I said I was going down another rabbit hole and what I found hurt my heart. My 2nd cousin twice removed served in the Marine Corps during World War II. He enlisted at the age of 18. I don't know what happened to him, but it appears that he spent the rest of his life in the care of others. Bernard served from March 24, 1944 through August 5, 1946. He ended up in Lebanon, Pennsylvania by the 1950 census as an inmate (this is how they phrased it on the census) in a psychiatric facility. He passed away in 1983 in a Veterans Medical Center in Lebanon. He was brought home to be buried in St. Gabriel's cemetery.
Finding military records will likely not turn up much, but I'm going to have to try. Where did he serve and with what unit? What happened to him? His story deserves to be told.
"Bernard F. McCoy
Bernard F. McCoy, 57, of 529 Arthur St., died Friday at 11:55 p.m. at the Lebanon Veterans Administration Medical Center, following a lengthy illness.
Born in Hazleton, he was a son of the late Joseph P. and Anna (Carr) McCoy.
He was a graduate of Hazleton High School Class of 1943, and served in the Marine Corps during World War II.
He was a member of St. Gabriel's Church.
Surviving are one brother and two sisters, Joseph P., Sandy Valley, White Haven R.D.; Mrs. Ronald (Marie) Gilbert, Hazleton; Mrs. Emil (Beth) Puhak, Hazleton, and several nieces and nephews.
The funeral will be held Tuesday at 9 a.m. from the Frank J. Bonin Funeral Home Inc., Second Street entrance, with a Mass of Christian Burial at 9:30 a.m. in St. Gabriel's Church. Interment will be in the parish cemetery.
Friends may call today from 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m."
Comentários