Breen, Pfc. Harold James 1911-1944

BREEN, COSGROVE, MEYER

Posted By: Linda Ziemann, volunteer (email)
Date: 1/3/2020 at 18:17:22

The Algona Upper Des Moines
Tuesday, August 1, 1944

PFC. HAROLD J. BREEN KILLED BY TRAIN
Kossuth Soldier Stationed Camp McPherson, GA.
No Witnesses to Accident at Camp Thursday Evening;
Was Titonka Boy; Burial at Wesley.

Relatives of Pfc. Harold James Breen were notified late last Thursday evening of his accidental death which had occurred at about 7:30 when he crossed a railroad track about three blocks from the convoy gate. Pfc. Breen was on his way home at the time and it seems that no one saw the accident. He served as the post barber with a shop in the headquarters building. He lived with his wife outside the post. He had been stationed at the camp since Feb. 1.

Native of Kossuth.
Harold James Breen was a native of Kossuth, the son of Mr. and Mrs. James D. Breen of Titonka. He was born at Titonka March 30, 1911, and spent his boyhood days there, graduating from the high school there with the Class of ’27. Following his graduation he took a course in barbering at Des Moines, and in the years following he worked in different towns in this neighborhood, including six months with Frank Esser in Algona. The two and a half years prior to his Army service, he was a resident of Buffalo Center and joined the army out of that town.

In West Camp One Year.
He joined the army at Camp Dodge on March 3, 1942. He was assigned to Fort Lewis, Wash., where he served 13 months, then he was also at Camp Young, Calif., and Camp McCain, Miss., prior to his assignment at Camp McPherson. On May 6 of this year he was married to Miss Opal Meyer, Algona. She had been connected with the local telephone company 9 ½ years. She accompanied him to Atlanta, Ga., as Camp McPherson is practically a part of that city, though located three miles from the business section.

Services at Camp.
Services for Pfc. Breen, were held in the post chapel on Saturday morning at 9 o’clock, and that evening Mrs. Breen started back to Iowa with the remains. Accompanying was Basil Duffy, now of Camp Gordon, Johnston, Florida, who had been a buddy of Pfc. Breen the past year. They arrived in Algona Monday morning and the body was taken to the McCullough Funeral Chapel. Funeral services will be held from St. Cecelia’s church, Wednesday morning at 10 o’clock, Rev. Fr. Mallinger in charge. Interment will be in the Wesley cemetery in charge of the Buffalo Center and Titonka Posts, American Legion.

The Survivors.
Surviving Pfc. Harold J. Breen are his wife; his mother, Mrs. Jas. Breen, Titonka, the former Jennie Cosgrove; two sisters, Mrs. Elmer Peterson, Titonka, and Miss Stella Mae Breen, Algona, and one brother George of Titonka. Another brother, Leo C. Breen, served in the first world war and was killed in France. The Titonka Post, American Legion is named after this boy. A niece, Maxine Peterson, lives in California. The father, James D. Breen, passed away in 1936.

Army’s Fine Gesture.
Pvt. Basil Duffy, a Mallard, Iowa, boy came to Algona with the remains of his friend, Pfc. Harold J. Breen, and with Mrs. Breen, from the Georgia camp where Pfc. Breen met death Thursday night. The two soldiers had been buddies in the service out west. Pvt. Duffy is now stationed at Camp Gordon, Johnston, Florida. Last week he was given a pass over the weekend to visit his friend at Camp McPherson. He arrived there Friday night, 24 hours after his soldier friend had been killed. Pvt. Duffy, through the cooperation of Camp McPherson officials, was granted an emergency pass by his own commanders and given permission to accompany the body to Iowa, serving rather as a Post escort to the departed soldier. This was indeed a fine gesture on the part of the military and deeply appreciated by the bereaved relatives and friends of Pfc. Breen.