Claude Taugher

Claude Buckley Taugher (March 2, 1895 – February 8, 1963), also known as Biff Taugher, was a player in the National Football League for the Green Bay Packers in 1922 as a fullback.^[1] He also was an officer with the United States Marine Corps during World War I, and was awarded the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Cross.

Football career

Taugher first played at the collegiate level at Carroll College.^[2] After returning from World War I, Taugher then played for Marquette University.^[3][4] On September 1, 1922, the football coach for Marquette University gave the Packers permission to sign Taugher. The Packers wished to get official permission, since the team had been in trouble with the league the year before for signing ineligible players.^[5] Taugher played for only one season. He coached the Carroll College football team in 1923, compiling a 0-3-1 record.^[6]

Military career

Taugher was a second lieutenant in the with the 6th Regiment, 4th Brigade (Marine), 2nd Division of the American Expeditionary Forces during World War I.^[7] He was awarded the Navy Cross and the Distinguished Service Cross.

His Navy Cross citation reads:

The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant Claude Buckley Taugher (MCSN: 0-3440), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the 6th Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F. in action at Bayonville, France, 2 November 1918. Lieutenant Taugher, with great dash, led his platoon in surrounding enemy dugouts in the village of Bayonville before the occupants had time to escape or organize effective resistance, capturing sixty-one of the enemy. Although wounded in the ankle he refused to be evacuated.

His Distinguished Service Cross citation reads:

The President of the United States of America, authorized by Act of Congress, July 9, 1918, takes pleasure in presenting the Distinguished Service Cross to Second Lieutenant Claude Buckley Taugher (MCSN: 0-3440), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism while serving with the Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, A.E.F., in action at Bayonville, France, 2 November 1918. Lieutenant Taugher, with great dash, led his platoon in surrounding enemy dugouts in the village of Bayonville before the occupants had time to escape or organize effective resistance, capturing sixty-one of the enemy. Although wounded in the ankle he refused to be evacuated.

Taugher was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps as first lieutenant on August 15, 1919.^[7] His registered address at his appointment was in Wausau, Wisconsin with his father, P.J. Taugher.^[8][9]

Personal life

Taugher was born on March 2, 1895 in Marathon, Wisconsin to P.J. Taugher, a medical professional from Marathon City,^[10] and Anna Bloomer Taugher.^[11]

He died on February 8, 1963 and was buried in Wood National Cemetery.^[12] He and his wife had three daughters: Janice Mary Taugher Ley, Maureen Taugher Christman and Mary Ann Ellen Taugher Schloer.^[13]

See also

• Green Bay Packers players
• Distinguished Service Cross (United States)
• Navy Cross

References

1. Packers all-time scorers, from Packers.com
2. "With crippled team Aggies defeat Carroll, 20 to 0" M.A.C. Record, October 10, 1916 at 6
3. http://www.marquette.edu/library/collections/archives/UAPhoto/composites/1401b.html
4. National Football League, The NFL's official encyclopedic history of professional football, 1973.
5. Cliff Christl, "Packers Flashback" Milwaukee Journal Sentinel September 4, 2002 at 3C.
6. Past Carroll Coaches, Carroll University.
7. U.S. Navy, Register of the Commissioned and Warrant Officers of the United States Navy and Marine Corps Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1920 at 470.
8. http://www.militarytimes.com/citations-medals-awards/recipient.php?recipientid=8976
9. Adjutant-General's Office, Office of the Adjutant General of the Army, Congressional Medal of Honor, the Distinguished Service Cross and the Distinguished Service Medal issued by the War Department since April 6, 1917 Washington, D.C.: Government Printing Office, 1920.
10. Proceedings of the Wisconsin Pharmaceutical Association, 1901, at pg. 91
11. History of Milwaukee City and County Milwaukee:S.J. Clarke Publishing Company, 1922, at 234.
12. The Veteran Affairs Department cemetery locator mentioned that Claude Taugher died in 1963 and is buried in Wood National Cemetery
13. "Green Bay Rite Set", Milwaukee Sentinel, May 14, 1965 at 5.