Dane County WI Archives Photo Tombstone.....McMAHAN, Michael James And Mabel Irene ************************************************ Copyright. All rights reserved. http://www.usgwarchives.net/copyright.htm http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/wifiles.htm ************************************************ File contributed for use in USGenWeb Archives by: Erin Proctor Proctor37@charter.net February 13, 2007, 3:45 pm Cemetery: Forest Hills Cemetery, Madison, Dane County, Wisconsin Name: Michael James And Mabel Irene McMAHAN Photo can be seen at: http://www.usgwarchives.net/wi/dane/photos/tombstones/foresthills/mcmahan6394gph.jpg Image file size: 75.8 Kb McMAHAN, Michael James 10 Nov 1910-23 Oct 1998 Born in Dodgeville, Iowa Co., Wi. Son of Michael and Phronia Celia (STAPLETON) McMAHAN. Military: Mike was in the military twice. The first time was abt 1929. According to a conversation with his brother Leo McMahan on Oct 13, 1999, Mike was in a bit of trouble, (fighting?), and had to go to reform school, or join the Army. He joined the Army. His mom sent him to Leo, who was working at a diner/coffee shop, to get 50 cents so he could go join the Army. Leo didn't have the money, and didn't know that Mike had to go, until this moment. He eventually found someone to give him the money, and he enlisted. He was sent to a camp in St. Lois; where Leo was sent by their mother Phron, to visit Mike and make sure he was ok. Mike was a card shark, specifically when it came to poker. After 1 year, 3 months, and 3 days, Mike had won enough money at cards to buy his freedom from the Army. He went home, and he finished high school. The second time he was drafted, and was sent to Camp Fanon Tx; IRTC. As Mike liked to say, when the bus drove pas the sign, someone asked what the initals stood for. Mike replied it's either Intellegence or Infantry replacement training center; and by looking at this bunch, I would say it's the latter! He was right. Grandpa said that the first night at camp they went to dinner, and when they returned, a guy was found to have hung himself! He also talked about how he had gotten sick during training camp, and did not leave with his group. He did leave for the European Theatre of Operations Nov 15, 1944 and arrived in Europe Nov 26, 1944. He was a pfc in the #256th ORD MM Co. He saw action in Rhineland, and Central Europe. He didn't talk much about the bad times; only once how so many friends died, and shortly before his death, a show on the history channel was showing the battle of the Bulge, and he broke down in tears. He just kept repeating how awful it was, and cried and cried. Any other reference was humorous and often illegal!!!! Stealing coffee to trade for strawberries, to give to the co chef to make strawberry shortcake. Stealing canned fruit to give a local baker to make pastries, they split them 50/50. The story he told most often and was most proud of, was him helping to feed the kids that were in the occupied area. The Army fed the kids under the age of 14 every day. Mike was nominated to line em up because he had kids!. One day Mike noticed a child that was up on a hill, away from the line. He asked the kids about him, and they replied that he was too old to come in. Mike said to go get him, he could come in! He also said they were supposed to wash their tins out before they left camp, but he never made them, so they could sneak food home to their families. He also said the children had never seen white bread, and they loved it, once he showed them it was ok to eat. He oftened wondered if they remembered that later.. Father McMAHAN, Mabel Irene 114 Apr 915- 14 Jun 1983 Born in Avoka, Iowa Co., Wi. Dau of Henry A. and Bertha (MOEN) GILBERTSON. McMAHAN, MRS. MICHAEL (MABEL) MADISON- Mrs. Michael (Mabel) McMahan, age 68, of 2622 LaFollette Avenue, died on Tuesday, June 14, 1983, at a local hospital. She was born on April 14, 1915, in Clyde, Wisconsin. Survivors include her husband Michael; a daughter, Betty McMahan, of White Plains, New York; two sons, Joseph of San Diego, California, and Richard of Madison; two grandchildren, Erin and Sean; a brother, William Bennett of Dodgeville, Wisconsin; five sisters, Mrs. Myrtle Mercer of Beloit, Wisconsin, Mrs. Sally Peterson of Los Angeles, California; Mrs. Margaret Kelliher of Madison, MRs. Larry (Cora) Volk of Beaver Dam, Wisconsin, and Lauraine Gilbertson of Avoca, Wisconsin. She was preceded in death by a sister, Bernice Bartle. Funeral services will be held at the Joyce Funeral home, 5701 Odana Road, at 10:00 a.m., on Thursday June 16. The Reverend Thomas Wosikowski will officiate. Burial will be in Forest Hill Cemetery. Friends may call from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 15, at the Joyce Funeral Home, 5701 Odana road. In Lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to the Emphysema Foundation. Mother In Loving Memory They were married on 22 Aug 1935 in Rockford, Winnebago Co., Ill. File at: http://files.usgwarchives.net/wi/dane/photos/tombstones/foresthills/mcmahan6394gph.txt This file has been created by a form at http://www.genrecords.org/wifiles/ File size: 5.1 Kb