Pfc. Michael J. Downey

Source: Leader-Republican, Gloversville and Johnstown, Tuesday, May 4, 1943

Unofficial Report of Soldier's Death in Africa

        Michael Downey's Buddy Writes to Family as They Had Been Notified 

        Speculator - Although official confirmation has not yet been received, the family of Michael J. Downey has accepted the report of his death in action in North Africa as unquestionably true. This report came in the form of a letter from a soldier who had been "Mike's" buddy for their 27 months of service, a letter which came through in an unusually short time, having been written on April 16. This young soldier, who has corresponded with the Charles Downey family regularly, seemed to take it for granted that the family would have been notified by the time his letter arrived.
        In January, 1941, Michael J. Downey and James O'Keefe, both employed at Downey's Garage here and making their home with the Charles Downey's, enlisted in the U.S. Army, the first boys from Hamilton County to enlist during the present war.
        Mike received his training at various centers in the United States, and then, many months ago, he and this buddy who had been with him all through his training were among those transferred overseas.
        Eventually word came through that Mike was in the war zone in Africa. His letters, which have continued to arrive fairly frequently, were written in his usual cheery way but gave little information beyond the fact that he was in the thick of it in Africa. The news of his death comes as a shock to his family and the hose of friends he had made in this community.
        Michael, 35 years old and unmarried, is survived by his mother, Mrs. Charles Downey of Mamaroneck, N.Y., a brother, Hugh, who is in the U.S. Navy, and his brother, Charles, of Speculator, as well as two sisters.
        This is the fourth Hamilton County casualty known so far in this war, and the first from the Town of Lake Pleasant in either World War.
  

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Source: Leader-Republican, Gloversville and Johnstown, Monday, May 10, 1943

Downey's Death Now Confirmed

        Speculator - On Friday evening Charles Downey received a telegram from Washington stating that the Secretary of war tendered his sympathy in the death of Mr. Downey's brother, Michael J. Downey, who had just been reported killed in action on April 10, 1943, in the northern African area and that a letter followed.
        This confirms the letter recently received from a buddy of Private Downey who had been with him through twenty-seven months of service. His buddy's story of Private Downey's death appeared in this newspaper last week.