Biographies of our Forefathers
Edward D
McColgan
Copy of Ed’s original birth certificate.
According to the certificate his middle name at
birth was registered as “Donnelly”. Throughout
his life he used the middle name “Dominic” which
was probably a Confirmation name which he
received when he was confirmed at Holy Family
Church. Also note that he is listed as a “female
on the certificate. Certificate courtesy of
Deborah McColgan Chenoweth.
Ed’s mother died in 1914 when he
was 4 years old. In an attempt to take care of Ed and
his sisters, his father brought his sister Isabella over
from Scotland to help but that didn't work out and the
children were placed in orphanages.
The children were removed from the
orphanages by their Uncle Johnny Tinneny and, James
Tinneny, who parceled them out to their aunts and uncles
to raise.
A copy of Ed’s birth registration issued in
July 1930 probably for enlistment later that
year in the United States Navy. His mother’s
name is misspelled Tinnery vs. Tinneny. Also
note the recruiting officer’s certification
of the document. Courtesy of Deborah
McColgan Chenoweth
Photo: Ed
center with his older brother
John (Left) and his uncle
Patrick Tinneny on his (Right)
about 1911. Courtesy of Deborah
McColgan Chenoweth.
Photo: The McColgan home
Pennsauken, New Jersey. Ed’s parents, him (probably
seated front right) and his siblings. Courtesy of Joyce
Roff.
Ed was taken in and raised by his
mother’s brother Jim Tinneny and his wife Gert. He can
be found living with them on both the 1920 and 1930
Census of The United States. Although Jim and Gert had a
large family they raised Ed as one of their own after
removing him from the orphanage following the death of
his mother. When he was in his teens, Ed told his Uncle
Jim that he wanted to change his name from McColgan to
Tinneny. Jim told him that he wouldn’t consider that
because “every man should have his own name.” Ed
attended Holy Family School in Manayunk up to the 10th
grade.
United States Census, 1920 for
James Tinneny Family
United States Census, 1930
for James Tinneny Family
|
James J. Tinneny
41 Head of
Household
Gertrude Tinneny
39 Spouse
James
Tinneny 19 Son
Mary Tinneny
17 Daughter
Clare Tinneny
16 Daughter
John Tinneny
14 Son
Joseph Tinneny
13 Son
Gertrude Tinneny
11 Daughter
Thomas Tinneny
7 Son
William Tinneny
4 Son
Edward McColgan
20 Nephew
|
Ed’s first job after leaving school
was as a butcher’s assistant. He then worked at Midvale
Steele and Ordinance Company in Philadelphia from 1928
until he entered the U. S. Navy for what turned out to
be a nearly 23 year distinguished active duty career
during which he sailed all over the world.
As
described on his nephew Joe McColgan’s website:
 "Ed
enjoyed sports, as a young man he and his brother John
belonged to the Milo Athletic Club in Roxborough. Ed
played football on the club team. His brother John
remembered playing football against a team from the
Frankford section of Philadelphia. The Frankford team
was bigger and rougher than the Milo team. According to
John, Ed and several other members of the Milo team
ended up in the hospital with injuries from the game. Ed
was probably an average football player at best, but he
excelled as a boxer participating in Golden Glove
events.
In 1930, Ed joined the US Navy. What motivated him to
join the Navy? There are at least two versions of the
story. His sister Pat said that he was sweet on a
certain young lady, but she did not return his
affections. Heartbroken he decided to join the Navy.
According to his son Brian, Ed joined the Navy to escape
the mob. It seems that certain figures in organized
crime wanted Ed to throw a boxing match, so that they
could benefit from a fixed fight by betting against him.
Ed would not co-operate--cheating was against his
principles. The mob threatened him and he escaped by
joining the US Navy.”
Photo: Ed as
a young sailor. Courtesy of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth.
