WWII Hero Clare 'Mike' Donnelly |
Clare 'Mike' Donnelly
Clare, son of Leo and Lois Donnelly, was born in Buffalo Center, Iowa, on August 26, 1908. Following his graduation from high school in 1926, he worked in the local drugstore and in the pharmacy in Estherville, Iowa, until his induction into the Army in September of 1942. Cpl. Donnelly was trained as an army pharmacist at Key Field, Meridian, Mississippi. While stationed there he was married to Eleanor Rokusek, on June 17, 1943, at Birmingham, Mississippi.
From March 1945 until his death on July 22, 1945, from peritonitis, he was stationed in the Assam Province in India. His body was laid to rest in the American Military Cemetery, Jorhat, Assam, India, until it was returned home for permanent burial on June 16, 1948.
~photo & text from the Buffalo Center Centennial, 1892-1992, pg 142
~contributed by Ken Moen~*~*~
Double tragedy fell in a local home last week with the receipt of word on Thursday, July 26, of the death of Corporal Clare Donnelly in Burma and the passing of [his grandmother] Mrs. May Wise on Friday evening, July 27.
Word was received by Mrs. Eleanor Donnelly at her home in Yankton, South Dakota, that her husband had died in Berma on July 25. He was serviing there as a pharmacist with an army medical detachment. Corp. Donnelly, who was known to his many friends here as Mike, was born on August 26, 1908, in Buffalo Center, the son of Leo and Lois Donnelly. His first two and a half years of life were spent in Winnebago, Minnesota, but on the death of his father in 1911 he returned to Buffalo Center with his mother. He attended the local school graduating in 1926. Immediately following graduation he was employed at Snell's pharmacy where he continued to work for 14 years. In 1940 he moved to Estherville, Iowa, where he worked in the Rexall pharmacy until his induction in the army in September, 1942. Corp. Donnelly was trained as an army pharmicist at Key Field, Meridian, Mississippi.
On June 17, 1943, he was united in marriage with Miss Eleanor Rokusek at Birmingham, Alabama. They made their home in Meridian until October, 1944, when Clare was transferred to Camp Barkley, Texas, where he underwent rigorous overseas training. He was with a station hospital unit in Assam province, India, from March, 1945, until the time of his death. No details of his death have yet been learned.
Surviving relatives are his wife, Eleanor, of Yankton, South Dakota, his mother, Mrs. Lois Donnelly, a brother, Arthur, and a sister, Dolores, all of Buffalo Center.
~Buffalo Center Tribune, August 2, 1945
~contributed by S. Ferrall~*~*~
Died in Burma
Accompanied by appropriate military escort, the body of the late T-5 Clare L. Donnelly which arrived May 6th at the port of San Francisco aboard the United States Army Transport Cardinal O'Connell, will be forwarded at a later date through the American Graves Registration Distribution Center at Kansas City, Missouri to Buffalo Center for final interment.
~Buffalo Center Tribune, 05/13/1948
~contributed by S. Ferrall~*~*~
Funeral services for Clare "Mike" Donnelly, who's remains were brought half way round the world to be buried here were held Wednesday afternoon, June 16, at 2 o'clock at the Schutter Funeral Home with the Rev. Elmer Peterson in charge. Members of Winnebago Post No. 21 of the American Legion gave their departed comrade a military burial.
Corp. Clare Leo Donnelly, known to all his Buffalo Center friends as "Mike", was born August 26, 1908 at Buffalo Center, the second son of Loe and Lois Donnelly. His first two and one-half years were spent in Winnebago, Minnesota but on the death of his father in 1911, he returned here with his mother, brother, Arthur (Pat), and sister Dolores.
In 1926 he graduated from the local high school and was immediately employed at the Snell Pharmacy, where he continued to work for 14 years. In 1940 he moved to Estherville, Iowa, to work at the Rexall Pharmacy until his induction into the Army in September 1942.
Corporal Donnelly was trained as an Army pharmacist at Key Field, Merian, Mississippi. On June 17, 1943, he was united in marriage to Miss Eleanor Rokusek at Birmingham, Alabama. They made their home at Meridan until October 1944 when Clare was trasferred to Camp Barkley, Texas where he underwent rigorous overseas training. As he was over the age limit he was offered his discharge at that time but chose to serve his country instead. He was with a hospital unit in Assam Province, North India from March 1945 until the date of his death, July 25, 1945 from peritonitis following an appendectomy.
Surviving relatives are his wife, Eleanor of Yankton, South Dakota, his mother Lois Donnelly, brother, Arthur and a sister Dolores, all of Buffalo Center.
Mrs. Leslie Nielson of Rock Rapids, Iowa, a sister of Mrs. Donnelly, attended the services.
~Buffalo Center Tribune, 06/17/1948
~contributed by S. Ferrall~*~*~
