John William Mahaney (1917 - 1999)

Born 7 Oct 1917 in Gainesboro, Jackson County, Tennessee

Ancestors

Son of John Columbus Mahaney and Ella Mae (Brown) Mahaney

Died 10 Oct 1999 at age 82 in Tavares, Lake County, Florida

Problems/Questions Profile manager: Karen Raichle [send private message]

Biography

Master Sergeant John Mahaney served in the United States Army Air Corps in World War II
Service started: 20 Nov 1939
Unit(s): 716th Air Matterial Squadron
Service ended: 12 Oct 1945

John William Mahaney was born 7 October 1917 in Jackson County, Tennessee to John Mahaney and Ella Brown. ^[1] John was the eldest of nine brothers, but the second child born to the couple. Fortunately, the boys did have one sister who kept them all in line.

As a teen, John attended a boarding school in nearby Cookeville, Putnam County, Tennessee. This school was self supporting with large grounds and a working farm. The students worked the farm and the dining hall to pay for their room and board.^[2] "In 1909, the state approved the charter of a church-supported school named the University of Dixie. Popularly known as Dixie College, the school opened its doors to students in 1912." ^[3] Eventually the buildings and grounds that comprised this old school were incorporated into what is today Tennessee Tech University.

On 20 Nov 1939, John enlisted in the Army Air Corps. He was first stationed at Maxwell Field where he began his training as an airplane crew chief with the 716th Air Matterial Squadron. ^{[4] [5]} He was sent next to the Orlando Air Base ^[6] in central Florida as a training officer. One of the courses he taught was marksmanship. It was here in 1941 that he met the lovely woman who was to become his wife. John and Reba were married at her parents home in Tavares, Lake County, Florida on 2 May 1942 ^{[7] [8]}. A few months after the wedding, John was transferred to his new base in South Carolina at Myrtle Beach General Bombing and Gunnery Range. ^[9] His new wife joined him there about a week later.

John eventually reached the rank of Master Sergeant. In December of 1943 John was shipped off to Europe. His squadron became part of the Ninth Air Force. The Ninth Air Force continuously moved our fighters to strips just behind the front lines. The "NINTH" supported Armies dashing across Western Europe ending up deep in the heart of Germany on VE Day. John's service locations included, Belgium, Northern France, Ardennes, Rhineland, and Central Europe. After the end of the war, John was honorably discharged on 12 Oct 1945 at Camp Blanding, ^[10] Florida Separation Center.^[11]

Shortly after his discharge, John and Reba moved to Vallejo, Solano County, California, where his parents and siblings had moved about 1942. The young couple bought a new home located next door to his parents and younger siblings on Magazine Street. ^[12] John soon found employment with the C & H (California and Hawaiin) Sugar Company.^[13] They lived in Vallejo for several years. In 1950, John, and his young family moved back to Tavares, Florida. They bought a home a few blocks away from Reba's parents and siblings. Here John started his own roofing company. John was an avid fisherman. He enjoyed being out on his boat, catching large-mouth bass and shell cracker from the many lakes and canals near his home. He made frequent trips to the coast, both Gulf and Atlantic for deep sea fishing as well.

John remained in Tavares until his death on 10 Oct 1999, 3 days after celebrating his 82nd birthday. ^[1] He is buried next to his youngest son in the Duckett family plot of Tavares Cemetery.

Sources

1. ↑ ^{1.0 1.1} Death Certificate of John W Mahaney, No. 10831072, State of Florida Office of Vital Statistics, Recorded Book 1761, Page 10, Clerk of Circuit Court, Lake County, Florida, Certified Copy in files of Karen Raichle
2. ↑ Story told by John to his daughter Karen Raichle in 1988
3. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tennessee_Technological_University#History
4. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maxwell_Air_Force_Base#World_War_II
5. ↑ "United States Census, 1940," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/3:1:3QS7-89MT-SK2D?cc=2000219&wc=QZXP-NQB%3A790104201%2C791830401%2C790420701%2C799181801 : accessed 23 March 2017), Alabama > Montgomery > Election Precinct 19 > image 20 of 52; citing Sixteenth Census of the United States, 1940, NARA digital publication T627. Records of the Bureau of the Census, 1790 - 2007, RG 29. Washington, D.C.: National Archives and Records Administration, 2012. Census Place: Kendall, Montgomery, Alabama; Roll: T627_67; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 51-81. Alabama Montgomery Election Precinct 19 51-81 Election Precinct 1...Air Corps Tactical School (Maxwell Field)
6. ↑ Orlando Air Base
7. ↑ "Florida Marriages, 1830-1993," database with images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.3.1/TH-1971-26489-1712-13?cc=1803936 : 1 July 2015), 005259382 > image 264 of 1111; county courthouses, Florida
8. ↑ "Florida, Marriages, 1830-1993," index and images, FamilySearch (https://familysearch.org/pal:/MM9.1.1/234L-T3B : accessed 22 January 2015), John Mahaney and Reba Duckett, 02 May 1942; citing Florida, United States, county courthouses, Florida; FHL microfilm 2,115,755, Book 9, page 217
9. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Myrtle_Beach_Air_Force_Base
10. ↑ Camp Blanding
11. ↑ Original Honorable Discharge Paper, filed in the Office of the Clerk of Circuit Court, Lake County, Florida, 17 Oct 1945. Recorded in Soldiers and Sailors Book 4, pages 221-222. Certified copy along with the Original discharge papers in the files of Karen Raichle This paper shows all dates, campaigns, ranks, and pay.
12. ↑ Vallejo, California, City Directory, 1947-1948, John W Mahaney, 248 Magazine Street, Vallejo, Solano, California, Warehouseman, Spouse Reba D Mahaney,1948.
13. ↑ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/California_and_Hawaiian_Sugar_Company#cite_note-CDPMap-2

• "Maternal and Paternal relationship is confirmed by a 931.5 cM match between Karen Raichle GEDmatch T040396 and her paternal double first cousin once removed Mildred Allen
• Maternal relationship is confirmed by a GEDmatch test match between Karen Raichle GEDmatch T040396 and her half 3rd cousin Peggy Dennis Gedmatch SW4279005. Their most recent common ancestor is their 2nd great grandfather Edward Brown based on sharing 16.6 cm on one segment.
• Paternal relationship is confirmed through Y-chromosome DNA testing. C Mahana, FTDNA kit #MK44771, and his 4th cousin once removed, Bill Mahaney, FTDNA kit #675024, match at a Genetic Distance of 0 on 37 markers thereby confirming their direct paternal lines back to their MRCA Benjamin Mahaney. FTDNA indicates that the probability the two share a common ancestor within the last 5 generations is 89.48% and within the last 6 generations is 93.29%.

See Also:

• Eustis, Florida, City Directory, 1960, John W Mahaney, 310 E Givens Street, Tavares, Roofer, Spouse Reba D Mahaney.
• Obituary of John W Mahaney of Tavares Florida, Orlando Sentinel, Issue of Oct 12, 1999, Central Florida Edition, page 2