Ed entered
the Navy as an apprentice seaman on October 1, 1930 for
a four-year tour of duty. Following basic training he
completed the Machinist’s Mates trade school at the Navy
Base, Hampton Roads, Virginia on December 29, 1930
“Ed’s first
assignment was as a submariner in the Asian Fleet.
According to his son, Brian, Ed’s submarine became stuck
on the bottom during underwater maneuvers; this
experience left Ed with the feeling that he would have a
very short future. Ed requested reassignment and found
himself serving on the crew of a destroyer. He served on
destroyers for most of his naval career. The Asian fleet
was eventually merged with the Pacific fleet, which was
based in Hawaii. When the Pearl Harbor attack occurred,
Ed’s ship was at sea, so he missed the opening shots of
the war. But he was present at the end; his ship was
anchored in Tokyo harbor and Ed witnessed the Japanese
surrender ceremony.” (From the McColgan website.)
Ed’s Certificate of Graduation from
the Machinist’s Mates School at Hampton
Roads, Norfolk, Virginia, 25 September
25, 1931. Courtesy of Deborah McColgan
Chenoweth.
Certificate awarded to Ed
when he completed
requirements for his
Machinist’s Mate rating in
July, 1932. Courtesy of
Deborah McColgan Chenoweth.
Ed’s certificate awarded in 1932
for of completion for the Navy
Training Course - Fireman Second
Class. Courtesy of Deborah McColgan
Chenoweth.
During his naval service, Ed continued his interest in
boxing, fighting in various Navy matches.
Photo: Ed in boxing stance while in the Navy.
Courtesy of the McColgan website.
Ed's Discharge Cert 1936 p 1,
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth.
|
|
During his initial tour of duty he appeared
to have taken a real affinity for tattoos.
By the time he reenlisted for the first
time, on November 4, 1936 aboard the U.S.S.
Canopus in Hong Kong, he had acquired the
following tattoos: a “Flag, flower, MEB”
right upper arm; “USN and anchor”, right
forearm; “Haiti, Panama, Honolulu, Guam,
Manila, Hong Kong, Amoy, Shanghai, Tsingtao”
on his right forearm. Tattoo of a woman’s
head on his left shoulder, tattoo of a bird
on his left arm. His reenlistment
certificate described Ed as being 5ft 8 1/2
inches in height with a weight of 145 pounds
with light brown hair, a ruddy complexion
and blue eyes. During his initial tour he
had served aboard the U.S.S. Canopus and one
other vessel.
Ed's
Discharge Cert 1936 p 2,
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth.
 At one point in the
1930s, Ed's ship was stationed in China. During that
time his cousin, Jack Tinneny [Rich Tinneny’s father],
with whom Ed was raised, was also stationed in China
with the United States Marine Corps. Many years later,
Jack would tell of the time when they were stationed in
China that he went to visit Ed on his ship. By then Ed
had progressed in rank while Jack was only a private.
Jack recalled how the sailors at first gave him a hard
time about coming aboard the ship and questioned him
strongly about what business a marine private had with
petty officer McColgan. When Jack told them that Ed was
his brother all of the ship was open to him and the two
cousins had a wonderful visit.While
Ed was in China he met and married Catherine Pereleshina.
Catherine was a white Russian. The couple had three
children Edward Dominic Jr., Eugenia “Jeanne”, and
Catherine. Ed and Catherine subsequently divorced and
Catherine and the children remained in California. Ed
continued his career in the Navy.
Following are several letters that Ed wrote to his older
brother John McColgan while Ed was serving in the Navy.
The reader, at least I did, gets a real sense of
closeness between the two brothers even though they were
separated by great distance and for a long time. I have
taken the liberty of adjusting some punctuation and
spelling for clarity. These letters are included with
permission of Ed’s brother John McColgan who provided me
with copies.
Photo: Ed and his brother John McColgan.
Courtesy of the McColgan website.
The first of these letters Ed wrote to John from the
Panama Canal Zone. He prefaced his salutation to John
with a comment about the hot weather in the area. He
then told of his trip from the east coast to San
Francisco, California and his impression to that point.
