Private Walter W. Mague, Jr.

132 Field Artillery Battalion, 36th Infantry Division

Hometown: Kane

Killed in action: March 5, 1944, Monte Cassino, Italy
Age: 18

Buried: St. Callistus Cemetery, Kane

Staff Sergeant Paul H. Malone

588th Bomber Squadron, 395th Bomber Group, Heavy

Hometown: Mount Jewett

Died in a car accident 19 September 1943
Spokane, WA
Age: 23

Buried: Bridgeview Cemetery, Mount Jewett

A B-17 tail-gunner, Malone was credited with one kill of a Japanese Zero over Rabaul Harbor, New Britain, in December 1942. Malone was born in Guffey and was awarded seven medals and citations for bravery and completed 47 missions before being transferred to Ephrata Army Air Base, Spokane, WA

Staff Sergeant Nelson E. McCloskey

Company B, 1st Armored Infantry Regiment, 1st Armored Division

Hometown: Port Allegany

Killed in action 9 May 1943, North Africa
Age: 31

Buried: Plot D, Row 7, Grave 10
North Africa American Cemetery, Carthage, Tunisia

Petty Officer 1/c John L. McDowell

U.S. Navy

Hometown: Bradford

Died 10 December 1944, Vehicle accident in France
Age: 35

Buried: Kentucky
Repatriated: 23 October 1948

McDowell was being transferred from England to France when enroute to his destination in a weapons carrier, the truck swerved to avoid striking a civilian on a bicycle and crashed into another weapon carrier truck. He died of severe and multiple injuries before arriving at a Paris hospital.

Tech Sergeant Charles T. McKalip

571st Bomber Squadron, 390th Bomber Group, Heavy

Hometown: Kane

Killed in action 27 May 1944
Age: 20

Buried: Plot D, Row 6, Grave 32
Normandy American Cemetery, St. Laurent-sur-Mer, France

McKalip was an engineer / top turret gunner on mission to Strasbourg, France, when their B-17 was hit by flak and crashed near St. Omer, France. Five of the crew survived and were POWs in Germany, the other five crew, including McKalip were KIA.

Private Robert S. McKelvey

Company G, First Marine Division

Hometown: Bradford

Killed in action 7 August 1942, Guadalcanal
Age: 21

Buried: Plot B, Site 927
Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii
Repatriated: January 10, 1949

Private First Class Arnold S. McKendrick

406th Infantry Regiment, 102nd Infantry Division

Hometown: Eldred

Died of wounds 25 November 1944, Holland field hospital
Age: 20

Buried: Plot C, Row 19, Grave 7
Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands

Wounded in Germany on 20 November 1944

Staff Sergeant Ralph A. McKendrick

387th Bomber Squad, 312th Bomber Grp, Heavy

Hometown: Smethport

Missing / Killed in action 5 April 1944
Over New Guinea
Age: 23

Buried: Section 81, Site 349
Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery, MO
Repatriated: 2 December 1969

McKendrick’s A-20 Havoc took off from Gusap Airfield on mission against Hollandia. While returning from the mission, the A-20 was observed to fall back from the formation, experiencing trouble with both engines, possibly fuel problems. Another A-20 piloted by Lt. Glen D. Benskin flew to accompany it, and observed no obvious combat damage, only puffs of vapor from the engines, possibly from Freeman trying to switch the fuel selectors. Unexpectedly, the A-20 nosed over and crash into the jungle, near the Clay River, short of a clearing and exploded. The plane crashed at approximately 13:30 hrs, at a location 175 miles from Gusap, Ruin Mountain area. The A-20 Havoc was discovered by Australian Patrol officer in 1967, including bone fragments and the dog tag of Ralph McKendrick. Remains of McKendrick and pilot, Second Lieutenant Thomas E. Freeman were recovered on November 12, 1967 by a US Army team. Freeman and McKendrick are buried together at Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery.

