Resolution

Whereas, James Allen Callaghan was born in September 1920, and moved to Larchmont in 1922. He resided at 113 Larchmont Avenue, now numbered as 199 Larchmont Avenue in Larchmont, New York.

Whereas, he was eligible to enroll in the Mamaroneck Union Free School District, and attended Elementary School at the "little convent" at St. Augustine's School in Larchmont.

Whereas, the Historical Society has obtained photographs of James Allen Callaghan as a young boy in family pictures at the Larchmont home.

Whereas, he was admitted to Iona Preparatory School in September 1929 after completing the third grade at St. Augustine's. He graduated from Iona Preparatory School in June 1938.

Whereas, James Allen Callaghan appears, a the age of 9, on the United States Census for the Village of Larchmont, with his parents and siblings at their home at 113 Larchmont Avenue, now known as 199 Larchmont Avenue.

Whereas, he was the son of James G. Callaghan and Mary A. Callaghan. James G. Callaghan died of a heart attack in Grand Central Terminal on March 22, 1939, when James Allen Callaghan was about 19 years old. Mary Callaghan died in 1958. She had moved to Locust Avenue in New Rochelle after the death of her husband.

Whereas, according to official Army enlistment records, James Allen Callaghan enlisted in the United States Army on September 24, 1942.

Whereas, Missing Air Crew Report 10657, filed on December 18, 1944, identifies 2nd Lieutenant James A. Callaghan as the bombardier on the B-29 “Dixie Darlin” which was lost in action on a flight from Isely Field, Saipan, to Nagoya Japan.

Whereas, the United State Army Air Force Combat Chronology for December 18, 1944 states the following: “HQ AAF (Twentieth Air Force): Mission 13: 89 B-29s flying out of the Mariana Islands are sent to hit the Mitsubishi aircraft plant at Nagoya, Japan; 63 hit the primary target and 10 bomb last resort targets and targets of opportunity; they claim 5-11-12 enemy aircraft; 4 B-29s are lost.”

Whereas, on December 19, 1945 Mrs. Mary A. Callaghan, then living at Locust Court Apartments in New Rochelle, received a letter from the War Department informing her that the War Department confirming their final determination of his death, one year following the date of the incident.

Whereas, James Allen Callaghan appears on the Tablets of the Missing at Honolulu Memorial, Honolulu, Hawaii and the citation identifies his service number #0-699980, his rank as Second Lieutenant, his division as 871st Bomber Squadron, 497th Bomber Group, Very Heavy, states that he was “Missing in Action or Died at Sea” and notes that he was awarded the Air Medal and the Purple Heart.

Whereas, James Allen Callaghan is not known to be listed on any memorial in Larchmont or New Rochelle, including the memorials in Memorial Park, St. Augustine’s Church, Kemper Memorial Park and the World War II Memorial in New Rochelle.

Whereas, in May 2006, members of his extended family contacted the Larchmont Historical Society after reading about the Historical Society’s Virtual War Memorial project, and requested the Historical Society’s assistance to achieve proper memorial recognition for the sacrifice of James Allen Callaghan.

Whereas, the Larchmont Historical Society has conducted a careful assessment of all of the evidence in the record of James Allen Callaghan.

Whereas, the Larchmont Historical Society has identified instances where individuals who sacrificed their lives in war are honored on local memorials here where they grew up and on memorials where they officially resided at the time of death.

Whereas, the Kemper Memorial includes the following engraved statement, dedicating the park to “members of the military forces from Union Free School District No. 1 Town of Mamaroneck who gave their lives in World War II in the service of their country.” Larchmont Historical Society has identified instances where individuals grew up in Larchmont and Mamaroneck and were enrolled in local parochial schools, and who appear on the Kemper Memorial.

Therefore, the Board of Trustees of the Larchmont Historical Society hereby resolves that James Allen Callaghan deserves to be listed on the World War II Memorials for residents of Larchmont, the Town of Mamaroneck, and the City of New Rochelle, and that those responsible for or associated with World War II Memorials for with these communities should give due consideration to the sacrifice that James Allen Callaghan made in service to his country in World War II.

Approved by the Board of Trustees of the Larchmont Historical Society, in a regularly scheduled meeting on September 19, 2006.