dad's military service records

I received another letter from the National Archives and Records Admin. today that included dad's separation reports for 2 of his enlistments.

One is from the Marines for service from Dec. 16, 1941 to Dec. 24, 1945. His "principal military duty" was "Shore party man-729." This must describe being at Iwo Jima.

The other is from the Army for service from Sept. 11, 1946 to June 29, 1949.

As dad was in the Army through the early 1960s, more records are not available due to fire damage to the records facility on St. Louis in 1973.

Obituary of James "Jimmy" Lawrence O'Hagan, Jr.

It is with great sadness that I post the obituary of my cousin Jimmy O'Hagan who passed away on October 16. Jimmy inspired me to learn more about our shared ancestors from Ireland, the O'Hagans and Corrs, which eventually led to this blog. He was a wonderful man who will be missed very much by many.

James Lawrence O’Hagan Jr. (Jimmy), 78, beloved husband of Rebecca Fiveash O’Hagan (Becky) departed this world Saturday, October 16 at his home in Fernandina Beach, Florida  surrounded by his family.  

A native and long time resident of Fernandina Beach, he was born March 5, 1932 to James Lawrence O’Hagan Sr. and Elizabeth Sturges O’Hagan.  Jimmy was their only child. He attended St. Michaels Academy in Fernandina, Bolles School in Jacksonville and Fernandina Beach HS.

Jimmy married Denyse Titcomb O’Hagan in 1951 (Their marriage was tragically short as Denyse died of a terminal illness in 1958).  He served in the United States Air Force.  He was stationed at Tyndall Air Force Base where he played football for the “Tyndall Tigers” of which he was most proud.  Jimmy graduated from the University of Georgia in Athens with a Bachelor of Science degree in Forestry in 1959.  He was a member of Sigma Chi Fraternity and Xi Sigma Pi. Following college Jimmy worked for Rayonier Timber Division as a registered Forester. 

Jimmy married Becky Fiveash in 1959.  In 1965 he went to work for International Minerals and Chemical, Inc. and rose to the position of Southeastern Area Sales Manager.  

Jimmy moved home to Fernandina in 1987 and became interested in genealogy.  He was one of the grandchildren of Amelia Island Lighthouse keeper Thomas Patrick O'Hagan and had a desire to learn more about his Irish ancestors.   Following extensive research on the family, Jimmy and Becky made several trips to Ireland making many friends and united family members in Ireland and the United States.  

Jimmy was a member of St. Michaels Parish, a contributor to University of Georgia Athletics and a loyal “Bulldog”.   Above all he enjoyed spending quality time with his family who he so dearly loved.

He is survived by his wife of 50 years, Rebecca Fiveash O’Hagan, sons James Lawrence O’Hagan III, Michael Keith O’Hagan and daughter Dana O’Hagan McCoy (Kevin), eight grandchildren and one great grandson.  

A memorial service will be held in St. Michaels Catholic Church at 11:00 AM, October 24, Father Brian Eburn will officiate.  A reception will follow immediately at the home of Dana and Kevin McCoy.  Interment at Bosca Bella Cemetery will be held at a later date.  Oxley-Heard Funeral Directors, Inc. is in charge of arrangements.  In lieu of flowers, the family requests any donations be made to The Salvation Army ARC in Jacksonville, FL.

No results from Military Service for Schuppe

There were no records found, so my cc will not be charged. I'll try again and include more information. I'm still waiting for the results of dad's search.

Today I downloaded a new software called Legacy and have begun transferring my info into it. I heard about it from a friend who has a group on facebook with his cousins. I think I'll try that.

Military Service Records requested for Dad and Schuppe

I ordered my dad's military service records from the National Archives, which was free. It may take up to 90 days before I should expect a response. I also requested the military records of George Schuppe, which was not free, but I hope to find out something I don't know already about both of them.

Dad was a Marine who survived in Iwo Jima, came home and then enlisted in the Army near the end of the war. He was in Japan during the occupation, where he met my mother. He worked in the motor pool, and she worked at a US Army base. He also served in the Korean War.