He really seemed impressed by the super buys that he
found in Haiti on “real” beer and whiskey.
Nov. 23, 1931
Balboa, Canal
Zone
and hot as hell
Dear
Duke:-
How is everything up in the hills
now, boy you sure will have to
travel around a bit to catch up with
your kid brother; for let me tell
you lad I’m seeing things now and
liking it, the first port we made
after leaving the states was
Port-au-Prince on the island of
Haiti and what people, they still
hunt heads up in the mountains so
they made us stay aboard ship. Then
we stopped at Colon in the Canal
Zone on the Atlantic side. Then
through the canal and now at Balboa
on the Pacific side and I sure did
enjoy it. Boy you ought to join this
outfit and go to China. The next
stop is at Nicaragua then Covinto
then up the west coast to San Diego,
San Pedro, then Frisco to spend
Christmas and New Years, what a
time. Boy, maybe it isn’t nice down
here. You go ashore and walk into a
saloon and order up a glass of beer,
real beer, or a shot of rum or
whiskey and boy it sure is cheap and
good. I bought a quart of Johnnie
Walker Black Label whiskey in
Port-au-Prince and I’m saving it for
Frisco and Christmas if I can get it
back into the States again.
Well let’s hear from you soon.
Give my regards to all the family.
See you sometimes or in a couple
of years.
The Kid
Ed.
PS My future
address is
USS Chaumont
E
Division
C/O Postmaster
San
Diego
California
On March 31, 1935 Ed sent John a letter
from Manila. He talked of his years of
service over seas and of becoming a
“foreigner”. He told his brother of the
different foreign countries he was
traveling and working in and even
suggested that John may wish considering
traveling to the orient.
On June 20, 1935 Ed posted a letter from the U.S.S
Canopus, which was serving in China at the time, to
his brother John who was living at 4519 1/2 Ritchie
Street in the Manayunk section of Philadelphia. Ed
had met and decided to marry and asked John to go to
New Jersey and get a copy of his birth certificate
and to send it to him.
Submarine Squadron Five
U.S.
Asiatic Fleet
Tsingtao China
June
19 –35
Dear Duke:-
How is everything going back in the
old hometown? Is the depression over
yet? How are you making out in the
plumbing business, successfully I hope?
Is the old Milo A.C. still going strong?
Someday I will come back and apply for
membership if it is. Have you made any
camping trip this summer yet? I sure
would like to go on one – wake up in the
morning without the aid of a bugler or
Master-at-Arms. That sure would be
swell. How are the old gang making out.
Jim Drennen, Walt Cannon, Joe Brecht,
Joe Ballisty and Johnny Gray too. Tell
them I was asking for them. Any of them
married yet or about to be. How about
you? Has any woman gotten her clutches
on you yet? As I remember you never had
much time for them as a whole. But, I’ll
bet when you do get one she will have to
be pretty damn near perfect. Well, you
deserve the best. I hope you get all you
deserve.
Now I have some news for you. I’m
going to be married to a little Russian
girl, a very sweet one take it from me.
But I need your cooperation.
I think I will have to have a birth
certificate. Will you do me a big favor
and go to Camden City Hall and get me
one and have it certified by a notary
Public and send it to me just as fast as
you can. I have to have it as soon as
possible so that I can be married before
the ship goes back to Manila in
September or else I will have to wait
until next year and I don’t want to do
that. So if you still love this
reprobate brother of yours you will
waste as little time as possible and
earn my gratitude. Also my wife-to-be’s.
She is a very sweet kid born in Russia
she came to China with her parents when
she was still a child. She was raised in
a French convent in Tientsin China and
is very well educated and I love her
very much so please hurry.
Give my love to every one and write
to me soon.
The Kid
Ed.
