Pvt. Thomas E. Finnegan US Army - Buried Glasnevin

OU812

Was walking through Glasnevin yesterday & noticed this grave, it's obviously a military headstone, but there's no other detail & the grave looks to have been abandoned.



Any ideas where I'd find out more information?

imme

The image doesn't show in your post OP.

Could it be an Irish born man who simply fought in the US Army.
Or a US soldier who died while in Ireland.

What about getting on to the US Embassy, http://dublin.usembassy.gov/

http://dublin.usembassy.gov/about-us/contact-us.html

Conchir

The OP's photo. Posting out of interest, got no info on it unfortunately.

OU812

I tweeted the image to them. Will update if they come back to me

tabbey

Millions of men have served in the US military.

Once they retire they are private citizens, they can live anywhere, and be buried anywhere.

I am sure there are many former US soldiers buried all over Ireland, some have their military title recorded on the headstone, others have not.

RGM

tabbey wrote: »

Millions of men have served in the US military.

Once they retire they are private citizens, they can live anywhere, and be buried anywhere.

I am sure there are many former US soldiers buried all over Ireland, some have their military title recorded on the headstone, others have not.

I believe the US government provides headstones for veterans free of charge. If that were the case, it would be expected that his rank would be on the stone. The only difference is the platform it is on, that would not be standard. That's the reason the top part is so tall, it's just meant to be sunk into the ground. That it's on a platform here is unusual.

I did a little searching and I found a few records that may or may not relate to this man:

US Social Security Death Index
Name: Thomas Finnegan
SSN: 558-05-2085
Last Residence: 94903 San Rafael, Marin, California, USA
BORN: 15 Jan 1899
Died: Jun 1985
State (Year) SSN issued: California (Before 1951)

US World War II Army Enlistment Records
Name: Thomas E Finnegan
Birth Year: 1899
Nativity State or Country: Irish Free State
State of Residence: California
County or City: San Francisco
Enlistment Date: 2 Nov 1942
Enlistment State: California
Enlistment City: San Francisco
Grade: Private
Civil Occupation: Stenographers and typists
Marital Status: Single, without dependents

1930 US Census
Name: Thomas E Finnegan
Birth Year: abt 1899
Birthplace: Ireland
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Nephew
Home in 1930: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Street address: 6th Ave
House Number: 1371
Father's Birthplace: Ireland
Mother's Birthplace: Ireland
Immigration Year: 1929
Naturalization: First Papers
Occupation: Teacher
Household Members:
James J Finnegan 50
Margaret Finnegan 59
Anne Finnegan 26
Marion Finnegan 22
Dorothy Finnegan 19
John Finnegan 16
Helen Finnegan 25
Thomas E Finnegan 31

1940 US Census
Name: Thomas E Finnegan
Age: 41
Estimated birth year: abt 1899
Birthplace: Ireland
Marital Status: Single
Relation to Head of House: Nephew
Home in 1940: San Francisco, San Francisco, California
Street: Sixth Avenue
House Number: 1371
Citizenship: Naturalized
Occupation: Stenographer
Household Members:
James J Finnegan 68
Margaret Finnegan 61
Helen Finnegan 33
Thomas E Finnegan 41

US Naturalization Indexes
Name: Thomas Eustace Finnegan name changed from Thomas Ustie Finnegan
Birth Date: abt 1899
Age at event: 36
Residing at: 1371 7th Ave, San Francisco, Calif.
Court District: California
Date of Action: 5 Aug 1935

Ireland Births 1864-1958 Transcription (FMP)
First name(s): Thomas Ustie
Last name: Finnegan
Registration year:1899
Registered quarter/year: Jan - Mar 1899
Registration district: Dublin North
Volume: 2
Page: 436

In the 1901 census, I only found one Thomas Finnegan that was two years old and born in Dublin (though I realize that isn't conclusive): http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1901/Down/Ormeau/Rossmore_Avenue/1213062/

I believe this is the father in 1911, a widower presumably traveling on business: http://www.census.nationalarchives.ie/pages/1911/Dublin/South_City/Wellington_Quay/60352/