The Marlborough
Historical Society

    Hector was born the 3rd of April 1909 in Inverness, Nova Scotia, Canada. He was the oldest of six children born to Peter and Catherine Mackay. He immigrated to the United States in 1922 and settled in central Massachusetts. He married Violet Guerard the 2nd of October 1937 in Arlington, Massachusetts, they would have one son Daniel and three daughters, Nancy, Beverly and Barbara. Prior to the war Hector was co-owner of a Diner in Marlborough and at one time he helped paint the Marlborough water tower while working with the Works Projects Administration. He made his home with his family at 70 Broad Street in Marlborough. He enlisted into the Army the 14th of December 1943 and was sent to Fort McClellan Alabama for basic training.

    While in basic training, it was discovered that Hector was not a naturalized U.S. citizen. He was brought to the border crossing at Niagra falls under armed guard and recrossed the border into Canada before coming back onto U.S. soil over the rainbow bridge the 18th of May 1944 where he was officially naturalized. Following basic training Hector was assigned as a Private to the 422nd Infantry Regiment of the 106th Infantry Division. This Division was gutted of troops who would act as replacements and as such was not trained as a cohesive unit prior to being shipped to Europe. Hector traveled with his regiment to Scotland aboard the AQUANTINA arriving the 28th of October 1944.

    The 106th Division was sent aboard transports to France arriving the 6th of December 1944 and immediately trucked to St Vith, Belgium. This area was seen by allied high command as a quiet zone and did not anticipate any fighting in the area. The men of the 106th as well as many other divisions were also not provided proper equipment to deal with one of the coldest winters on record. The 106th Division was placed on the front lines the 11th of December 1944 and expected to hold 27 miles of front. The German attack through the Ardennes began on the 16th of December 1944 and is remembered as the Battle of the Bulge. Hector was one of among 5,000 American soldiers captured during the battle. Hector was sent to Stalag Luft IV B, near Mahlberg on the Elber river. He died of Pneumonia the 26th of January 1945. His grave is located in the Ardennes American Cemetery and Memorial in Neuville-en-Condroz Belgium, Block B, Row 38, Grave 45. Mackay Drive in Marlborough is named in his honor.

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