I was born in Tokyo, Japan, and both of my sisters were born at Fort Dix, NJ. I went to nursery school at Fort Dix, NJ, kindergarten in Pacific Grove, CA, first grade in Fernandina Beach, FL, second grade in Yokohama, Japan, third, fourth and fifth grades at Grant Heights in Tokyo. We moved to Fernandina Beach when I started sixth grade and graduated from Fernandina Beach High School. Sometime before first grade, I think we lived in Maryland for a short time. I hope dad's military records will tell me when that was.

George Schuppe in Covington, KY 1865

Here's a link to Harper's Weekly article about Fort Mitchell near Covington, KY in 1865 about the time George Schuppe was stationed there. 2 of his 3 children were born to Charlotte in Kentucky..  

George born in Kentucky in 1865
Julia (my great grandmother) born in Smithville, NC (Fort Caswell) in 1866
Mary born in Kentucky in 1867

"Located on a hill overlooking Lexington Pike (US 25), Fort Mitchell was named for Gen. Ormsby M. Mitchell ... The fort was occupied by Union army soldiers and local Home Guard in response to the Confederate invasion of Kentucky in the late summer of 1862. In September of that year advance troops of Confederates skirmished with Union forces near the fort before withdrawing to Lexington. "

Charleston Earthquake 1886

The Earthquake of 1886 occurred just six months after Thomas and Julia were married. I remember hearing stories from Granny Ball that she must have heard from her parents and uncles. She told of people running out of their houses into the streets in their nightgowns, underwear or with only towels wrapped around themselves since the quake hit at 9:50 p.m. on a Sunday night when most were asleep or retiring for the evening.

"The seismic history of the southeastern United States is dominated by the 1886 earthquake that occurred in the Coastal Plain near Charleston, South Carolina. It was one of the largest historic earthquakes in eastern North America, and by far the largest earthquake in the southeastern United States. A major shock, occurred August 31, 1886 at approximately 9:50 p.m. and lasted less than one minute, but resulted in about sixty deaths and extensive damage to the city of Charleston."

South Carolina Seismic Network,  University of South Carolina              

Tour of Georgetown Harbor and Lighthouse

 Georgetown Harbor

While on vacation in SC this past June 2010, my husband Pat and I took a day trip about 60 miles north of the Isle of Palms to Georgetown to see the Georgetown Lighthouse where my grandmother Irene Elizabeth O'Hagan Ball was born in 1890. The boat tour included a walk on the beach on North Island for collecting shells and a view of the Georgetown Lighthouse from the river. It was a wonderful half day tour that I highly recommend. The lighthouse is not open to the public, but our tour guide said that it may be open next year.

Georgetown Lighthouse

The lighthouse is isolated by water, strong currents and no roads, far from town or neighbors. I tried to imagine living there as my great grandmother did, a newlywed starting her marriage and family on a remote island. The first three of her 12 children where born at the Georgetown Lighthouse: Aunt Janie on July 1, 1887, Aunt Lottie on October 22, 1888, and my grandmother Irene on September. 6, 1890. Papa bought Julia a horse since she liked to ride.


I believe that Papa's oldest brother John J. O'Hagan drowned at Georgetown.

The lighthouse is on North Island in Winyah Bay where three rivers meet and flow into the Atlantic. The currents are very strong so even today, ships and boats must consider the tides or risk a long ride home.

My husband Pat enjoying the tour boat.

Married Feb. 24, 1886 Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church

I took a vacation with my family to Wild Dunes Resort on the Isle of Palms, north of Charleston in June. We visited Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church where Papa and Julia Schuppe were married on February 24, 1886.

Stella Maris RCC c. 1920

It's a very pretty church located on Sullivan's Island, just a short drive from Wild Dunes.

Here's a copy of their marriage certificate I picked up while I was there. The witnesses were L. McKevlin and Hannah O'Hagan. Hannah was the wife of Papa's oldest brother, John J. O'Hagan.

A bonus to visiting the church is that it's across the street from Fort Moultrie, a national park. The fort is open to explore and takes you back to 1776 when it was a palm log fort. I was surprised to see that Seminole Chief Osceola is buried in front of the fort.

