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CPL Edward Patrick McCormick

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CPL Edward Patrick McCormick

Birth
West Chester, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA
Death
1 Dec 1943 (aged 23)
Italy
Burial
West Goshen Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA GPS-Latitude: 39.982166, Longitude: -75.61883
Memorial ID
View Source
Source: http://webapps.chesco.org/heroes/mccormick_edward/mccormick.htm


Edward Patrick McCormick was born on September 29, 1920 to John J. and Hannah V. McCormick who lived 142 West Market Street in West Chester Pennsylvania. Edward was one of three sons including Henry, and John Jr.

His father, John, was a local contractor who died in 1939.

Edward attended the St. Agnes Catholic School on West Gay Street in West Chester. He stared on the Basketball team, towering 6 feet 5 inches in height, and was affectionately nicknamed “Big Ed”, and “Big Stoop”. The yearbook says:

“Every inch of his unusual height is put to use, and need we say he was a most valuable center on our basketball team He was captain of both the school and senior tam. His frankness, kindness and sincerity make him a friend to all, while his aptitude for business makes us hope that in him we will have a successful representative. With a feeling of good-will we leave you, 'Stoop'.”

Edward was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, and a member of its Holy Name Society. He was also a member of the West Chester Fire Company, and of the West Chester Council Knights of Columbus.

After graduation with the class of 1939, he obtained a position as Assistant Manager at the A&P Supermarket on the North West corner of Market and Darlington St.

Edward entered the Army on January 9, 1943. He received training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, then shipped out to the European Theater; serving in North Africa, and later in Italy. He never received a furlough, to visit home before shipping out – his mother never saw him in uniform.

Edward entered and trained with a friend from West Chester – hero George Nathaniel Wright, although in his last letter sent home, dated November 28th, Edward wrote he had not seen George for nearly a month.

Corporal Edward Patrick McCormick was Killed In Action on December 1, 1943 in Italy by artillery fire while serving in the Fifth Army.

Edward’s mother, Hannah, received the telegram that he was Missing In Action, on Christmas Eve 1943. She had just been discharged from the hospital for a serious illness and was taken to her sisters house – Mrs. J. Herbert Chambers of 10 North Darlington St.

On January 10, 1944, Edward’s mother received a telegram that her son was Killed In Action.

Edward was buried in a local cemetery in Italy. His chaplain, Arthur J. Bojcun wrote:

“Funeral services were conducted at the grave by a Catholic Chaplain and your son is now at rest in a beautiful and well-kept American military cemetery in Southern Italy. Each grave is marked with a plain white cross, bearing the name and home address of comrades who have also given their lives for the same cause. The location of this cemetery will be given to you by the War Department when military security permits. Corporal McCormick’s life as a soldier and a gentleman was a worthy tribute to you and his country he so proudly served.”

A Solemn High Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Agnes Catholic Church on Monday January 17th.

An additional mass was celebrated on Thursday morning January 27, 1944, requested by the members of the First West Chester Fire Company.

His mother, Hannah, searching for more information on her son’s death received a letter from her son’s unit chaplain.

“Your son was killed in action on the first of December, 1943. It is my sincere prayer that you will find comfort and understanding in the following information:

Company G was in the approach march, moving up to relieve another company from a bitterly contested hill. They had advanced about 500 years when subjected to an enemy artillery barrage. There enemy shells landed in the midst of the Third Platoon. Of which Edward was a member. When the smoke had cleared away friends of his found he had been killed instantly by fragments of one of the exploding shells. Corporal McCormick’s’ life as a soldier and a gentleman was a worthy tribute to you and his country he so proudly served.”

His mother received about three hundred letters of sympathy.

Edward’s body was returned to his home country on board the Transport Carroll Victory (with hero Chace Gilmore) in 1948.

On Wednesday morning September 29, 1948 a funeral was held at the residence of his mother Hannah, 142 East Market Street. The funeral procession traveled north on Church Street and paused at the front of the West Chester Fire Company and the bell was tolled in his memory. The procession continued to Saint Agnes Church for Mass. Interment with full military honors was at Saint Agnes Cemetery, just north of the town on Rt. 100. The Butler-O’Connor-McCormick Post 106, Veterans of Foreign Wars, named in part to honor Edward, was in charge of the military arrangements.

His brother, Henry served in the Army during the war.

The Chambers family donated one of the 4 benches for the Garden of Honor at the West Chester Borough Hall in memory of Edward.



Credits:

Research completed by: Don Wambold, member WCMSC

Photo retouching/enhancement: Dave Williams


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Source: http://webapps.chesco.org/heroes/mccormick_edward/mccormick.htm


Edward Patrick McCormick was born on September 29, 1920 to John J. and Hannah V. McCormick who lived 142 West Market Street in West Chester Pennsylvania. Edward was one of three sons including Henry, and John Jr.

