He was also one of the thousands that gave their lives defending America. He was a resident of Ramona for fifteen years before he joined the U.S. Army. Throughout high school, he was a star athlete. In his Senior year, he was the football team's quarterback and named MVP that year. He was also the captain of the basketball team, played softball, and was a track star who held the record on the 440
for many years. In 1941 he graduated from Ramona High School. After high school, he and his best friend Glenn Matthews applied for jobs at the Douglas aircraft plant in El Segundo, which made dive bombers. Glenn got the job but Archie was too close to draft age and was turned down. On December 26, 1942, the day after Christmas, he was drafted into the Army. Over the course of the next year, he went through basic training. In December of 1943, he was sent to the North African theater. A few months later he was moved to the European theater with the Invasion of Sicily, the first major American land advance of World War II in Europe. On May 14 of 1944 he was wounded in the Invasion of Sicily and returned to service on July 31, 1944. He was awarded the Purple Heart for his wound. On September 19, 1944 Pfc. McArthur was killed in action in the western sector of Italy just passing the German "Gothic Line" while advancing with his unit. He was awarded the Bronze Star posthumously. After his death, he was temporarily buried in a graveyard in Florence, Italy. On November 30, 1949, his body was buried at Fort Rosecrans, National Cemetery in Section I, Grave 487. He died at age 21. He left behind a brother, Donald and a sister, Helen.
