Lieutenant
United States Navy Reserve
Edward Thomas McDonnell, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank A. McDonnell, was born in Moline, Illinois on 13 February 1914. The McDonnell family moved to Davenport, Iowa shortly after his birth.
Edward graduated from Saint Ambrose Academy where was an original staff member for the school newspaper; The Academy News. He worked in academy journalism during his last three years at Saint Ambrose, refusing the editorship in his last year. Not only was Edward a class leader, but also prominent in athletics. He later graduated from Saint Ambrose College. He attended the University of Iowa where he was working on his post-graduate degree. Before entering the University of Iowa, Edward served as assistant athletic coach at Saint Ambrose Academy. At the university he was a member of the Delta Tau Delta social and the Beta Gamma Psi and Pi Gamma Mu honorary scholastic fraternities. He worked for the Public Service Company of Northern Illinois in Chicago.
On 3 July 1943, Edward married the former Eleanor Marie Lawlor in a ceremony at Saint Luke's Church in River Forest, Illinois.
Edward was commissioned an Ensign in the United States Navy in May 1942 and his first assignment was to the procurement service in the Chicago, Illinois district. In 1943, he received his sea training at Miami, Florida and New York. In 1944 he took part in the invasions at Normandy, France and in southern France. Edward was promoted to Lieutenant (Junior Grade) in May 1943 and to Lieutenant in June 1944.
Edward was Killed-In-Action while serving as gunnery officer on an attack transport ship in the South Pacific.
Surviving was his wife Eleanor; his parents; and two brothers, John F. and Brother Albert McDonnell.
Lieutenant Edward Thomas McDonnell, United States Navy Reserve, is buried at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific in Honolulu, Hawaii.
Source of Information:
1. Saint Ambrose Academy school newspaper, The Saint Ambrose Academy News, 4 May 1945, page 5.
2. Davenport Democrat and Times, 20 April 1945, page 1.
3. National Archives, World War II Honor List of Dead and Missing Army and Army Air Forces Personnel for the State of Iowa.
4. National World War II Memorial veteran’s registry; http://www.wwiimemorial.com/.
5. Davenport Democrat and Times, 4 July 1943, page 10.
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