Info you may need
Edward Dominic
McColgan Jan 15-1910, Camden, N. J.
|
|
Ed’s wife to be was
Catherine Pereleshina. She
was born November 14, 1916
at Blagoveshchensk, Union of
Soviet Socialists Republics
(USSR). Catherine’s parents
were Abraam Lukich
Pereleshin and her mother
was Elena Georgieuna
Pereleshina. Catherine moved
to China with her parents in
1922. She and Ed married in
China on October 11, 1935.
She entered the United
States aboard the vessel SS
President Coolidge on
January 5, 1939 at the port
of San Francisco,
California. On April 14,
1945, Catherine became a
United States Citizen. The
Superior Court at San Diego
issued her citizenship
certificate, No. 6382889, on
April 14, 1945.
Photos: Catherine “Kitty”
Pereleshina and her mother,
Elena Georgieuna Pereleshina.
Courtesy of Helen Tinneny.
|
 |
Manila P.I.
Jan-9-1936
Dear Duke:-
At last I’m taking
time out to write you. I
guess you think I’m a
washout as a brother and
a pretty ungrateful sort
of a guy but I’m not. At
least I’ll try not to
be. So first I want to
take this opportunity to
thank you for getting me
those legal papers. If
it hadn’t been for your
speedy cooperation I
would still be single
and unhappy. But as it
is I’m staid old
Benedict and enjoying
life as I never enjoyed
it before. You know it’s
a great feeling to go
ashore at the end of a
day’s work and grab a
rickshaw to ride home
and know that there is
someone waiting there to
see you come home, and
who depends on you and
no one else, just to
realize that her whole
life and well being is
built around you, and
that if you fail her it
makes you stop and
think. While before you
take any foolish
chances.
It’s just about what
I needed, to settle me
down and now I would
like to be out of the
navy and settled down
ashore somewhere with a
solid substantial home,
instead of an apartment
in Shanghai for a month
and then one in Tsingtao
for 6 months then in
Manila for 5 more months
and the constant cost of
transporting your wife
from place to place but
I’m afraid to quit the
navy now. I don’t trust
the outside. I probably
couldn’t get a descent
job anyway, and I would
probably get a small
paying job, if I did get
one. My pay now is 20.00
a week or 80.00 a month,
and I don’t think wages
on the outside quite
come up to that. Do
they? Maybe you could
give me a little advice
on this subject. What do
you think is best if I
stay in the Navy after
this year I have to
re-enlist for four more
years and that will make
10 and that’s a lot of
time to throw away? It’s
half of my retirement
time. I only have to put
in 20 years and I retire
with about 60.00 a month
for the rest of my life.
I am now a Machinist
Mate Second Class
(MM2/C) and I take the
exams for first class
this year. If I pass it
means $12.00 a month
more which will bring my
pay to (??) a month. I
think I’d better stay in
the Navy. Don’t you?
Well how are things
going with you? Is
business picking up any?
How is the romance
between Marie Beck
coming along? When are
you going to follow in
Isabel’s and my
footsteps? It’s a great
institution marriage.
Say Duke, I had a couple
of arguments with some
of these hillbilly
sailors about weight
lifting. Especially the
Jefferson’s lift and the
back bridge and dead
lift. If you can get
hold of any a B.B.M.
pamphlets with world
records in lifting I’d
sure appreciate it if
you would send them to
me.
How’s the old Milo
making out? Still going
strong I hope. I’ve quit
all my athletics. Three
years in a row I’ve had
my hands on that Asiatic
Fleet belt but lost in
the last fight every
time. I got stopped
(TKO) in the 4th round
so I guess I’m getting
old. Oh well, I have
enough medals and cups
and runner up belts
anyway. I still play
soccer but we lost the
championship this year.
Say hello to the gang,
if any of them still
remember me.
Love
from my wife Good Luck
Duke
Write soon
The Kid
P.S. How
about sending me a
letter by the new
clipper ship air mail.
My wife saves stamps and
I’d like to get one with
this cancellation on it.