His father, John, was a local contractor who died in 1939.

Edward attended the St. Agnes Catholic School on West Gay Street in West Chester. He stared on the Basketball team, towering 6 feet 5 inches in height, and was affectionately nicknamed “Big Ed”, and “Big Stoop”. The yearbook says:

“Every inch of his unusual height is put to use, and need we say he was a most valuable center on our basketball team He was captain of both the school and senior tam. His frankness, kindness and sincerity make him a friend to all, while his aptitude for business makes us hope that in him we will have a successful representative. With a feeling of good-will we leave you, 'Stoop'.”

Edward was a member of St. Agnes Catholic Church, and a member of its Holy Name Society. He was also a member of the West Chester Fire Company, and of the West Chester Council Knights of Columbus.

After graduation with the class of 1939, he obtained a position as Assistant Manager at the A&P Supermarket on the North West corner of Market and Darlington St.

Edward entered the Army on January 9, 1943. He received training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, then shipped out to the European Theater; serving in North Africa, and later in Italy. He never received a furlough, to visit home before shipping out – his mother never saw him in uniform.

Edward entered and trained with a friend from West Chester – hero George Nathaniel Wright, although in his last letter sent home, dated November 28th, Edward wrote he had not seen George for nearly a month.

Corporal Edward Patrick McCormick was Killed In Action on December 1, 1943 in Italy by artillery fire while serving in the Fifth Army.

Edward’s mother, Hannah, received the telegram that he was Missing In Action, on Christmas Eve 1943. She had just been discharged from the hospital for a serious illness and was taken to her sisters house – Mrs. J. Herbert Chambers of 10 North Darlington St.

On January 10, 1944, Edward’s mother received a telegram that her son was Killed In Action.

Edward was buried in a local cemetery in Italy. His chaplain, Arthur J. Bojcun wrote:

“Funeral services were conducted at the grave by a Catholic Chaplain and your son is now at rest in a beautiful and well-kept American military cemetery in Southern Italy. Each grave is marked with a plain white cross, bearing the name and home address of comrades who have also given their lives for the same cause. The location of this cemetery will be given to you by the War Department when military security permits. Corporal McCormick’s life as a soldier and a gentleman was a worthy tribute to you and his country he so proudly served.”

A Solemn High Requiem Mass was celebrated at St. Agnes Catholic Church on Monday January 17th.

An additional mass was celebrated on Thursday morning January 27, 1944, requested by the members of the First West Chester Fire Company.

His mother, Hannah, searching for more information on her son’s death received a letter from her son’s unit chaplain.

“Your son was killed in action on the first of December, 1943. It is my sincere prayer that you will find comfort and understanding in the following information:

Company G was in the approach march, moving up to relieve another company from a bitterly contested hill. They had advanced about 500 years when subjected to an enemy artillery barrage. There enemy shells landed in the midst of the Third Platoon. Of which Edward was a member. When the smoke had cleared away friends of his found he had been killed instantly by fragments of one of the exploding shells. Corporal McCormick’s’ life as a soldier and a gentleman was a worthy tribute to you and his country he so proudly served.”

His mother received about three hundred letters of sympathy.

Edward’s body was returned to his home country on board the Transport Carroll Victory (with hero Chace Gilmore) in 1948.

On Wednesday morning September 29, 1948 a funeral was held at the residence of his mother Hannah, 142 East Market Street. The funeral procession traveled north on Church Street and paused at the front of the West Chester Fire Company and the bell was tolled in his memory. The procession continued to Saint Agnes Church for Mass. Interment with full military honors was at Saint Agnes Cemetery, just north of the town on Rt. 100. The Butler-O’Connor-McCormick Post 106, Veterans of Foreign Wars, named in part to honor Edward, was in charge of the military arrangements.

His brother, Henry served in the Army during the war.

The Chambers family donated one of the 4 benches for the Garden of Honor at the West Chester Borough Hall in memory of Edward.



Credits:

Research completed by: Don Wambold, member WCMSC

Photo retouching/enhancement: Dave Williams


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  • Created by: Bob M
  • Added: Jan 11, 2012
  • Find a Grave Memorial ID:
  • Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/83311890/edward_patrick-mccormick: accessed ), memorial page for CPL Edward Patrick McCormick (29 Sep 1920–1 Dec 1943), Find a Grave Memorial ID 83311890, citing Saint Agnes Roman Catholic Cemetery, West Goshen Township, Chester County, Pennsylvania, USA; Maintained by Bob M (contributor 47582475).