Private Richard P. McLaughlin

Company K, 112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division

Hometown: Bradford

Killed in action 3 August 1944, Percy, France
Age: 22

Buried: St. Bernard Cemetery, Bradford
Repatriated: 14 September 1948

McLaughlin’s brother, Mess Sergeant Harold McLaughlin, 27, was only a short distance away from where Richard was fighting, readying the mess for the fighting men, when Richard was killed

Aviation Cadet Duane McMahon

Pre-flight student, University of Pittsburgh

Hometown: Kane

Died from accidental gun shot wounds: 18 October 1944
Kane Hospital
Age: 18

Buried: St. Callistus Cemetery, Kane

He had been camping on October 17 near James City and had a pistol in his sweater. Returning to his car, it was said that he had placed the pistol behind the sun visor. In some manner the gun slipped from the visor and upon falling, struck the steering wheel and discharged. The bullet struck him just below the eye.

Second Lieutenant James M. McMahon

508th Basic Flying Training School, Perrin Field, TX

Hometown: Port Allegany

Air Crash: March 16, 1944
Age: 25

Buried: St. Gabriel Cemetery, Port Allegany

Killed in a mid-air collision of his Vultee BT-13 Valiant trainer aircraft three miles Southwest of Perrin Army Air Field

At 07.58 hours on 20 May 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Halo (Master Ulrich Fred Moller) was hit by two torpedoes from U-506 about 50 miles from the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River, while proceeding on a rapidly changing zigzag pattern at 10.4 knots. The first torpedo struck on the starboard side under the bridge and completely destroyed this part of the ship. The second hit aft of the bridge but forward of the engine room. The second explosion broke the ship in two and ignited the cargo.

The tanker plunged bow first with her propeller still turning and sank within three minutes. 23 men of the crew of eight officers and 34 men managed to leave the ship, but only one raft was left, the four lifeboats and three other rafts were destroyed by the explosions and fire. The survivors huddled together clinging to wreckage in the water near the sunken ship throughout the night and the next day. The oil on the surface burned for six hours. Two men cling to a half-burned raft and stayed on it for seven days without food or water. They were then picked up by Otina and taken to New Orleans.

The other survivors in the water began dying from exposure and injuries. On the third day wreckage ascended from the tanker and the seven remaining survivors tied boards together with strips of canvas torn from their life preservers. Crude oil also floated free forming a layer four inches thick. Five days after the sinking, the Oaxaca picked up the three remaining survivors, but one of these men died at sea. The two men arrived at a hospital in Tampico on 28 May, but one men died 30 minutes after arriving. Thus, only one officer and two crewmen survived the sinking.

Seaman Robert L. Mead

United States Coast Guard, Cross Island, ME

Hometown: Bradford

Died of accidental coal gas poisoning on 1 June 1943

Buried: Willow Dale Cemetery, Bradford

Mead and Boatswains Mate Sidney Dill were found dead in the cabin of a Coast Guard patrol boat which they had tied up at the Cross Island station after returning from a tour of duty. A fire had been burning in the stove and the port holes were closed

Private Patrick L. Michaels

3rd Platoon, 596th Airborne Engineer Company,
517th Parachute Infantry Regiment

Hometown: West Washington Street, Bradford

Died non-battle on 14 September 1944, vehicle accident
Age: 20

Buried: Plot C, Row 10, Grave 10
Rhone American Cemetery, Draguignan, France

Sergeant Richard F. Mix

Company C, 133rd Infantry Regiment, 34th Infantry Division

Hometown: Mount Jewett

Died of wounds 4 October 1944, Mount Venere, Italy
Age: 21

Buried: McKean Memorial Park, Lafayette Twp
Repatriated: 19 November 1948

Mix was an advance scout for the regiment. While fighting in Tunisia, North Africa, Mix and his buddy were surprised by advancing Germans and hid in a waist deep water well for three days and nights. During the third night the pair decided to make a break for their lines. The Germans spotted them and began firing, killing his buddy. Sgt. Mix managed to escape and make it to his lines after being listed missing in action for twelve days. Mix was seriously wounded in May 1944 near Monte Cassino and hospitalized until August. He was released for duty and recalled from the front lines in September to interview as chauffer for General Clark. He was wounded again on October 4th while fighting at the infamous Gothic Line of German defenses in Italy.

