Claude Buckley Taugher (March 2, 1895 – February 8, 1963), also known as Biff Taugher, was a player in the

National Football League The National Football League (NFL) is a Professional gridiron football, professional American football league in the United States. Composed of 32 teams, it is divided equally between the American Football Conference (AFC) and the National ...

for the

Green Bay Packers The Green Bay Packers are a professional American football team based in Green Bay, Wisconsin. The Packers compete in the National Football League (NFL) as a member of the National Football Conference (NFC) NFC North, North division. They ar ...

in 1922 as a fullback. He also was an officer with the

United States Marine Corps The United States Marine Corps (USMC), also referred to as the United States Marines or simply the Marines, is the maritime land force service branch of the United States Department of Defense. It is responsible for conducting expeditionar ...

during

World War I World War I or the First World War (28 July 1914 – 11 November 1918), also known as the Great War, was a World war, global conflict between two coalitions: the Allies of World War I, Allies (or Entente) and the Central Powers. Fighting to ...

, and was awarded the

Navy Cross The Navy Cross is the United States Naval Service's second-highest military decoration awarded for sailors and marines who distinguish themselves for extraordinary heroism in combat with an armed enemy force. The medal is equivalent to the Army ...

and the Distinguished Service Cross.

Football career

Taugher first played at the collegiate level at

Carroll College Carroll College is a private Catholic college in Helena, Montana. The college has 21 buildings on a 63-acre campus, has over 35 academic majors, participates in 15 NAIA athletic sports, and is home to All Saints Chapel. The college motto, in L ...

. After returning from

, Taugher then played for

Marquette University Marquette University () is a Private university, private Jesuit research university in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, United States. It was established as Marquette College on August 28, 1881, by John Henni, the first Archbishop of the Roman Catholic Ar ...

. 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 League or The League may refer to: Arts and entertainment * ''Leagues'' (band), an American rock band * ''The League'', an American sitcom broadcast on FX and FXX about fantasy football * ''League of Legends'', a 2009 multiplayer online battle a ...

the year before for signing ineligible players. Taugher played for only one season. He coached the Carroll College football team in 1923, compiling a 0-3-1 record.

Military career

Taugher was a second lieutenant with the 6th Regiment, 4th Brigade (Marine), 2nd Division of the

American Expeditionary Forces The American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) was a formation of the United States Armed Forces on the Western Front (World War I), Western Front during World War I, composed mostly of units from the United States Army, U.S. Army. The AEF was establis ...

during

.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. He was awarded the

, the Silver Star 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.'' His Silver Star citation reads: Awarded for actions during the World War I By direction of the President, under the provisions of the act of Congress approved July 9, 1918 (Bul. No. 43, W.D., 1918), Second Lieutenant Claude Buckley Taugher (MCSN: 0-3440), United States Marine Corps, is cited by the Commanding General, American Expeditionary Forces, for gallantry in action and a silver star may be placed upon the ribbon of the Victory Medals awarded him. Second Lieutenant Taugher distinguished himself while serving with the Sixth Regiment (Marines), 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces during the Meuse-Argonne Offensive, France, 30 September to 11 November 1918. General Orders: Citation Orders, 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces Action Date: September 30 - November 11, 1918 Service: Marine Corps Rank: Second Lieutenant Regiment: 6th Regiment (Marines) Division: 2d Division, American Expeditionary Forces Taugher was honorably discharged from the Marine Corps as

first lieutenant First lieutenant is a commissioned officer military rank in many armed forces; in some forces, it is an appointment. The rank of lieutenant has different meanings in different military formations, but in most forces it is sub-divided into a se ...

on August 15, 1919. His registered address at his appointment was in

Wausau, Wisconsin Wausau ( ) is a city in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States, and its county seat. It is located along the Wisconsin River and had a population of 39,994 as of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census. It is the core city of the Wausau ...

, with his father, P.J. Taugher.

Personal life

Taugher was born on March 2, 1895, in

Marathon, Wisconsin Marathon is a town in Marathon County, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Wausau, Wisconsin Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,048 at the 2010 census. The village of Marathon City was incorporated from a part of the ...

, to P.J. Taugher, a medical professional from Marathon City, and Maryanne Buckley Taugher. He died on February 8, 1963, and was buried in

Wood National Cemetery Wood National Cemetery is a United States National Cemetery located in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. It is one of two National Cemeteries in Wisconsin. It encompasses , and as of 2021, it had over 40,000 interments. Outside family members with existing ...

. He and his wife had three daughters: Janice Mary Taugher Ley, Maureen Taugher Christman and Mary Ann Ellen Taugher Schloer.Green Bay Rite Set
, ''Milwaukee Sentinel'', May 14, 1965 at 5.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Taugher, Claude 1895 births 1963 deaths Carroll Pioneers football coaches Carroll Pioneers football players Green Bay Packers players Marquette Golden Avalanche football players United States Marine Corps personnel of World War I Recipients of the Distinguished Service Cross (United States) Recipients of the Navy Cross (United States) United States Marine Corps officers People from Marathon, Wisconsin Sportspeople from Wausau, Wisconsin Players of American football from Wisconsin Military personnel from Wisconsin