2nd Lt. Roy J. Ruane
United States Marine Corps (1942)
Roy John Ruane was born on September 22,
1918 to parents Catherine M. and Timothy F. Ruane of 1024 Berkshire Avenue.
Roy had three brothers (Timothy, John and James) and five sisters (Elizabeth,
Catherine, Margaret, Alice and Eileen). John attended Resurrection Elementary
and was a graduate of South Hills High School Class of 1936.
Roy enrolled at the University of
Pittsburgh, where he was a member of the Phi Delta Theta fraternity and, as
a senior, was the president of the Student Faculty Association. During his
college years he was also a member of the Pitt News, the Advertising Staff,
the Interfraternity Council Executive Committee, the Pitt Town Meeting Committee
and the College Association Social Committee. He also served as a Freshman
Camp Counselor.
The Resurrection Class of 1932. Roy Ruane
is in the top row, third from the right.
Immediately after college graduation, on
January 2, 1942, Roy enlisted in the United States Naval Reserve with the goal of
becoming a Naval Aviator. From January 29 to March 16, he received his preliminary
training in Philadelphia, then was assigned as a Seaman 2nd Class to the Naval Air
Station in Atlanta, Georgia.
Seaman Ruane then transfered to Lee Airfield,
an auxiliary base of the Jacksonville Naval Air Station in Florida, on April 11, for
flight training. He received his officer's commission on October 23 and was soon
appointed to the United States Marine Corps Reserve, where he began instruction as
a carrier fighter pilot.
On November 25, 1942, Roy was fatally injured
a half mile south of Lee Airfield when the automobile he was driving overturned. He
was alone at the time of the accident.
Second Lieutenant Roy John Ruane's death was
reported in the November 26 Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. His body was returned to
Pittsburgh the following day and friends were received at Beinhauer Mortuary. A
solemn requiem high mass was sung at Resurrection Church followed by a burial with
military honors at Calvary Catholic Cemetery in Hazelwood.
Lt. Roy J. Ruane was the third
active duty soldier to die during wartime from
the community of Brookline. By the time the conflict ended in August 1945,
these three neighborhood men would be joined by forty-three others.
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This clipping appeared in the January 19,
1941 Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph when Roy's
brother Timothy received his commission as an officer in the U. S. Army
Cavalry.
* Written by Clint Burton:
March 26, 2019 *
The Brookline
War Memorial
Listed below are
many of the sons of Brookline who gave their
lives to preserve freedom and contain aggression during
World War I, World War II, Korea and Vietnam.
“It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died.
Rather, we should thank God that such men lived.”
General George S. Patton
World War I
(1917-1919)
The World War I Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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World War II
(1941-1945)
Alm, William H.
Pioneer Avenue
Army
Details |
Arensberg, Roy T.
Fernhill Avenue
Army
Details |
Bracey, Bruce H.
Plainview Avenue
Army
Details |
Brickley, Edward G.
Woodward Avenue
Army
Details |
Capogreca, James J.
Merrick Avenue
Navy
Details |
Copeland, Clarence R.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
Details |
Cullison, Thomas J.
Birtley Avenue
Army
Details |
Dempsey, Howard F.
Berkshire Avenue
Army
Details |
Dempsey, Walter F.
Milan Avenue
Navy
Details |
Diegelman, Edward R. Jr
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Dornetto, Frank P.
Jacob Street
Navy
Details |
Doyle, John F Jr.
Eben Street
Navy
Details |
Fagan, Gerald B.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Falk, Harold E.
Pioneer Avenue
Army
Details |
Fehring, Robert M.
Fernhill Avenue
Army
Details |
Gmuca, Joseph J.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Heil, Robert F.
Bayridge Avenue
Army
Details |
Hynes, Richard E.
Waddington Avenue
Army
Details |
Kestler, Paul C.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
Details |
Ketters, Robert C.
Berkshire Avenue
Army
Details |
Mahoney, Michael J.
Oakridge Street
Army
Details |
Majestic, Arthur B.
Starkamp Avenue
Army
Details |
Mayberry, Alexander G.
Breining Street
Army
Details |
Mazza, John
Alwyn Street
Army
Details |
McCann, Robert F.
Edgebrook Avenue
Navy
Details |
McFarland, Hugh R.
McNeilly Road
Army
Details |
Meisner, Walter F.
Berwin Avenue
Merchant Marine
Details |
Miller, William J.
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Napier, Edward J.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Nicholson, John D.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
O'Day, John R.
Creedmoor Avenue
Navy
Details |
Orient, Andrew D.
Fordham Avenue
Army
Details |
Pisiecki, Raymond A.
Wolford Avenue
Army
Details |
Reeves, Alfred M.
Brookline Boulevard
Army
Details |
Reitmeyer, John P.
Bellaire Avenue
Navy
Details |
Rhing, Vern M.
Norwich Avenue
Army
Details |
Ruane, Roy J.
Berkshire Avenue
USMC
Details |
Shannon, Harry C.
Midland Street
Army
Details |
Shannon, Jack E.
Midland Street
USMC
Details |
Simpson, James D.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Spack, Harry
Linial Avenue
Army
Details |
Tobin, Paul M.
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Vierling, Howard F.
Fordham Avenue
Army
Details |
Wagner, Ralph G.
Shawhan Avenue
Army
Details |
Wentz, Walter L. Jr
Woodbourne Avenue
Army
Details |
Zeiler, Harold V.
West Liberty Avenue
Army
Details |
The World War II Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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Korean War
(1950-1953)
Korean War Memorial -
Washington D.C.
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Vietnam War
(1965-1973)
Vietnam War Memorial -
Washington D.C.
The Brookline
Monument - The Cannon
<Brookline
War Memorial> <> <Brookline
History> |