnel in his shoulder and legs. At daylight, while resting, they were captured by German soldiers. They were taken to a POW camp…where he was imprisoned for twenty-eight days, during the days of March 27 to April 18. He was listed as Missing in Action (MIA).”
“Mr. McKay and others were liberated from the POW camp … by the 7th Army and were sent to the 23rd General Hospital in France, then sent home on the Liberty Ship. Mr. McKay received the Purple Heart, a Good Conduct Medal, the European African Middle East Campaign Medal, American Campaign Medal, the World War II Victory Medal, the Combat Infantry Medal, the Honorable Service Medal and the Bronze Star.”
During the presentation of the proclamation, McKay received a standing ovation.
McKay is among the approximately 66,000 living World War II veterans in America today. 
