Rome, NY WWII Fallen

Private Frederick Bronson Maney

U.S. Army (32948991)

142nd Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division

Frederick Bronson Maney was born in Newburgh, Orange County, New York, on November 16, 1921, the only child of Frederick Smith (1900-1945) and Muriel Maybell Beck (1895-1961) Maney. According to U.S. Census records, both parents were born in New York. Frederick Sr. (called Fred) was a carpenter in the construction field and Muriel was a housewife. Fred Maney died suddenly in early 1945 at age 45. Muriel was later remarried to Edwin DeWitt but had no other children.

Frederick Jr. attended Newburgh Free Academy, Newburgh, New York, and graduated in 1941. His high school yearbook, The Academy Graduate, said he was “a friendly fellow with lots of ambition. We know that he will become an automobile mechanic – as he wishes.” That was somewhat prophetic as he worked as an aircraft mechanic at Rome Air Depot in Rome, New York, prior to entering the U.S. Army.

Rome Air Depot in 1945

Frederick Jr. entered the U.S. Army in January 1944. He received training at Camp Croft, South Carolina (now a state park) and Camp George Meade, Maryland (now Fort Meade).

Frederick Sr, Muriel, and Frederick Jr Maney, June, 1944

While on a furlough in early June, he married the former Marjorie Tulley of Rome, New York.

Frederick served with the 142 Infantry Regiment, 36th Infantry Division. Their nickname was the Texas Division; also known as the Panther or Lone Star Division.

According to The Newburgh News, July 27, 1944, Frederick was somewhere in the European Theater of Operations after an east coast embarkation in late June 1944. The Daily Sentinel, Rome, New York, Thursday, Evening, August 3, 1944, reported that “Pvt. Frederick Maney has arrived safely somewhere in Italy, according to word received by his wife….”

The dates and places of Frederick’s service do coincide with the history of the 36th Infantry Division as detailed by Warfare History Network at https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/from-the-alamo-to-the-riviera/.

The Center for Military History, U.S. Army https://history.army.mil/html/forcestruc/cbtchron/cc/036id.htm records the following:

“On August 15, the 36th Division made another assault landing against light opposition in the Raphael-Frejus area of Southern France. A lightning dash opened the Rhone River Valley. Montelimar fell August 28, and large Nazi units were trapped. The 36th advanced to the Moselle River at Remiremont and the foothills of the Vosges.”

During the four-day battle for Remiremont, France, Frederick sustained injuries from artillery shell fragments and succumbed to those injuries on September 21, 1944. He is buried at Epinal American Cemetery in Dinoze, France, Plot A, Row 23, Grave 37. He was awarded the Purple Heart.

His wife, Marjorie, never remarried. For many years she placed memorials in The Daily Sentinel, Rome, New York, on the anniversary of Frederick’s death. Marjorie died at age 66 on September 5, 1990, in Sunset Nursing Home, Boonville, New York, and is buried New Union Cemetery, in Verona, New York.

Page from the Oneida County WWII Casualties that contains Pvt. Maney's name

References

Warfare History Network; https://warfarehistorynetwork.com/article/from-the-alamo-to-the-riviera/

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56373950/frederick_bronson-maney: accessed February 7, 2024), memorial page for Pvt Frederick Bronson Maney (–), Find a Grave Memorial ID 56373950, citing Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial, Epinal, Departement des Vosges, Lorraine, France; Maintained by blazen36 (contributor 49893165).

Oneida County NY WWII Fallen https://www.fold3.com/image/310770917?rec=299532272&terms=32948991

Texas Military Forces Military Museum, 142nd Infantry Regiment Lineage and Honors

https://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/36division/archives/142/142lin.htm

https://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/36division/archives/142/ch001.htm

https://www.texasmilitaryforcesmuseum.org/36division/archives/moselle/moselle.htm

American Battle Monuments Commission

https://www.abmc.gov/decedent-search/maney%3Dfrederick

https://www.abmc.gov/print/certificate/352232

Newburgh Free Academy, Newburgh, NY http://www.nfayearbooks.com/1930-1939.html

HonorStates.org https://www.honorstates.org/profiles/324069/

National Purple Heart Hall of Honor

https://thepurpleheart.com/roll-of-honor/profile/default?rID=5dc71ad4-7b09-4634-94ac-4992546f552e