Denis and Mariah O'Hagan arrive NYC Sept. 2, 1850 on ship West Point

A friend found the following:

"In 1852, New York Emigrant Savings Bank Test Book for Denis O'Hagan, Stone Cutting -- Native of New Mills, 2 miles from Dungannon, County Tyrone, Ireland...on Sept. 2/50 on ship West Point from Liverpool. Parents living, father John, Mother Rose Malone; two brothers in Ireland. Patrick and John, 1 in U.S. Sisters living, Cathe Kerr, Hester, Rose Ann and Mary Jane; is married to Maria Corr. No Children."

Rose Malone was Denis' mother. I have notes from aunts and cousins that Denis' mother was Mary Jane Hamilton. Mary Jane was his sister

I will look for the passenger list of the West Point in 1850.

Papa's Service Years at Morris Island 1878-1887

I just got the book The Morris Island Lighthouse Charleston's Maritime Beacon by Douglas W. Bostick and found Papa and his brother listed in the Appendix Lightkeepers Stationed on Morris Light on page 124.

They served together from 1878 to 1880. Papa was there 1878-1887. John served 1876-1880.

Thomas Patrick O'Hagan and Julia Catharin Schuppe

My genealogical search begins with my great-grandfather Thomas Patrick O'Hagan. The photo below was taken at the Amelia Lighthouse.

He was born Jan. 10, 1859, in Brooklyn, NY. He died Nov. 30, 1944, in Fernandina Beach, FL, and is buried in Bosque Belle Cemetery.

Thomas Patrick O'Hagan, Amelia Island Lighthouse

He married Julia Catharin Schuppe on Feb. 24, 1886 at Mary Star of the Sea Catholic Church (known today as Stella Maris Roman Catholic Church), Sullivan’s Island, SC. Julia was born Dec. 11, 1866, Smithville, NC, and died May 12,1915, Fernandina Beach, FL, buried in Bosque Belle Cemetery.

Thomas and Julia had 12 children:

Name	Birth Date/Place	Death Date/Place
Mary Jane (Aunt Janie)	July 1, 1887 Georgetown Light, SC	June 21, 1966 Jacksonville, FL
Charlotte Maria (Aunt Lottie)	Oct. 22, 1888 Georgetown Light, SC	April 18, 1974 Jacksonville, FL
Irene Elizabeth (my grandmother, Granny Ball)	Sep. 6, 1890 Georgetown Light, SC	Dec. 7, 1988 Jacksonville, FL
Thomas John (Uncle Tom)	April 12, 1892 Ponce Inlet Light, FL	Aug. 4, 1981 Fernandina Beach, FL
Julia Catharine C. (Aunt Julia)	May 12, 1895 Ponce Inlet Light, FL	? Jacksonville, FL
Agnes Ackley	Nov. 28, 1897 Ponce Inlet Light, FL	Sep. 30, 1918 Fernandina Beach, FL
William Robert	June 23, 1900 Ponce Inlet Light, FL	June 7, 1915 Fernandina Beach, FL
Edith Teresa	June 23, 1900 Ponce Inlet Light, FL	Sep. 27, 1982 Chattahoochee, FL
Joseph Elliot Boone	Oct. 11, 1901 Ponce Inlet Light, FL	Dec. 31, 1982 Norfolk, VA
James Lawrence (Uncle Jimmy)	Dec. 30, 1902 Ponce Inlet Light, FL	Dec. 27, 1968 Fernandina Beach, FL
David Cowie	May 21, 1904 Ponce Inlet Light, FL	Aug. 1, 1986 St. Simon’s Island, GA
Rachel Cecelia	Nov. 2, 1906 Amelia Light, FL	Dec. 1, 1997 Fernandina Beach, FL

Welcome

The purpose of this blog is to share what I've learned about my family beginning with my great-grandfather Thomas Patrick O'Hagan.

Find out about his service at the Ponce Inlet Light go to their web site at www.ponceinlet.org.

The Ponce Inlet Lighthouse is very visitor-friendly and offers at least half a day's worth of fun for all ages. The lighthouse, the 2nd tallest masonry lighthouse in the U.S., is open to the public to climb it's 203 steps to the top at 175 feet. The keepers' homes give visitors a look at their lives over 100 years ago. There is also a gift shop and ample parking.