Nyberg:Information about Joseph Henry Bodell
Joseph Henry Bodell (b. 09 Jul 1891, d. 26 Dec 1976)
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Joseph Henry Bodell (son of Joseph Ferdinand Bodell and Mary Elizabeth McCaughey) was born 09 Jul 1891 in Pawtucket, RI, and died 26 Dec 1976 in 12/29/1976.He married Mary A Powers on 15 Sep 1915 in Holy Trinity Church, Central Falls, RI, daughter of Patrick J Powers and Catherine Brown.
Notes for Joseph Henry Bodell:A Quest Resumed
An American Family
Joseph H. Bodell and his wife Mary were a grandson and daughter of Irish immigrants who, like so many others in Pawtucket Rhode Island and beyond had, by the beginning of the 20th Century, become entrenched in what would later become known as the great American dream.Joseph was a master pipe fitter, who learned his trade in his father’s successful plumbing business, and Mary bore and nurtured six healthy children.The Great Depression, of the 1930’s, took his father’s business, but Joseph was always able to find work and Mary maintained a secure and loving home, on Melrose Avenue, for their three sons and three daughters.
The Bodell sons, at the outset of the 1940’s, could be considered typical of many Rhode Island, working class kids of Irish decent.Joseph Jr., the oldest, was to follow his father into plumbing and Edward, the handsome one, had graduated, in 1938, from Pawtucket High School and there was talk of politics in his future.Young Jimmy had yet to find his calling and chaffed under his father’s constant prodding to choose a plan for his life.Little did any of the Bodells know that fate was about to set each son on far different and tragic paths which, in the case of the handsome Eddie, has yet to run its full course.
Boys Become Men
The attack on Pearl Harbor and this country’s entrance into the Second World War resulted in a rush of enlistments, into all branch of the military, long before the compulsory call-up or drafting of massive numbers of young men.Among these enlistees were the three Bodell brothers.Joseph signed into the US Army Infantry while Edward and Jimmy enlisted in Army Air Corps.Joseph became infantry private and shipped out to the Philippines.On January 17, 1943, Joseph lost his life as a result of sniper fire in Layte.His remains were returned and now lie with his parents at St. Mary’s Cemetery in Pawtucket.
Edward attended flight school in Texas and became the flight engineer on a B-17 bomber under the command of Pilot 1st Lt. Robert Kavanaugh.In November 1942, Edward’s crew was assigned to India and flew bombing and transport missions “Over the Hump” in the treacherous China-Burma Theatre.He was reported missing in May 1943, in the crash of his bomber while on a mission over Burma.Other planes, on that mission, reported that the bomber was badly shot-up, by enemy fighter planes, and that no parachutes were seen exiting the flaming plane.Joseph received a second Air Medal, on behalf of Edward, from the War Department in March 1944.
Jimmy was to pilot a twin engine C-47 cargo plane, in the 9th Air Corp, and flew his unarmed “bus” to drop paratroopers into Normandy during the earliest hours of the D-Day invasion of Europe.It was during a pick-up baseball game at Spanhoe Airfield, England, that Jimmy was called to meet with the base Commander.The Commander thanked Jimmy, on behalf of the Corp, and broke the news that his brother Edward had made the ultimate sacrifice while on a bombing run over transport facilities outside Rangoon, Burma.The Commander also told Jimmy the he would be leaving the Corp and would be relieved from all future combat responsibilities.In this way, James Edward Bodell became Rhode Island’s first “Sole Surviving Son” returned to stateside duties under what was to become known as the Sullivan Brothers rule, recently highlighted in the movie, Saving Private Ryan.
Unknown to the Air Corp, at that time, Edward had actually survived the crash landing of his B-17 outside the Burmese capital of Rangoon.Edward’s right arm was severely injured and would later be crudely amputated by his Japanese captors.All allied airman were considered criminals by the Japanese as they were viewed as responsible for civilian deaths during their bombing.Edward spent the next couple months as a Prisoner of War in what was known as the Law Court Jail and later, the notorious Rangoon POW prison.At the prison, Edward received little medical attention, was subjected to brutal mistreatment and provided with only minimal nourishment.On July 15, 1943, Edward died from infection, malnutrition and dysentery.He was interned, with no fanfare, in a field just beyond the walls of the Prison.
