PFC James Francis Sheehan

courtesy of Frogman

PFC James Francis Sheehan was born 4 Feb 1923 in County Cavan, Ireland. He was the 4th of the 6 children of Edward P.  and Margaret (McGovern) Sheehan. Just 5-months after his birth his family emigrated to the U.S. and settled in Shrewsbury, Massachusetts. His father worked as a hired hand on a farm and was later able to purchase a home at 54 School Street in Shrewsbury. The house was valued at $2000 in 1940. Members of the family lived there and elsewhere along School Street for many years.

James was drafted in January 1943 and went from Fort Devens, Massachusetts to Camp Croft, South Carolina for training. It was at Camp Croft that PVT Sheehan chose to become a naturalized citizen of the U.S. on 3 Apr 1943. After his training was completed, PVT Sheehan was sent to England and assigned to M Company 116th Infantry. He trained with the unit for and participated in the amphibious assault on the Normandy Beaches and fought with the unit through the bocage, Saint-Lo and to the outskirts of Vire, France. It was there that he was killed in action on 2 Aug 1944.

PFC Sheehan rests with many other soldiers from the 116th in the Normandy American Cemetery.

Younger brother, Edward P. Sheehan Jr, served in the U.S. Army, 1943-1945.