2nd Lieutenant David Van Cott Radcliffe: Missing in Action

As a lead-in to David’s story, I’d like to introduce you to his father, Mr. Frank N. Radcliffe, Chairman of the St. James Memorial Committee, 1947-1964. The Radcliffe's were one of the original families to join St. James in 1923, following the closing of Church of the Epiphany. They were very active in almost every aspect of the church.  We know that his three sons served as acolytes, youth group members, Boy Scouts, and choristers. As adults, the oldest son served with the U.S. Navy during 

World War Two, reaching the rank of lieutenant commander. The next oldest became an executive in the insurance business. Their youngest, David, served with the U.S. Army during the Korean War. 

Mr. Radcliffe’s first wife, Mrs. Jessie Radcliffe, 

was a member of the Girls Friendly Society, the Women’s Auxiliary (forerunner of ECW), and loved to head fashion shows and ‘balls.’ Mr. Radcliffe served on several vestries, and held many offices; i.e. Secretary, Junior Warden and Senior Warden, and was chair of the music and the finance committees. Therefore, it was no surprise that in 1947, he was elected St. James’s first memorial committee chair.

During 1949-1950, Mr. Radcliffe coordinated the design and installation of the first stained glass project at St. James. It would be known as the Louise Hopper Memorial Window. Mrs. Hopper was wife of the Rev. Eugene Hopper, long time rector at St. James. The window was installed above the High Altar in the same location as the original windows from the Church of the Epiphany. It is often referred to as the “Altar” or “Welcoming Christ” window.  

The following year, Mr. Radcliffe coordinated four additional windows with Connick Associates of Boston to be installed in the porch area. These windows are often referred to as the “Archangel” windows.

In 1952, tragedy struck the Radcliffe family. They learned  of their son’s disappearance on the battle fields of Korea. David Radcliffe had served just two 

weeks in Korea when he went missing. 2nd Lt. David Radcliffe was assigned to the 65th Infantry Regiment, 3rd Infantry Division, responsible for securing Hill No. 223 in North Korean territory.  Lt. Radcliffe led an all-Puerto Rican unit that later became the most decorated unit in the 3rd Infantry Division. During the assault, they were under very heavy fire and were ordered to return to their home base so they may re-organize.  During this time, eight soldiers were discovered missing, including Lt. Radcliffe.  

The U.S. Army presumed all were dead or taken prisoner by the North Koreans. Their remains were never found, and the North Koreans had no record of their being taken prisoner. We are unsure of the commendations given to the seven other enlisted soldiers, but we do know that 2nd Lt. Radcliffe was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and five medals of valor in combat. Within weeks of the end of the Korean War, the Radcliffes received notice from the War Department that their son was officially declared “Missing in Action.”

In early 1955, the Radcliffe family wished to sponsor a memorial window for David. Mr. Radcliffe, as the memorial committee chair, was called to coordinate its design and installation. Little did the family know seven years earlier that Mr. Radcliffe would someday memorialize his own son’s window. Mrs. Radcliffe was especially concerned that without the remains of her son, a proper eulogy could not be given nor placed on a headstone above an empty casket. Connick Associates were called on to work with Mrs. Radcliffe in the design of her son’s window. She was adamant that a eulogy and Purple Hear be displayed in the window. David’s eulogy is as follows. “In memory of David Van Cott Radcliffe, lost in Korea 1952. Lord Jesus receive my spirit.”

Mr. Radcliffe continued to coordinate the design and installation of the majority of stained glass windows found in our nave until his death in 1964.

The Radcliffe window can be seen on the south wall of the nave, first window beyond the narthex screen. St. Stephen and St. Paul are depicted in the designs. Please take a moment to view the window and be sure to look for David’s Purple Heart.

 (Watch for additional information about our windows in subsequent newsletter articles.)

Frank Laszlo

Church Historian