My Dad writes of his brother-in-law, Joe O'Donnell

  On back of this photo it is written "Paris France  Sept- 1945

Last night I went through another bunch of old, badly worn newspaper clippings, photos, and letters.    Most of the information pertained to my Uncle Joe O'Donnell.  Several of the letters were written by my father.  The following letter which is addressed to Joe (possibly my Dad's good friend, Joe Mule") was especially poignant:

                                                                                 Brooklyn 7, New York
                                                                                  6 February, 1952
Dear Joe,

Enclosed you will find the picture about which I spoke including a clipping from the local newspaper.  The clipping tells its own story. [I will include the clippings that I found at another time]

On Tues. at 9"30AM (exactly as specified in the telegram a few days before), an army hearse from the Brooklyn Army base deposited a "rough" box, stenciled "1st Lt. Joseph T. O'Donnell 01059578" on a sidewalk at Pilling St. and Bushwich Ave.   The civilian driver and the undertaker removed the outer box ( with great difficulty --- it was a very cold day), and exposed the inner steel coffin . The coffin was identified by means of one of Joe's dog tags.  This tag was hanging loosely on a small piece of wire looped around one of the handles.  The escort who accompanied the body from the P.O. E. in Brooklyn, was a 1st Lt. who had to remain with the body until the internment.  He too was a reservist and World War II vet.   He was called back ten months ago and assigned to the transportation corps.  This was his first escort duty. ( that same morning eight of his fellow officers had to escort eight bodies to the next of kin ---- the Lieutenant explained that the rank of the escort must be at least as high as that of the corpse.)  He told Marie that he was at her command until he handed her the flag and dog tag at the burial services.  He turned out to be a real swell guy.  He's about 32, single, handsome, an MA in business administration, and at present on leave as a rookie cop from Philadelphia.   His name is John E. Hean.  He is the Aide-De-Camp to General Lastayo.  He had quite a visit with T.J. and his brother John.  All three are ex-cops.  I did my best to "fix it up" for Anne.  However it was he who pulled me aside first, and asked all about Anne.  I hope something comes of it.  He has written to Marie and complemented her on the fine family she has.

A very great crowd turned out for the wake.  The undertaker couldn't use his second chapel but had to turn over the whole place to us.  All gratis too.  All Joe's colleagues at the bank,  all Anne's gang from the office, an American Legion post, and neighbors and friends tried to crowd into the place.  Even the farmer relations from Pennsylvania mad a record turnout.  Joe sure had a lot of friends.  In fact after reading his letters,  I regret not having known him better.  If only 1/4 the number of people that showed up at Joe's funeral come to mine, I'll (?) be satisfied.

The rite of the Am. Legion, the volley and taps at the cemetery, and the final good-by were the real sad points. I should include the arrival of Joe's wife and mother at his casket's side for the first time.  Their "welcome home" was most touching.  I wish you could have been there.  I'll fill in some details when I see you.

Due to some technicality, the casket was not interred until Friday.  [ my note: the posting in the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper dated Tues., January 29, 1952 reports that First Lieutenant Joseph T. O'Donnell will be buried Thursday (i.e., Jan. 31, 1952) in Cypress Hills National Cemetery after a solemn requiem mass has been offered in St.  Barbara's R. C. Church, Central Ave. and Bleeker St.]
T.J., Marie's brother, and I went to the cemetery.  Two times the coffin went down a foot or two and got stuck.  Each time they had to crank it back up, push it aside, climb in the hole and make it bigger.  The third time it went down --- with a man standing on it!  Joe didn't go down without a fight.  This unhappy episode took so long, we almost froze to death.

Marie and Joe's parents have demonstrated an enormous amount of stamina.  It surprises me to see how well they stand up under so much punishment.  They deserve much more than a gold star,  especially since the family was so closely knit.  It takes a situation such as this to bring out the heroes and heroines. 

Only today Rita told me that she wished she could "wake up" and find that she has been dreaming.  It will be a long time (if ever) before the family gets back to normal living.

Your letter,  "A Prayer of St. Francis of Assisi"  [interestingly, we chose this prayer for my father's Holy Picture Card ] was most opportune and most gratefully received.  I took it to the wake on Tuesday afternoon where Rita opened it.

At the moment Marty is sick with intestinal flu.  He has had it quite a few days now.  All the Marski's and Margie's husband [ i.e., Bill Foulkes]  and son [probably Glenn] were sick with the same thing last week.   Everyone and his brother has some kind of illness down here.  Big Dorothy [ here my Dad is referring to Nick's wife, Dorothy Pascarelli who has a daughter named Dorothy, i.e., little Dorothy ]  gets dizzy spells and must take some kind of "shots" for it.  It's not Nick's fault either. It seems that her blood pressure is too low. [Nick, Charlie and Joe were friends since  HS and College and were known as the 3 Musketeers]

I hope all is well in your neck of the woods.  Write when you get a minute or two.

                                                                           As ever
                                                                           Charlie
PS Since writing the above, Marie called to tell us that Sharon had a bad fall on her head.  [ I believe she fell from a swing - you'll have to ask her what she remembers about it].  Hurried X-rays have ruled out a fracture, but she has a concussion and two weeks of bed rest has been prescribed.  It sure can pour in some places, eh???