Grave marker for Edgar J.
Blaney and spouse in Columbarium Court 5, Section MM, Row 22, Niche:3 in
Arlington National Cemetery, Arlington (Arlington county), Virginia.
Edgar enlisted in the Army at Fort Hayes, Columbus, OH on
8 October 1942.
On 16 October 1942 Pvt Blaney was transferred from Hq
Reception Center, Ft Hayes to Company A, 508th PIR and was later moved
to Hq 1st.
On 15 August 1943 Pfc Blaney was sent on Detached
Service from Camp Mackall, NC to Fort Bragg, NC. to attend B&C School.
Upon return from the school Edgar was appointed to the
grade of T/5.
T/5 Blaney sailed with the regiment from New York City
harbor aboard the USAT James Parker on 28 December 1943 landing 12 days
later in Belfast, Ireland. Three months later the regiment moved
to Nottingham, England where it prepared for the invasion to be
undertaken somewhere in Europe.
That invasion was the D-Day operation nd the jump into
Normandy, France. Edgar apparently was captured that same day and
held as a prisoner of war. He was released from Stalag 4B after
hostilities ceased.
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