On June 12, 1939 Ed sent his brother
John a letter from his new home in
California. Ed had returned with his
wife and daughter from the orient for
about six months. The family was living
at 1728 Island Avenue, San Diego,
California and his brother John and his
wife Marie and daughter were living
at7367 Manayunk Avenue in the Roxborough
section of Philadelphia. In the letter
Ed reaffirms his feelings for China and
his ties to Philadelphia and friends and
family there.
San Diego, Calif.
June 11-1939
Dear Duke:-
Well Duke, it’s been a long time
since I’ve written to you. I hope
this finds you & Marie and Joan all
in the best of health. We are all
doing well out here in California.
We have been back from China only a
few months. We arrived in January
this year and the States sure does
seem odd to me after almost eight
years in China.
I was around on the east coast
for fleet maneuvers and expected to
visit the New York World’s Fair for
three weeks and I had arranged for
ten days leave to come to
Philadelphia to see you all but they
changed our orders and we returned
here to the west coast. I got only
as far north as Gulfport, Miss. and
Panama City, Florida.
I don’t know when I will be able
to get east for a visit but I am
trying to get duty in the Phila.
Navy Yard putting a new ship in
commission when I ship over next
year and possibly move around to
Philly.
I don’t think much of the Navy
back here in the States. It is
better duty in the Orient and I
guess if it hadn’t of got tired of
ducking shells & bombs I would have
stayed there for another year at
least. Maybe some day I will go back
to my China (I sure do like the
place) if the Japs ever get out of
there and stay out.
If I don’t get the duty I like
next year I might go then for a
couple of years until little Kitty
is old enough to go to school. Then
I will have to return and send her
to school here in the States. Maybe
after being back here a year I won’t
want to go back to China but right
now I do.
I don’t like the west coast. I
guess if I was east I would be more
at home, especially back in Phila. I
sure would like to see what the old
Quaker City looks like now.
How is the plumbing business
doing? Have you still got your own
shop? Give my regards to any of the
old gang from the club you may see
and say hello to Jim Drennen for me.
Kitty and baby and I send our
best to you & Marie & Joan. Hoping
to hear from you soon.
Your Bro.
Ed.
U.S.S. Dale
(353)
San Diego or 1728 Island
Ave.
Calif. San Diego, Calif.
Ed's Discharge September 1940 p 1,
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan
Chenoweth.
Ed's
Discharge 1940 p 2,
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan
Chenoweth.
|
|
|
Ed reenlisted for the second
time on September 11, 1940
aboard the U.S.S. Dale at Mare
Island, California. By that time
he had been promoted to
Machinist Mate First Class and
during his second tour he had
served aboard the U.S.S.
Canopus, U.S.S. Blackhawk, U.S.S.
Pillsbury, U.S.S. Chaumont, and
the U.S.S. Dale. During that
tour of duty he also served at
the Recruiting Station in San
Francisco. The record showed
that by this time he was married
and indicated that he had
acquired no more tattoos.
Ed Served aboard the U.S.S,
HENRY WILEY in a heroic battle
against Japanese forces from
March 23 to June 24, 1945. Their
crew fought off 51 enemy planes
and shot down 12 Japanese planes
and assisted in shooting down 3
other aircraft. For these heroic
actions involving the entire
crew of the ship the
Presidential Unit Citation was
awarded to the ship and its
crew, including Ed.
Ed’s copy of the Presidential
Unit Citation which was awarded
to the U.S.S. HENRY A. WILEY and
its crew, including Ed, for
heroic action in a major battle
off the island of Okinawa. p 1,
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan
Chenoweth.
Presidential Unit Citation
which was awarded to the U.S.S.
HENRY A. WILEY and its crew,
including Ed, for heroic action
in a major battle off the island
of Okinawa. p 2, Courtesy
of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth.
Ed was aboard one of the American ships
that participated in the Japanese
surrender ceremony which occurred on the
deck of the U.S.S. Missouri in Tokyo Bay
on September 2, 1945.
