Sgt. Richard Bernard Cronin was born in Chicago on May 24, 1918, to Roy Cronin and Madeline Gaffney-Cronin. He grew up at 2102 South Tenth Avenue in Maywood, Illinois, and graduated from Garfield School and Proviso Township High School in 1937. During his time at Proviso, he was captain of the varsity basketball team and made the all-state team. After high school, he worked for the Campbell Soup Company as a yardman. His family had also moved to 1842 South Cicero Avenue in Cicero by 1940.
The Selective Service Act became law on October 16, 1940, and Richard registered for the draft and named his father as his contact person.
Selective Service Registration: 16 October 1940. After this time, he married Betty Hunter and the couple resided at 1012 South Greenwood Avenue in Maywood and were the parents of a son, Michael. He was inducted into the US Army on May 29, 1944 and issued the serial number 36 982 557.
It is not known where he did his basic training, but it is known he trained at Fort Walters, Texas. After completing basic training, he was assigned to HQ Company, 163rd Infantry Regiment, 41st Infantry Division, which was fighting in the South Pacific. During his time with the 163rd, he took part in the landing at Zamboanga, Mindanao, on March 10, 1945. He also was promoted to Private First Class. He fought at Sanga-Sanga on April 2nd, and was involved in the engagement on Jolo Island on April 9, 195, when he suffered a penetrating gun shot wound in the neck. While exiting his neck, the bullet fractured his mandible. He was moved to a hospital on Leyte. It was while in the hospital that he died of his wounds on May 4, 1945. Two days later, in a shelter half since caskets weren’t available, he was buried at the United States Armed Forces Cemetery #1, Leyte, Philippine Islands.
His wife was sent a telegram telling her of his death.
MRS BETTY CRONIN
1012 SOUTH GREENWOOD AVENUE
MAYWOOD ILLINOIS
THE SECRETARY OF WAR DESIRES ME TO EXPRESS HIS DEEP REGRET THAT YOUR HUSBAND PRIVATE FIRST CLASS RICHARD B CRONIN DIED OF HIS WOUNDS FOUR MAY IN SOUTHWEST PACIFIC AREA PERIOD
ULIO
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
A letter that provided some information on the events leading up his death followed the telegram, but the content of the letter is not known.
His wife did not hear from the Office of the Quartermaster General, Washington DC, until she received a letter dated November 3, 1947. One reason for the delay was that the American Graves Registration was dealing with the recovery of the men who became Prisoners of War in the Philippines when Bataan and Corregidor were surrendered to the Japanese and died in the Japanese POW camps. In the letter she was given information on her options for Richard’s final burial. She was asked to fill-out and return an enclosed form indicating where she wanted her husband buried. The OQMG received the completed form on December , 1947, and it appears that she involved his parents in the decision as to where her husband should be buried. The form indicated that he should be buried in an American Military Cemetery.
On September 12, 1949, the casket of Pfc. Richard B Cronin, with full military honors, was buried at the new American Military Cemetery, outside Manila, in Plot B, Row 10, Grave 113. The flag that covered his casket was sent to his wife with a letter.
Pfc. , ASN 20 982 357
Plot B, Row 10, Grave 113
Headstone: Cross
Ft. McKinley U. S. Military Cemetery
(Manila, Philippine Islands)
Mrs. Betty J. Cronin
1012 Greenwood Avenue
Maywood, Illinois
Dear Mrs. Cronin:
This is to inform you that the remains of your beloved ones have been permanently interred, as the recorded above, side by side with comrades who also gave their lives for their country. Customary military funeral services were conducted over the grave at the time of burial.
After the Department of the Army has completed all final interments, the cemetery will be transferred, as authorized by the Congress, to the care and supervision of the American Battle Monuments Commission. The commission will have the responsibility for permanent construction and beautification of the cemetery, including erection of the permanent headstone. The headstone will be inscribe with the name exactly recorded above, the rank or rating where appropriate, organization, State, and date of death. Any inquiries relative to the type of headstone or the spelling of the name to be inscribed thereon, should be addressed to the American Battle Monuments Commission, Washington D. C. Your letter should include the full name, rank, serial number, grave location, and name of cemetery.
While interments are in progress, the cemetery will not be open to visitors. You may rest assured that the final interment was conducted with fitting dignity and solemnity and that the grave-site will be carefully and conscientiously maintained in perpetuity by the United States Government.
Sincerely yours,
(signed)
H. FELDMAN
Major General
The Quartermaster General
