PVT Patrick Thomas McCann

courtesy of Glenn

PVT Patrick Thomas McCann was born 14 May 1921 in Craigneuk, Wishaw, North Lanarkshire, Scotland the eldest of 4 children born to John J. and Anne (Powell) McCann. His father was a native of Ireland, his mother of Scotland. His father had worked as an iron puddler before the family moved to the United States in 1924. His father worked as a factory laborer and watchman in this country reporting a 1939 income of $1500 while paying $30 a month rent for an apartment at 5112 Stillman Avenue in Queens. Patrick was also working in 1940, as an "office boy", while still living with his family.

After entering the Army he was assigned to B Company 26th Infantry Training Brigade at Camp Croft, South Carolina. While there he applied to be naturalized and became a citizen of the United States of America. He was then sent overseas to England and assigned to Headquarters 1st Battalion 116th Infantry. He trained with them and was with that unit when it made the amphibious landing on 6 Jun 1944 at Omaha Beach. PVT McCann was killed in action on 9 Jun 1944.

PVT McCann was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Long Island National Cemetery in East Farmingdale, New York.

Patrick's younger brother, James Joseph Patrick, also served in the U.S. Army during the war and was also naturalized while in service.