Cavanagh Memorial Mass Monday
Memorial mass for Second Lt. Thornton J. Cavanagh, 28, listed as missing in action in Germany since Oct. 18, 1944 , and this declared dead, according to word received by his parents, Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Cavanagh, 127 Lafayette street, will be conducted at 9 a. m. Monday in St. John’s Catholic church. Father N. J. Lentz will officiate.
Lieutenant Cavanagh, whose wife, Donna, and daughter, Cathy Ann, live in Cedar Rapids, entered service in January, 1943. Commissioned Feb. 8, 1944 at Eagle Pass, Tex., he went overseas in July, 1944, serving with the Ninth air force.
He was born Sept. 9, 1917, in Tama county, Ia., a son of John P. and Cecelia Cavanagh. He came to Waterloo in 1936. On July 25, 1942, he married Donna Jean Holland in Memphis, Tenn.
The officer was a graduate of Doland, S. D., high school and of the University of Iowa and a member of St. John’s Catholic church.
Surviving besides his parents, his wife and daughter, is a brother, John B. Cavanagh, Madison, O.
Source: Waterloo Daily Courier, Waterloo, Iowa, Thursday, October 25, 1945, Page 19 (photo included)
2nd Lt. Cavanagh is buried in Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium. He served in World War II with the U.S. Army Air Corps, 23rd Fighter Squadron, 36th Fighter Group and was awarded the Purple Heart and Air Meda with Oak Leaf Cluster.
Source: abmc.gov
