James Bernard Cavanagh

Master Sergeant

United States Army Finance Corps

James Bernard Cavanagh, the oldest son of Hugh Christopher and Angeline C. West Cavanagh, was born on 31 October 1915 in Neola, Iowa.

James enlisted in the United States Army on 8 February 1941.  After basic and advanced training, James was sent to the Philippines Islands.  On 7 May 1942, James became a Japanese Prisoner of War.  He was later sent to the Karenko POW Camp located on Formosa, where he died from starvation and dysentery on 10 February 1943.

In addition to his parents, James was survived by two brothers; Paul Francis and Daniel Joseph; and three sisters; Angela Theresa Schuyler, Mary Elizabeth Schwieso, and Margaret Catherine Cavanagh.  One brother, Hubert Leo; and two sisters Rose Amelia and Helen Rose Cavanagh preceded him in death.

Master Sergeant James Bernard Cavanagh, United States Army, was buried in Neola’s Saint Patrick’s Cemetery in 1948.

Source of information:

1.  National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005. Original data: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.

2.  National Archives and Records Administration. World War II Prisoners of War, 1941-1946 [database online]. Provo, Utah: MyFamily.com, Inc., 2005. Original data: World War II Prisoners of War Data File [Archival Database]; Records of World War II Prisoners of War, 1942-1947; Records of the Office of the Provost Marshal General, Record Group 389; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.

3.  Council Bluffs Nonpareil (Council Bluffs, Iowa), 17 September 1943.

4.  e-Mail from Marian Pauley on 16 January 2006.  Marian is James’ niece.

5.  Center for Research Allied POWS Under the Japanese.