Yonkers Insider: On this date in 1943.

 

Source: Veterans of Foreigh Wars - VFW: Yonkers NY: Post 1666.

On this date in 1943, a young man from Yonkers NY died from injuries sustained during maneuvers near Camp Edwards Mass.

Private Edward J. Quirk Jr. was a thirty-three-year-old son of Mrs Edward J. Quirk of 37 Amackassin Terrace and the late Yonkers Police Chief. On 21 Feb. 1943, Edward Jr. suffered injuries while engaged in maneuvers with Company B, First Battalion, 141st Infantry, 36th Division. He had fallen into a hole and fractured his spine. Edward Jr. was conveyed to the post hospital, where he died at 7:25 am. His wife, the former Miss Louise Retmann, his mother and sister, Mrs. John Herllhy were by his bedside. The body was brought back to Yonkers and waked in his mothers home. The Funeral Mass was celebrated in Sacred Heart Church on Shonnard Place. Private Quirk was buried with full Military Honors at the family plot in Gate of Heaven Cemetery. Before entering the US Army Edward Quirk Jr resided at 5 Kenilworh Road with his wife and their two children, Edward Quirk 3rd who was four and a half and daughter Pamela who was two years old. Private Quirk had graduated from St. Joseph's Parochial School and Gorton High School. He furthered his education by attending Manhattan College. A star athlete, he was a four-letter man at Gorton, being a member of the football, baseball, basketball and track teams. As a high jumper, he won the county and sectional championships and finished third in the state championship contest. Before enlisting in the Army he was employed by the Habirshaw Cable and Wire corporation in Yonkers. He was sent to Camp Croft S.C. and later to Camp Edwards. At the time of his passing Quirks wife was a school teacher in Yonkers, the farthervin law, Dr. Rebnamm was the director of music in Yonkers Public schools. His brother J. Gerald was stationed with a medical detachment at Camp Bracken and he had a brother Frank, a prominent barltons soloist living in Dobbs Ferry.

Let us Not forget Private Edward J Quirk Jr. who lost his life in the service of our country.