This blog post is in remembrance of a fallen WWII soldier, James Lyons Quinn. Not much is known about him aside from being my grandfather, Joseph Albert Koreman's second cousin. At some point I will trace his branch of the family tree.
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| James Lyons Quinn |
James Lyons Quinn was born in Albany circa 1912 to Thomas J. Quinn (1891-1957) and Katherine Redmond (1890-1979). Thomas and Katherine had the following children:
- William N. Quinn (1915-?)
- Catherine M. Quinn (1919-1997) married Thomas L. Appio (1915-1998)
- Rosemary T. Quinn (1922-1992) married Thomas W. Gunther (1924-1996)
My grandfather spoke regularly about WWII since he lost a younger brother, Arthur Stephen Koreman, at Iwo Jima. He also mentioned other cousins who lost their lives during the war. One was another second cousin John Joseph Hohenstein (1914-1943). Through research I found that he died from malaria in Italy. The second was James Quinn; whom my grandfather angrily mentioned numerous times that he was beheaded in a prisoner of war camp.
Below is a copy of an article from an undated and unknown Albany newspaper reporting Quinn's death. This article was passed to me from my grandfather.
A transcription of the article follows:
Quinn Death In Jap Prison Reported
Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Quinn, 170 Morton, today were advised by the War Department their son, S/Sgt. James Lyons Quinn, previously reported missing in action over the Marshall Islands, was killed Feb. 2, 1944, while a prisoner of the Japanese.
First reported missing on Jan. 19, Sergeant Quinn was one of the first Albany causalities of the aerial battle for the Marshall's. Today's official confirmation of his death, stating he was killed at a prison camp, was the first news his family had received on his capture. The War Department revealed his death was reported in seized records of the Japanese government, which had failed to notify either the American military or Red Cross authorities.
Aerial gunner of a B-25, Sergeant Quinn had completed more than 15 missions with the 396th Bombardment Group during his one and a half years overseas.
He was graduated from St. Ann's Academy and prior to joining the Armed Forces in July, 1941, was employed by the city Department of Public Works as an electrician.
In addition to his parents, he is survived by two sisters, Mrs. Thomas Appio and Mrs. Thomas Gunther, both of Albany, and a brother Pfc. William N. Quinn, who has returned to the states after completing more than two years overseas.
Below is a grave marker for Staff Sergeant James Lyons Quinn at Calvary Cemetery in Glenmont, NY.
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