Walsh, John

Description

John Vincent Walsh was born in New Rochelle, April 1, 1912, son Andrew Walsh and Mary Ryan Walsh. He had one brother Andrew and a one sister Madeline.

John was a graduate of Port Chester High School, Manhattan College and Fordham Law School. In Rye his family lived at 22 Sanford St. and were members of the Church of the Resurrection.

John enlisted December 8, 1941 and served in the U.S. Marine Corps during World War II. View Muster Rolls

He was originally assigned to Marine Wing Service Squadron Four, In July, 1944 he was transferred to Marine Aircraft Base Defense Group 43, MABDG-43. For its first two years MABDG-43 was the headquarters that oversaw training at MCAS El Centro, CA and also participated in the defense of the west coast.

In November 1944 the group’s group’s mission was changed. It was tasked with coordinating and controlling the air defense fight for the upcoming invasion of Okinawa. It was re-designated Marine Aircraft Group 43 (MAG-43) on December 10, 1944.

On April 1, the group arrived off the coast of Okinawa, Japan and finally went ashore April 3. The Group’s Expeditionary Air Defense Control Center, callsign Handyman, went on the air on April 7, 1945 based out of three LVTs modified with extra radios.

On April 16, MAG-43 established its full Air Defense Control Center (ADCC) in a farmer’s house about a half mile southeast of Yontan Airfield in the village of Yomitan. By June 30, MAG-43 consisted of 1,926 Marines with another 505 attached US Army personnel

John was honorably discharged November 27,1945 at the Great Lakes Naval Air Station.
View Discharge Record

After the war, John was an attorney for the Westchester County Real Estate Examiners in White Plains.

He was a member of the Church of the Resurrection, New York State Bar Association, Westchester County Historical Association and the Real Estate Examiners Board of Westchester.

John Vincent Walsh, 54, of 22 Sanford Street, died last night at Rosary Hill Hospital, Hawthorne, where he had been a patient since May 7.

He was survived by a sister, Madeline Walsh O’Connor of the home address; one brother, Andrew Walsh, of Twisp, Washington; and four nieces and four nephews.

The funeral was held at the William H. Graham Funeral Home, followed by a solemn requiem mass at the Church of the Resurrection. Interment was in St. Mary’s Cemetery.