A copy of the Japanese surrender
instrument given to Ed who was a
witness to the event on a US
military vessel near the U.S.S.
Missouri on September 2, 1945.
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan
Chenoweth.
Following the war, Ed completed the
Materiel Preservation Course and the
Philadelphia Navy Base which gave him a
good opportunity to spend some time with
friends and his family.
Completion certificate Materiel
Preservation Course courtesy of Deborah
McColgan Chenoweth.
Ed's
Discharge Certificate September 1948 p 1
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth.
Ed's
Discharge Certificate September 1948 p 2
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth.
|
Catherine Pereleshina and Ed in China.
Courtesy of Ed McColgan, Jr.
|
Ed, Kitty and their daughter Kitty.
|
|
Ed with his daughter Kitty dressed in a
Kimono. |
Ed's daughter Kitty dressed in a grass
skirt.
|
Ed and Kitty’s children Ed. Jr. (Age 7) and
Jeannie
(Age 14). Courtesy of Ed. McColgan Jr. |
Photo: Ed’s children Jeannie and Ed with
their maternal grandmother, Georgieuna
Pereleshina, in California about 1951.
Courtesy of Ed McColgan Jr.
|
Kitty and her daughter Kitty in Hawaii |
Kitty with daughter Kitty and Aunt Jenny |
|
Photo: Catherine Trapp courtesy of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth.
Photo: Ed and Catherine on their wedding
day courtesy of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth. |
Ed and Kitty had three children Catherine
was born in Shanghai, China, Edward D.
McColgan Jr. born in Philadelphia,
Pennsylvania and Eugenia Donna born in
Lafayette, Indiana. By 1950 Ed and Kitty had
divorced.
A mutual friend introduced Ed to Catherine
Mary (Cassie) Trapp in a bar in Baltimore,
Maryland. Ed was on shore leave and
Catherine was there with one of her friends.
They were married August 5, 1950. The
sponsors at their wedding were Marion and
Marvin Severson who were friends.
Cassie had
two children Dennis and Elizabeth who Ed and
Cassie raised in their home at 2317 Foster
Avenue in Parkville, Maryland. Ed and Cassie
then had two children Deborah and Brian.
Photo : Ed and Cassie’s wedding (L-R)
Marvin Severson, Ed, Catherine, and Marion
Severson. Courtesy of Deborah McColgan
Chenoweth.
|
|
The following are extracts
from some of Ed’s letters home to Cassie
during the Korean War 1950-53.
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan
Chenoweth
June 1, 1951:
Letter to Cassie from the west coast.
“ … We
have arrived in the states ... a slow
trip … waiting to see you and the kids
so much made every day seem like a
year.” He said that he was “going to get
10 days of leave but had to go to the
hospital first for a check-up on his
kidneys and if they don’t find something
he should be home the following week,
Sunday June 24th.” He
cautioned her, “You will be very
surprised when you see me. I have been a
lot sicker then the doctors realized and
this type duty is far too much for me.
The terrific heat down South of the
Marshall Island area just seemed to sap
all my strength and it didn’t do my
kidneys any good.” He went on to say
how the trip to the hospital was very
necessary and he suspects that after the
examination the doctor may force a
transfer to a cooler climate, hopefully
near Baltimore. He said he was hoping
for that “so that we will be able to
live like a real family.” Note: Ed had
lost part of his kidney which resulted
in chronic kidney problems.
He then
expressed some thoughts about the Korean
War, “If only they will be able to do
something about this Korean situation so
that I could get out of the navy I will
be happy. I don’t know what kind of
namby-pamby’s they have in congress
today. It seems to me this commuting
back and forth across the 38th
parallel would get monotonous – even to
people just reading about it.
July 5, 1952:
Letter to Cassie written aboard his ship,
the USS Walker.