The Bodell family continued to hope that Edward was being held somewhere as a prisoner and that one day he would return to Rhode Island and his family.The family received no additional news of Edward’s fate until March, 1945.The news came by way of an unexpected letter from Burma, authored by a Sister M. Brigid, of the Congregation of the Religious of St. Joseph of the Appariation.Sister Brigid had been a nurse at a medical station outside of Rangoon, in April 1943, and had briefly cared for Edward.A fellow nurse wrote Edwards address on her hand, in order to sneak it past the guards and Sister Brigid was unaware that Edward had died of his wounds and maltreatment.Sister Bridget reported that; “Edwards calm courage struck me very much, he was so patient, never complaining, though I am sure he had good reason to do so.” The good Sister closed her letter by expressing her hope that the letter would reach Mary for; “I’m sure your Mother’s heart must be longing for tidings of her darling boy.”
Sister Brigid’s letter rekindled the family’s hope that Edward had survived and may yet return home.All hope was lost however when the Bodells were notified, in September 1945, that the War Department had confirmed that Edward had survived his final bombing run but had died of his wounds and maltreatment as a prisoner and had been buried outside of the Rangoon Prison.
This was not, however, the end of Edward’s journey.
The Military Quest
In May 1946, a Mortuary Affairs Team, from the US Army, arrived in Rangoon to determine the fate of the many servicemen who were known to have perished at the POW prison.The Mortuary Affairs Team was headed by 1st Lt Donald C. Dutton who had earlier successfully recovered servicemen’s remains elsewhere in Southeast Asia.Lt Dutton’s Team recovered the remains of Edward Bodell and approximately thirty-six other servicemen from the Rangoon Prison and the surrounding area.Lt. Dutton’s records and the remains of men recovered in Rangoon were placed aboard a C-47 transport plane commanded by 1st Lt Horace J. Gabbart.On May 16, 1946, the Mortuary Team and the servicemen’s remains left Burma aboard Lt Gabbart’s C-47, #43-48308, bound for Barrackpore, India where the Lt Dutton’s records would be forwarded to Washington and the remains would be re-interred at a large military Cemetery located there.
A Journey Interrupted
The post war efforts of Lt. Dutton and the War Department’s Memorial Division were unknown to the Bodell family. By the close of 1946, Joseph, Mary, Jimmy and his sisters, like so many others of “the Greatest Generation”, had quietly accepted their losses and had begun to reorder their lives.While the loss of two sons and brothers overshadowed their views of war and victory, the family never questioned that their sacrifices were part their obligation to repay their Country for the opportunities it provided to these children of immigrants.
In February 1947, the tragedy of the war years intruded, for one final time, on the family of Joseph Bodell in an unexpected letter from the War Department.The Department’s Memorial Division was “most desirous’ to inform Joseph of the status of the search for and recovery of Edward remains.The letter described two “beautiful and well cared for Military Cemeteries” in India, which were to be used as a preliminary step of the return of servicemen’s remains “at the request of their next of kin”.The letter further advised that the remains of their loved one had been “reverently place aboard an Army C-47 for the journey to their new resting place”.
Any gratification felt by the family was to be very short lived.The very next sentence advised the Bodells that the aircraft carrying Edward had “crashed somewhere in the Jungles of Burma” and had not been located.The letter did offer a glimmer of hope in that it reported that the search, in Burma, was continuing and the family would be advised of any success.This letter effectively closed the immediate families World War II saga.The letter’s final sentence, when viewed now, almost sixty years later, presents a most fitting tribute to this American family:
“I sincerely regret that I must bring you these sad tidings
to add to the grief which you already bear in the loss of your heroic dead”.
A Quest Resumed
The surviving Bodell children, Mary, Theresa, Carol and Jimmy, later married and had families of their own.By the second half of the twentieth century, the Bodell family had spread across New England and had completed the family’s assimilation into the fabric of American society.The extended family has grown to include Mary and Joseph’s fifteen grandchildren and many great-grandchildren.The grandchildren have all prospered, becoming teachers, nurses, bankers, military officers, tradesmen and government workers.
The highlight of the family’s year is the Bodell Christmas Party where all the descendants and extended family of Joseph and Mary gather to welcome new members, mourn losses, share memories and plans for the future.Almost every year the stories of Uncle Eddie and Uncle Joe are retold from the memories of the oldest family members.The story of Eddie Bodell always includes mention Sister Bridget’s letter, although the actual letter has long since been misplaced while being passed among family members.
The history of the Bodells Greatest Generation and the need to preserve record of their legacy sparked the interest of Jimmy’s youngest son, Barry.Barry Bodell is a government worker, from Concord New Hampshire, for whom history and government has become avocation.Barry’s genealogical research has, as is often the case, lead to many hours of research and the pursuit of leads from one contact to another. One of these contacts, a distant cousin, introduced Barry to Lisa Phillips, of Windham, Maine.
