George McCain, son of Noah and Mary McCain, was born in Shasta County, California, July 23d, 1890. He attended the public schools until he graduated, then took charge of the stock on his parent’s ranch. When they went out of business he started out for himself, and being of an adventurous disposition, traveled about through most of the states on the Union. He was a vaquero by profession, an expert shot, and in his daily life, lived honorably, honestly, and true to his friends. He had been living in Nevada for several years before the war broke out, riding on the range at White Rock, in Elko County. During all this time he gave much thought to the comfort of his parents, and provided them with many of the necessities of life.

He was enrolled in the service from Elko County on the 6th of October, 1917, for duty at Camp Lewis, Washington. There he served in the 35th and 17th Battalions of the 166th Depot Brigade, until November 8th, when he was transferred to Company K, 161st Infantry, 41st Division. The unit crossed to France on December 13th, 1917, and was utilized as a depot division from which replacements were drawn for combat divisions in the line. On the 10th of June, 1918, George was transferred with one of these replacements to Company G, 102d Infantry, 26th Division, which was then stationed in the line east of St. Mihiel in the Woevre.

The 82d Division having arrived to relieve the 26th, the latter left its position on June 26th for the Marne front where the allies were straining every nerve to hold back the German offensive. The 26th relieved the 2d on July 10th, in order that the 2d might be moved to the Soissons vicinity. On July 15th, the enemy launched his last desperate smash which, he believed, would scatter the allies, open the way to Paris, and end the war. However, he had not counted on the spirit of the French or the fact that four determined American Divisions (the 1st, 2d, 3d, and 26th) formed a wall of steel between him and his goal. As a result, his storming divisions were everywhere crushed with frightful losses, and his dream of Paris and a victorious peace was at an end. On July 18th the Allies in turn assumed the offensive. The 1st and 2d drove like a spearhead into his side south of Soissons, the 4th smashed his lines farther to the south, the 25th swung the pivot of our lines, capturing Torcy and the Paris road,, and the 3d crossed the Marne and seized three important towns. On July 25th the 26th Division was relieved by the 42d (Rainbow) Division.

In writing to his mother of this battle George said: “We sure had the Germans on the run. They were still running when we were relieved and turned back.” This letter was dated August 8th.

On September 7th the 26th Division took up its position south of Verdun on the St. Mihiel front, preparatory to the American offensive there. On the 12th the blow was struck, and by the afternoon of the 13th all objectives had been reached. The 26th Division took the leading part in this fight. Elements of its advance formed a junction with the van of the 1st Division near Hattonchatel, 18 kilometers northeast of St. Mihiel, at daybreak on the 13th, and the sector had been wiped out.

From September 16th until October 8th, the 26th remained in line on the new front on October 18th it was in line in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. The position of the division was in the Bois de Consenvoye, east of the Meuse River, where the enemy contested every foot of the ground. During this advance (October 23d, 1918), when the wood had been almost cleared, Private George McCain was killed in action. He was laid to rest in the Communal Cemetery at Crepion, Meuse, a village to the eastward and very near to where he fell. It is situated directly north of Verdun.

The soldier left his mother, Mrs. Mary McCain; a sister, Frankie McCain, and a brother, James McCain all of 4123 Humboldt Avenue, Chico, California. His father, Noah McCain, died on October 18th, five days before the gallant son fell in France.