“We
are stationed on the front bomb lines
off the Korean coast. We have been here
most of the time since we arrived except
for a few days, when we had an all out
air attack on the power plants at Suiho
and Chosin. We had 4 carriers with us
and they each sent off 100 planes and
boy did they smear them power plants. Of
course the glory boys of the Air Force
sent 50 planes on the same mission and
got all the credit and write-ups in the
press. I think they did mention that
some carrier planes were present, but
who cares. I think it made the commies
stop and ponder a bit and I have a funny
feeling that this Police Action may end shortly. So who cares where the
credit goes, just so it ends so we can
all come home. Next week we will be back
in
Yokosuka and I will try
to get up to Yokohama and get a set of
dishes for you. I am working my cylinder
brain trying to think of something
especially nice for your birthday but so
far I’ve drawn a blank. Any
suggestions?”
August 25,
1952: letter to Cassie from aboard ship in
the Pacific.
The ship
was 12 days out of Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
headed to the west coast of the United
States. Ed describes an accident he had
10 days earlier and said he was in a lot
of pain. The accident occurred during a
typhoon when his left hand got caught in
a water tight door leading out to the
main deck of the vessel. The ship “took
a couple tons of water aboard” that is
when his hand was caught between the
door and the door frame. He said his
hand was “smashed badly and three
fingers and a knuckle were broken and
the hand was cut up badly.” In this
letter he also said he was looking
forward to getting back to port the
following week and mentioned that he had
not been in port since July. He also
asked Cassie if she had received the
dishes that he had sent her as a gift
from the orient. As he completed the
letter he asked if their young daughter
Debbie (Debbie McColgan Chenoweth) was
talking yet.
November 11,
1952: Letter to Cassie from a hospital on
the west coast.
He was
being treated for the injured left hand
described in the earlier letter of
August 25th. He really seemed down. He
said he was getting the run around at
the hospital and that he had another
operation on the hand. He had requested
to be transferred to the east coast but
the doctor continued to delay releasing
him for transfer until he felt he would
be fit to travel. Ed said “I finally
conned him.” and that he was going to be
transferred to Bethesda Naval Hospital,
which would be closer to Cassie and the
children at their home in Baltimore,
Maryland. He was really looking forward
to the transfer and indicated he was
seriously concerned about the damage to
his hand. He then went on to mention
“George Roberts a young marine who has a
crippled right arm and as I have a
crippled left arm we budded-up in all
our travels (from the Pacific) so that
we had the use of two arms for dressing
and eating and so forth.”
 |
During his time in the Navy, Ed
served aboard many ships
including the following: U.S.S.
Henry A. Walker, U.S.S. Wiley,
U.S.S. Northern Sound, U.S.S.
Cascade, U.S.S. Canopus, U.S.S.
Blackhawk, U.S.S. Pillsbury,
U.S.S. Chaumont, U.S.S. Dale. He
also served as a recruiter at
the Navy Recruiting Station San
Diego, California.
Photos: Ed in his officer’s
uniform during World War II.
Courtesy of his son Ed McColgan
JR.
While in the Navy he completed his high
school equivalency examination and went on
to complete a degree in engineering from
Purdue University in Indiana.
|
 |
According to the certificate below Ed was
separated from the United States Navy Fleet
Reserve and placed in the inactive Fleet
Reserve on March 25, 1952, however there is
a discharge certificate below dated March
26, 1953 also addressing his separation into
the inactive Fleet Reserve. In that
document it shows that he received an
honorable separation at Washington, DC. He
had a total of 22 years 4 months and 3 days
of active service. During that time he had
spent 3 years on foreign or sea duty and
rose to the enlisted rank of Chief Machinist
Mate. Seven years later he was elevated to
the rank of Warrant Officer 1 since he had
held that rank temporarily during the Second
World War.
Note:There appears to be some discrepancy
among these documents with regard to the
actual year (1952 or 1953) that Ed was
transferred to the inactive fleet reserve.
Fleet
Reserve Certificate March 1952 p 1,
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth.