Lisa Phillips has been searching, for the last four years, for information pertaining to her uncle, Second Lieutenant Joseph Rich who also died as a Prisoner Of War, in the Rangoon Prison Camp in Burma.One day while looking through military documents Lisa discovered a crash report. She not only found her uncle’s final resting place, but also discovered that there were 52 other Americans whose remains were left in the jungle in Bangladesh. At that point Lisa made up her mind to find the other men’s relatives and see what she could do to get them brought home once and for all.
With the assistance of Lisa, Barry was able to obtain copies of the War Departments files containing the investigation into the crash of Lt. Kavanaugh’s B-17 and the disposition of Eddie and the other crewmembers.This file documented the capture, imprisonment and death of Eddie Bodell.The file also included documentation that his remains were located and positively identified following the allies’ capture of Burma.Barry made another important discovery in the War Department’s file.Near the end of the file was placed copies of two letters attesting to crash of the Kavanaugh aircraft and the fate of the aircrew.The letters went on to describe the injuries suffered by Edward, and a fellow crewmember, whom the writer had helped treat during their hospitalization.These letters were written in 1945, at Bassein, Burma, and authored by Sister M. Brigid. - The long lost letter had reappeared!!
The Quest Today and Tomorrow
Barry Bodell and Lisa Phillips have now joined forces with other family members, of servicemen lost in that crash, in an effort to convince the government to reopen the search for the remains of these fallen heroes.Their efforts have led to the formation of a Bring Them Home Campaign for the descendants, relatives, and friends of those lost and others interested in the recovery of the remains of men lost in aircraft crashes during World War II in the China-Burma-India Theatre of Operations.The Campaign’s mission is first and foremost to recover the remains of the men lost in the crash of the C-47B. Secondarily, they aim to foster relations with government resources, family members, and friends of those lost. Learning about the men lost in the crash, their varied backgrounds and military histories, has brought all a better knowledge and appreciation of the tremendous heroism of those who served in the military in World War II.
Campaign members have conducted extensive research into the conditions surrounding the crash of Lt Gabbart’s C-47, #43-48308.Analysis has been made of the weather, on the fateful day, and the radio traffic to and from the C-47.This research has allowed the campaign to formulate a very well reasoned theory on where the plane went down.The Campaign now believes that the plane crashed on land and it may yet be possible to locate the wreckage and recovery their hero’s remains.
Armed with this knowledge, the Campaign has made contact be made with Department of Defense, Joint POW/MIA Accounting Command, to open communications regarding the search for the missing aircraft and personnel.Lisa Phillips has obtained Maine Senator Susan Collins’ endorsement has also worked closely with the U.S. Army Repatriation and Family Affairs Division (RFAD) in Alexandria, Virginia. This organization works as a liaison between family members and the government agencies involved with military recoveries. Lisa has also been notified by Senator Susan Collins’ office that the Senator has contacted Admiral William J. Fallon, Commander, U. S. Pacific Command, and is in the process of contacting Senator John Warner, Chief of the Armed Services Committee, to get them to reopen the case officially.
Many families, of those lost during WW II, have come to terms with what the government told them back in the 1940’s or have not known what happened to their loved ones since they were reported M.I.A. Once in a while there comes an opportunity to do something really good, not because you get something in return, but because it can help someone else. This is one of those chances.
The Bring Them Home Campaign invites anyone who wishes to assist their efforts or has any information that might help solve this 59-year-old mystery, to contact them at their website www.miac47burmawwii.org.
An appropriate end to this chapter of the story can be found at the new World War Two Memorial in Washington.Placed in the Memorial’s eastern corner one can find the following tribute to all MIA’s who have yet to return to American soil:
“They Fought Together As Brothers-In-Arms.
They Died Together And Now They Sleep Side By Side.
To Them We Have A Solemn Obligation.”
- Admiral Chester W. Nimitz
The following lists those believed to be aboard the C-47B, # 43-48308, as contained in the U.S. Army air crash investigation report.
