Bainbridge Soldier Missing in Action
Bainbridge News & Republican, Dec. 3, 1942
The final dreaded consequences of the war struck Bainbridge [Chenango Co., NY], early this week, when it became known that one of the nearly 200 vicinity service men may not return from the field of battle.
In a telegram from the War Department which reached Morris Reynolds, of Afton, R.D.1, at 8 o'clock Sunday night, it was learned that James Harry Mulwane, 24, an enlisted private in the U.S Army, has been reported missing since Nov. 8. In a talk with Mr. Reynolds, it was revealed that a telephone call came on Sunday evening which gave him the War Department's telegram. The message stated: "We are very sorry to inform you that Pvt. First Class James Harry Mulwane has been reported missing since Nov. 8."
This much, however, is definitely known. About three months ago, the Reynolds received a cablegram notifying them of his safe arrival in England. Since that time, no word had come from Pvt. Mulwane, up to the eve of Sunday.
Mr. Reynolds further stated that he was quite sure judging from previous word, that young Mulwane had been stationed in the same division as P.F.C. Earl D. Clark, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs. E.D. Clark of this village. Because word has been received by P.F.C Clark's parents of his safe arrival in North Africa, it is assumed that this also was the destination of P.F.C. Mulwane and that his disappearance may have been the result of military activity in that vicinity on Nov. 8, the date which saw the first appearances of American troops on that continent.
Disappearance or being listed as "missing" does not always mean that death has occurred. The uncertainty, however, which is felt by all those close to James, his relatives, and especially his aunt, Mrs. Sylvia Ireland, of this village, who devoted much of her time to James and his brothers and sisters, is often a great deal harder to bear than the actuality of the fact. Mrs. Ireland has long been admired for her devotion to her brother's family, despite her own work.
P.F.C. Mulwane was born in Bainbridge, on June 17, 1917, in his family home on Bixby street, and was the son of James Mulwane and Bessie Frayer Mulwane. James Mulwane, the elder, was employed in the local Dry Milk Co. for 11 years and all his family attended the local school, P.F.C. Mulwane received all his schooling in Bainbridge Central High School, leaving only when family circumstances necessitated it.
A horrible blow was struck the entire Mulwane family with the passing of their mother on Aug. 28, 1928, leaving the care of the four boys and four girls with their father's sister, Mrs. Ireland, who faithfully and carefully looked after them for the ensuing two years. Then, on July 15, 1930, the little group which had already been made motherless, was rendered fatherless as well with the going of their father For the next few months, Mrs. Ireland continued to look after them and soon after the family moved away from here, but even after their departure, the children always considered their home as here in Bainbridge.
After leaving here, James was employed on the Morgan farm in Oxford and worked on up to his enlistment in the Army on Sept. 17, 1940. Mr. Reynolds, a close friend of James, stated that at the time of his enlistment, the young man was most enthusiastic. With sharp foresight, he knew that the European conflict would soon involve our country and he stated to Mr. Reynolds, "I am very anxious to get started. I known that soon we will all have to go and I want to get over there and help finish this." And this is the spirit with which that boy went over, "to help finish this." James was stationed at Camp Devens, Mass., Camp Blanding, Fla., Indian Town Gap, Pa. and Ft. Benning, Ga. It is believed that he left the last camp for transferal overseas.
In addition to his aunt, Mrs. Ireland, Jim has an uncle, George Mulvane, two maternal aunts, Mrs. Clayton Clark, of East Afton, and Mrs. Levi Williams, of Oxford; in addition to his four brothers, Pvt. Harold Mulwane, of Washington, D.C., Henry Mulwane, of Buffalo; Sterling and Gerald, whereabouts unknown; and three sisters, Helen, of Oriskany, Evelyn of Syracuse, and Betty, whereabouts unknown.
Pvt. Harold Mulvane is at present confined to the Walter Reed Hospital, with an injury suffered while in the service at Washington, D.C.
The last known address of the missing soldier was P.F.C. James Harry Mulwane, A.S.N. 12003403, APO 12090 c/o Postmaster at New York City.
Nothing can be said to bring this terrible realization of war any clearer to the townspeople. A Bainbridge boy is missing and may we pray with all our hearts that the near future will bring reassuring word that he has been found and is well. Although the present does not offer much hope as to his safety, stranger cases of disappearance and reappearance have happened since the advent of the war. And we all sincerely hope that the case of P.F.C. Mulwane will be added to that list of cases.
Harry Mulwane, Reported Missing, is Safe
Bainbridge News & Republican, Dec. 10, 1942
At press time the "News" was informed that P.F.C. James Harry Mulwane has been reported safe by a telegram to relatives from the War Department, Friday night.
Last week a wire was received that Harry was missing in action on Nov. 8. It is a great relief to his relatives and friends to hear of his safety.
Compiler note: Evidence supports that Harry Mulwane survived the war and returned to Chenango County where he lived out the rest of his life. He died 27 January 1975 in Afton, Chenango Co., NY and is buried in Greenlawn Cemetery in Bainbridge, NY [Social Security Death Index; findagrave.com]
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