Brookline War Memorial
Roy J. Ruane

2nd Lt. Roy J. Ruane
United States Marine Corps (1942)

Roy J. Ruane

United States Marine Corps (1775-present)

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.

Resurrection Class of 1932.
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.

Roy J. Ruane

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.

Cavalry Catholic Cemetery

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.

Pittsburgh Sun-Telegraph - January 19, 1941.

* Written by Clint Burton: March 26, 2019 *




The Brookline War Memorial

The Brookline Veteran's 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
 

United States Army (1775-present)  United States Army Air Services (1917-1947)  United States Navy (1775-present)  United States Marine Corps (1775-present)
United States Coast Guards (1790-present)  United States Air Force (1947-present)  United States Merchant Marine (1775-present)

World War I (1917-1919)

Percy Digby

Digby, David P.
Mayville Avenue
Army

Details

Raymond P. Cronin

Cronin, Raymond P.
Berkshire Avenue
USMC

Details

Charles Luppe

Luppe, Charles
Ferncliffe Avenue
Army

Details

WW1 Memorial - Washington D.C.
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

WW2 Memorial - Washington D.C.
The World War II Memorial - Washington D.C.

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Korean War (1950-1953)

Patrick Gallagher

Gallagher, Patrick J.
Bodkin Street
Army

Details

James Gormley

Gormley, James W.
Brookline Boulevard
Army

Details

Gerald Hilliard

Hilliard, Gerald G.
Edgebrook Avenue
Army

Details

James McKenna

McKenna, James E.
Bellaire Place
Army

Details

Korean War Memorial - Washington D.C.
Korean War Memorial - Washington D.C.

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Vietnam War (1965-1973)

James Robert Bodish

Bodish, James R.
Plainview Avenue
Army

Virtual Wall
Additional Details

James Gilbert Collins

Collins, James G.
Dunster Street
Army

Virtual Wall
Additional Details

James Charles Wonn

Wonn, James C.
Mayville Avenue
Navy

Virtual Wall
Additional Details

Vietnam War Memorial - Washington D.C.
Vietnam War Memorial - Washington D.C.




The Brookline Monument - The Cannon

Brookline Veteran's Park - April 26, 2014.

<Brookline War Memorial> <> <Brookline History>