John Randolph Teague Jr.

Major John Randolph Teague Jr was killed in action on December 28, 1944 near Castelnuovo, Italy during World War II.  He was 36 years old.

John Randolph Teague was born on July 5, 1908 in Henderson, Vance County, North Carolina, the son of John Randolph Teague and Johnnie C. Rowland Teague.  He graduated from Henderson High School in the Class of 1926 and was enrolled at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill from 1926 to 1929.  He engaged in business in New York and served two years as an officer in the Civilian Conservation Corps. He was married to Marion Van Neen Teague, and they had a son who was ten years old at the time of Major Teague’s death.

Teague enlisted in the N.C. National Guard in 1934 and was deployed to the European Theater of War in November, 1944 serving with the 370th Infantry Regiment in the Italian Campaign.

The 370th  Infantry Regiment departed the United States in July 1944 and arrived on the Italian Front, landing at Naples on August 1, attached to Task Force 42 of the 1st Armored Division. The 370th entered combat on August 24, 1944 as part of the U.S. Fifth Army. It participated in the crossing of the Arno River, the occupation of Lucca and the penetration of the Gothic Line pursuing Axis forces retreating from that area. It was later attached to the 92nd Division in Task Force 45, the Fifth Army unit responsible for the Ligurian coastal sector, the left flank of Allied troops in Italy. On October 13, the 92nd Division moved to the Serchio sector and advanced in the Serchio River Valley on November 3 against light resistance; but their attempt to capture Castelnuovo did not succeed. Patrol activities continued until December 26 when the enemy attacked, forcing units of the 92nd Division to withdraw. The attack ended on December 28.  Major Teague and a party of officers were inspecting tactical wire and mines on the front lines on December 28, 1944 when a German mine exploded resulting in Major Teague’s death.

Major John Randolph Teague is buried in Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington, Virginia beside his younger brother, William Alexander Teague II, who was killed in action on July 13, 1945 in a bombing mission over Japan.

Last edited: 8 June 2026