Aircrew of C-47B, tail no. 43-8308:
1stLt Horace J. Gabbart, SR# 0-769790
1stLt Melvin L. Power, SR#0-933431
PFC Eugene H. Ryan, SR# 17134187
Remains aboard (identities verified):
Albinson, Norman E., Sgt. 13176804
Aubuchon, Urvan A., TSgt. 37183004
Bodell, Edward R., TSgt. 11031740
Briggs, Everett E., Jr., 2ndLt. 0-669189
Brown, J., Sgt., No serial number given
Cummings, Harold B., Sgt. 6970825
Gambale, Gene, F/OT-121948
Gonsalves, Elias E., Sgt. 6570123
Grey, James M., 1stLt. 0-665192
Hopes, Thomas E., SSgt. 35305336
Jordan, Francis B., SSgt. 19064268
Kavanagh, Robert L., 1stLt. 0-435791
Kelley, John C. 1stLt. 0-726034
Malok, Albert L., SSgt. 6942456
Murphy, G.R. (AVG) No rank or SR# *
Pittard, Charles A., TSgt. 39251123
Plummer, Everett C., Lt.Coll. 0-300865
Rodriguez, Frank (NMI), SSgt., 6578491
Sheets, Jack R., SSgt. 13067183
Westberg, Wayne R., Capt. 0-732792
Yackie, Juluis F., Cpl. 17072536
* AVG = American Volunteer Group (The
Flying Tigers, China)
Plus five other American dead - unidentified.
(These men may be part of the crew of aircraft Tail No. 42-73222)
Pilot: 2ndLt Carl F. Carpenter
Copilot: 2ndLt William R. McCandles Navigator: 1stLt Grant W. Erwin
Bombadier: 2ndLt Clarence H. Clyborne
SSgt Robert McCarty
SSgt William C. Fettermen
Passengers:
1stLt Donald C. Dutton SR# 0-1118713 (Graves Registration)
Lt.Cmdr James T. Campbell SR# 205425 (USNR)
1stLt Henry Chan SR# 0-877552
Capt. Roy W. Corley SR# 0-1587766
SSgt Glenn F. Cox, Jr. SR# 36961684
Tech-5 Wallace J. Davis SR# 33551295
1stLt Henry E. Derbyshire SR# 0-1116766 (Graves Registration)
Tech-4 Warren R. Hines SR# 42083730
Remains identified but not verified:
Almand, Paul E., 1stLt. 0-494774
Angell, Robert F., 1stLt. 0-407635
Baker, Burdette H., 2ndLt. 0-1698884
Boldman, Arnel, Jr., 1stLt. 0-416094
Drummey, Robert D., 1stLt. 0-815670
Gilhousen, William R., Capt., 0-667062
Goodrich, Burdett C., 1stLt. 0-750504
Hogan, Thomas P. Jr., 2ndLt. 0-673571
Liston, Charles B., 1stLt. 0-529445
Ortmeyer, Armin J., Jr., Capt. 0-659326
Rich, Joseph C., 2ndLt. 0-739054
Gunners: Sgt Eugene L. Moyers
Sgt Alfred L. Busby
Sgt Paul L. Elyea
Sgt Malcolm W. Carter
More About Joseph Henry Bodell:
Date born 2: 09 Jul 1891, Pawtucket Rhode Island USA.
Burial: 29 Dec 1976, Mt. St Mary's Cenetary Pawtucket Rhode Island.
Died 2: 26 Dec 1976, Pawtucket Rhode Island USA.
Record Change: 13 Jul 2006
Residence: 1957, 27 Melrose Ave. Pawtucket RI.
Social Security Number: 1940, 035-07-3911 per Social Security Death Index.
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More About Joseph Henry Bodell and Mary A Powers:
Marriage 1: 15 Sep 1915, Holy Trinity Church, Central Falls, RI.
Marriage 2: 15 Sep 1915, Holy Trinity Church Central Falls Rhode Island USA.
Record Change: 13 Jul 2006
Children of Joseph Henry Bodell and Mary A Powers are:
- +James Edward Bodell, b. 30 Sep 1922, Central Falls Rhode Island USA, d. 02 Dec 1998, Elliott Hospital, Manchester New Hampshire USA.
- +Mary Catherine Bodell, b. 27 Sep 1916, Pawtucket Rhode Island USA, d. date unknown, Pawtucket Rhode Island USA.
- Joseph Henry Bodell, b. 15 Sep 1918, Pawtucket Rhode Island USA, d. 17 Jan 1945, Leyte Phillipines.
- Edward Raymond Bodell, b. 31 Oct 1919, Pawtucket Rhode Island USA, d. 15 Jul 1943, Rangoon POW Jail Burma.
- Paul Bodell.
- John Bodell, b. 1930, Pawtucket Rhode Island USA, d. 1930, Pawtucket Rhode Island USA.
- Carol Ann Bodell, b. 24 May 1938, Pawtucket Rhode Island USA, d. 09 Sep 2003, Glastonbury Connecticut.
- +Teresa Bodell, b. 22 Jan 1927, Pawtucket, RI, d. 03 Oct 2002, Falmouth, Massachusetts128.