Captain John S. Moffatt

Intelligence Officer, 172nd Infantry Regiment
43rd Infantry Division

Hometown: Bradford

Killed in action 6 March 1945, Luzon, Philippines
Age: 28

Buried: Limestone Cemetery, Limestone, NY
Repatriated: 6 August 1948

Captain Charles F. Monson

112th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division

Hometown: Kane

Killed by Friendly Fire: 23 December 1944

Buried: Plot I, Row 7, Grave 17
Netherlands American Cemetery, Margraten, Netherlands

Monson was taken prisoner during the Battle of the Bulge. While being transported by the Germans, the POW column was strafed by American fighters wounding and killing many prisoners, including Monson.

Staff Sergeant John E. Monti, Jr.

370th Bomber Squadron, 307th Bomber Group, Heavy

Hometown: Custer City

Died of wounds 4 October 1944, Moratai Island

Buried: St. Bonaventure Cemetery, Allegany, NY
Repatriated: 21 February 1949

Sgt. Monti was first wounded in action 3 July 1944 against the enemy over Yap Island and awarded the Silver Star posthumously for gallantry in action over Borneo, on 3 October 1944. A first engineer and top turret gunner in the crew of a B-24 aircraft which took part in the second mass daylight raid against this heavily defended Japanese oil refining center. Carrying the maximum bomb and fuel load, and with their ammunition supply cut in half, they flew a record distance of more than 2,500 miles over water without fighter escort into an area where strong enemy resistance was inevitable. Flying through heavy anti aircraft fire, his airplane was hit by a shell and a large fragment ripped through his hip and leg. In spite of the critical wound and the intense pain, Sgt. Monti placed himself in a position from which he could observe enemy interceptors and continued calling out their positions as they pressed their unrelenting attacks upon the bomber formation. When it became evident that the damaged bomber would have difficulty in returning, this enlisted man calmly called attention to the heavy equipment which should be jettisoned and thus aided in bringing the airplane to an emergency base, where he died the following day. Sgt. Monti had completed thirty combat missions.

At 07.58 hours on 20 May 1942 the unescorted and unarmed Halo (Master Ulrich Fred Moller) was hit by two torpedoes from U-506 about 50 miles from the Southwest Pass of the Mississippi River, while proceeding on a rapidly changing zigzag pattern at 10.4 knots. The first torpedo struck on the starboard side under the bridge and completely destroyed this part of the ship. The second hit aft of the bridge but forward of the engine room. The second explosion broke the ship in two and ignited the cargo.

The tanker plunged bow first with her propeller still turning and sank within three minutes. 23 men of the crew of eight officers and 34 men managed to leave the ship, but only one raft was left, the four lifeboats and three other rafts were destroyed by the explosions and fire. The survivors huddled together clinging to wreckage in the water near the sunken ship throughout the night and the next day. The oil on the surface burned for six hours. Two men cling to a half-burned raft and stayed on it for seven days without food or water. They were then picked up by Otina and taken to New Orleans.

The other survivors in the water began dying from exposure and injuries. On the third day wreckage ascended from the tanker and the seven remaining survivors tied boards together with strips of canvas torn from their life preservers. Crude oil also floated free forming a layer four inches thick. Five days after the sinking, the Oaxaca picked up the three remaining survivors, but one of these men died at sea. The two men arrived at a hospital in Tampico on 28 May, but one men died 30 minutes after arriving. Thus, only one officer and two crewmen survived the sinking.

Corporal Jerome J. Morgan

First Marine Division

Hometown: Cyclone

Killed in action 28 September 1944, Peleliu
Age: 31

Buried: Plot N, Row 15, Grave 61
Manila American Cemetery, Philippines

Corporal Morgan also fought at Guadalcanal and New Guinea

Tech Sergeant George J. Modsko

90th Bomber Group

Hometown: Port Allegany

Killed in action 8 January 1943, Pacific
Age: 30

Buried: St. Johns, Richmodale, PA

Flight Sergeant Homer W. Muisiner

Royal Canadian Air Force

Hometown: Kane

Killed in action 15 April 1944, Over Europe
Age: 23

Buried: Section B, Row A, Grave 7
Harrogate-Stonefall Cemetery, Yorkshire, England