This Military Service Page was created/owned by
Tommy Burgdorf (Birddog), FC2
to remember
Carmody, James Cornelius, WT1c.
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Casualty Info
Home Town Springfield, MA
Last Address 36 Greene St Springfield, MA (Parents~ Mr&Mrs Thomas Joseph Carmody)
Casualty Date Apr 11, 1945
Cause KIA-Killed in Action
Reason Other Explosive Device
Location Pacific Ocean
Conflict World War II
Location of Interment Courts of the Missing at the Honolulu Memorial - Honolulu, Hawaii
Born on November 25, 1921, James Carmody called Springfield, Massachusetts, his hometown. His father's name was Thomas J. Carmody, but his mother's name is unknown at this time. One of two boys, Carmody had a brother named David, who served in Europe during World War II. It is interesting to note that the boys' father also served in Europe, but almost a quarter of a century earlier during World War I.
James?or Jimmy, as he was also known?went to Commerce High School where he graduated in 1938. He then attended North Eastern New England College in Springfield, Massachusetts. He joined the Navy on November 02, 1942. After attending boot camp at Great Lakes, Illinois, he reported aboard the USS KIDD (DD-661) on July 29, 1943.
Mrs. Loyce Warner of Hadley, Massachusetts, visited the USS KIDD in Baton Rouge in August of 1998. She was Jimmy's first cousin; their mothers were sisters. She remembers that Jimmy would always reassure her in his letters back home with such lines as "Don't worry. Your cousin's going to win this war for you." She also recalls that Jimmy had a girlfriend from Chicago, but hid the fact from his mother because of her concerns over him dating the wrong kind of girl?the typical worry that most mothers have for their sons. Unfortunately, Mrs. Warner no longer recalls the young woman's name.
While serving aboard the KIDD, Carmody changed rate three times. On December 09, 1943, he changed rates from Fireman 1st class to Watertender 3rd class. Later, he advanced to Watertender 2nd class on June 01, 1944, and again to Watertender 1st class on March 01, 1945. When the Japanese kamikaze struck the ship on April 11, 1945, Jimmy was killed at his station in the forward fireroom. Clifford was buried at sea the following day on Thursday, April 12, 1945, along with his shipmates while the KIDD was en route back to Ulithi Atoll from the front lines.