Fleet
Reserve Certificate March 1952 p 2,
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth.
Ed’s final Report of Separation issued 26
March 1953. Courtesy of Deborah McColgan
Chenoweth.
Among his medals and decorations were listed
the Presidential Unit Citation, the Good
Conduct Medal, Yangtze Service Medal, China
Service Medal, American Defense Medal, “A”
Clasp, American Area Campaign Medal, Asiatic
Pacific and Campaign Medal with 4 stars,
European-African-Middle East Area Campaign
Medal, the Korean Service Medal, United
Nations Ribbon and the World War II Victory
Medal. On his DD Form 214 his most
significant duty assignment was listed as
the time he spent aboard the U.S.S. Walker
(DDE-517). As part of his final pay Ed was
reimbursed $2.22 to travel from Washington,
DC to his home at 1469 Woodall Street in
Baltimore, Maryland.
A letter from Harry S.
Truman, President of the
United States, commerateing
and thanking Ed for his
military service. Courtesy
of Deborah McColgan
Chenoweth.
After his retirement from the navy, Ed
worked for Regal Laundry Company in
Baltimore, Maryland 1953-54. He next
worked as a mechanic from 1954 to 1965
with Oriole Refrigeration in Baltimore,
Maryland. In 1965 he left Oriole
Refrigeration to take a position as
maintenance superintendent with Johns
Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, a
position he held for the next 10 years.
Deborah
McColgan.
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth
On November 15, 1960 he received a
letter from the Commandant of the Fifth
Naval District, Norfolk, Virginia
informing him that he had been placed on
the retirement list effective October 1,
1960 as a result of completion of 30
years of service on September 30, 1960.
Item 6 of that correspondence also
informed him “Records indicate you held
temporary officer status during World
War II. Advancement on the retired list
to the highest rank satisfactorily held
as determined by the Secretary of the
Navy will be effective without further
action on your part. Thus Ed reverted
from the enlisted rank that he held when
he separated from the Navy on March 26,
1953 to the rank of Warrant Officer 1,
which he was authorized to assume due to
his war time service after reaching 30
years combined active duty and reserve
service.
Letter notifying Ed of his final
retirement status – that he had completed a
total of 30 years of naval service. He had
served 22 years,4 months and 3 days on
active duty and the remainder in the
inactive reserve. Courtesy of Deborah
McColgan Chenoweth.
|
 |
 |
Photo: Ed and Siblings – (L to R)
Ed, Isabella, Kitty, John. Courtesy
of Isabella “Pat” Kemp.
|
Photo: Ed and Cassie in retirement.
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan Chenoweth. |
In retirement, Ed enjoyed reading,
singing (He was a member of the American
Legion Balladeers.), hunting, fishing
and watching John Wayne movies. He and
his family were members of Saint
Ursula’s Catholic Church in Parkville,
Maryland.
Photo: October 1996, Ed’s
widow Cassie, with her children
(L-R) Dennis Flynn, Deborah
McColgan Chenoweth, Elizabeth
Flynn Benton, and Brian McColgan.
Courtesy of Deborah McColgan
Chenoweth.
At the age of 79, Ed suffered a stroke
and died in Baltimore on March 12, 1989.
He was buried March 15, 1989 in Plot:
A-18 10 5 at Garrison Forest Veteran’s
Cemetery in Reisterstown, Baltimore
County, Maryland. Cassie continued to
live in the family home and she died in
March 8, 2000. She was buried in the
plot with Ed in on March 14, 2000.
Edward's descendants include: His
three children with his first wife
Catherine "Kitty" Pereleshina. They
were Edward, Catherine and
Eugenia and their McColgan, Tucker,
McCain, McCann and Widmann
descendants. And, Brian and Deborah
from his marriage with Catherine
Mary (Cassie) Trapp and
their McColgan, Tucker, Klein,
Bryant and Dennis descendants.
|
|
|
