Pvt. James Patrick McFarland Jr. was born in Chicago, Illinois, on July 16, 1918, to James P. McFarland Sr. and Wilhelmina M. Dupke-McFarland and had a sister. In 1925, the family moved to Maywood, Illinois. He graduated from Saint James Catholic School and then attended Fenwick High School. He then transferred to Proviso Township High School and graduated in 1937. His father passed away in 1939. The Selective Service Act took effect on October 16, 1940, and Jim registered for the draft and named his mother as his contact person. Jim married Anna Marie Brophy on April 11, 1941, and the couple resided at 4940 West 23rd Place, Cicero, Illinois, and he worked at Western Electric in Cicero.
What is known is that Jim enlisted in the United States Marines on June 16, 1944, and was issued the serial number 98 47 88. He trained at Camp Pendleton, California, with 9th Training Battalion, 4th Infantry Training Regiment. After he completed his training, he sailed from San Diego, California, on November 14, 1944,in the USS Rochambeau, for Hawaii and arrived there on the 23rd. Three days later, November 26th, the next ship he was on sailed for Eniwetok Atoll, Marshall Islands, and arrived there on December 4th. On December 23rd, he sailed again and arrived at Guam on the 27th where he was assigned to the 3rd Marines. For the next 6½ weeks he trained but had no idea he was training for the invasion of Iwo Jima. The Marines lived in tents near the Village of Yoma.
On February 8, 1945, the Marines marched 7 miles, in full backpacks, to Apra Harbor and boarded ships. The ships sailed for Iwo Jima. The Island was invaded on February 19th with the 3rd Marines held in reserve. The casualties were so severe that the 3rd was sent in the battle and landed along the coast of the center area of the island on the 24th. From documents, what is known is that Pvt. James P. McFarland Jr. was killed in action on March 16, 1945, when he was hit by shrapnel on the right side of his head. He was buried in the 3rd Marines Cemetery in Plot 1, Row 29, Grave 706.
After the war, the American Graves Registration Service – a branch of the US Army – had the job of recovering the dead. At some point, his mother, who apparently still was considered his next of kin, received a letter with information on her options for Jim’s final burial. She was asked to return an enclosed form indicating where she wanted her son buried. The completed form was returned to the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, indicating she wanted Jim returned to Illinois for burial.
Jim’s remains were exhumed and taken to the AGRS Mausoleum in Saipan, Marshall Islands. There his remains were casketed and on April 21, 1948 placed on the USAT Albert M. Boe which sailed the same day. The ship arrived at the San Francisco Port of Entry on May 17th and appear to be held there for almost a week. His casket was sent by train, with a military escort, to the Quartermaster Corps Distribution Center #8 in Chicago arriving on May 28, 1948. His casket, on June 15, 1948, was sent in a military hearse, with a military escort, to the Suburban Funeral Home in Maywood. Pvt. James P. MacFarland Jr. was buried at All Saints Catholic Cemetery, Des Plaines, Illinois, in Block 6, Section 6, Grave 3.
