“From the Archives” — Saint Mary Parishioners & World Wars I And II

As the nation celebrates Memorial Day this week, we should keep in mind that Saint Mary parishioners have served in every major war, from the American Revolution through the conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan. A number were among the 63,000 Americans who died in World War I, and 406,000 casualties in World War II.

World War I. Father Louis Smet, Saint Mary pastor from 1915 to 1927, kept a list of World War I casualties: Sgt. Bernard Lee Magner, killed in action in October 1918 in the Argonne Forest. His brother, Lawrence Magner also served but survived. Eugene Wilburn, died October 1918 in France. William Edward Northrop, a brakeman on the Southern railroad. A member of the Alexandria Light Infantry, he died from the Spanish influenza that swept the world. Herbert Bernhardt, died at Camp Lee, Virginia, another victim of the influenza. Thomas W. Cook, no further information. John Sullivan, no information.

World War II. At the conclusion of World War II, the Diocese of Richmond published a book listing the casualties from every parish in the diocese. Twelve men were from Saint Mary: Eugene A. Barry, David Brown, Charles L. Cockrell, William F. Deeton, Adam B. Fahnestock, Samuel Gayonski, John J. Hutchinson, Edward T. Lannon, Herbert A. Petrello, Harold E. Reich and Lyman Schlosser. Cdr. Richard McGowan, USN, died when his Curtiss SB2C-3 Helldiver crashed on October 24, 1944, during the Battle of Leyte Gulf. He had been commanding officer of Bombing Squadron (VB) 19 since its formation in August 1943. His parents, Daniel and Mary Dunn McGowan, erected a memorial to honor him in Saint Mary Cemetery.

Some of these young men were buried in Arlington Cemetery; others are buried in American cemeteries in Europe, in France, Belgium and Luxemburg. We owe each one of them a debt of gratitude for their great sacrifice. May they all rest in God’s eternal peace.