Lloyd S. Mayo was born on September 8, 1916 in Oneonta, New York. His parents were

Charles Mack Mayo (1876-1935) and Edith L Beavan (1880–1957). They were married on September 9, 1907, in Westford, New York. They had four children during their marriage, Lloyd being the youngest. Based on the 1910 U.S. Census, Charles and Edith were residing in Lakawanna, Pennsylvania where he was the chief clerk for the Supply Department of the Delaware and Hudson Railroad. Their oldest child was a daughter named Helen Mary who passed away on February 21, 1911, in Carbondale, Pennsylvania. Their second oldest child was Robert Charles who was born on October 13, 1912, in Oneonta, New York.

Sometime between February 21, 1911 and October 13, 1912 Charles and Edith moved to Oneonta, NY where they remained for the rest of their lives. Charles continued to work for the D&H Railroad as a clerk and a stenographer. Lloyd graduated from Oneonta High School and the New York State Ranger School at Wanakena. According to the 1940 U.S. Census, Lloyd attended college for four years. He was employed as an electrician and served as a call fireman with the Oneonta Fire Department.

At the age of 18, Lloyd enlisted in the New York National Guard on January 2, 1934. He held the rank of private and was in 10 Infantry of Company G, the company associated with Otsego County, New York.  On April 1, 1935, he left the Guard with an honorable discharge. On September 13, 1937, he reenlisted in the Guard at the rank of corporal and eventually reached the rank of  sergeant. He remained in the Guard until October 14, 1940 when the Guard was incorporated into the regular U.S. Army. In the Army, Lloyd became a second lieutenant and attended Officers’ Training School at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was sent to Fort Ord, which was located on Monterey Bay, California. While there, he met Miss Irene Carolyn Mason of Selma, California and on March 3, 1942 they were married. A few days later, on March 10, 1942. he was elevated to the rank of first lieutenant. He was sent to the Pacific theater of the war.

Lloyd died May 28, 1945, on Okinawa Island from a “gunshot wound” suffered the previous day in action. At the time of his death he held the rank of Captain. His body was buried in the U.S. Armed Forces Island Command Cemetery, Okinawa Plot 3 Row 6 Grave 165 in a shelter half and three years later, on August 3, 1948, his body was disinterred and sent home. So taken by the conduct of his escort, Lt. Bradford, and the condition of the casket, the family wrote a letter expressing their appreciation for the “wonderful way in which you returned the body...” His body was interred at the cemetery in Hartwick Seminary, Otsego County, New York. His Serial Number was O-396849. He was 29 years old when he died. For several decades after his death the Oneonta Firemen Inc. funded the the Captain Lloyd Mayo Memorial Award, given annually to the best band student at Oneonta High School.  

If you notice anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute to it, please contact Jim Greenberg at nez13820@gmail.com.

Sources:

Capt. Lloyd S. Mayo, Former Oneontain, Dies of Wounds. The Daily Star, Oneonta, N.Y., Monday, Aug. 6, 1945.

National Archives,  St. Louis, MI, Individual Deceased Personnel File 293 Mayo, Lloyd D. Capt. (O-396-849)

Year: 1910; Census Place: Carbondale Ward 3, Lackawanna, Pennsylvania; Roll: T624_1356; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0012; FHL microfilm: 1375369

Year: 1920; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Roll: T625_1255; Page: 14A; Enumeration District: 217

Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission; Harrisburg, PA; Pennsylvania (State). Death Certificates, 1906-1968; Certificate Number Range: 008581-012220

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; State Population Census Schedules, 1925; Election District: 02; Assembly District: 01; City: Oneonta Ward 02; County: Otsego; Page: 6

Year: 1930; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Page: 5A; Enumeration District: 0029; FHL microfilm: 2341370

Year: 1940; Census Place: Oneonta, Otsego, New York; Roll: m-t0627-02717; Page: 4B; Enumeration District: 39-35

Original data: United States Military Registers, 1902–1985. Salem, Oregon: Oregon State Library.

New York National Guard enlisted men and noncommissioned officers activated for federal service during World War II. New York (State). National Guard. Infantry Division, 27th United States, Army. Infantry. New York State Military Museum and Veterans Research Center, Saratoga Springs, New York.

Original data: Beneficiary Identification Records Locator Subsystem (BIRLS) Death File. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs.

The Californian; Publication Date: 27/ Feb/ 1942; Publication Place: Salinas, California, USA; URL: https://www.newspapers.com/image/528844469/?article=adf203ba-e4c3-4696-8f8f-4215b730c00e/b2221a8a-efb1-4131-8bd4- accessed December 20, 2022

Supporting Files