Flatleys In Uniform

Sergeant William Flatley (Uncle Wimpy) Serving as a tank gun commander. Sergeant Flatley was a veteran of campaigns in France, Belgium and Holland. He saw action in the Battle of the Bulge and was killed in action east of the Rhine, in Germany, on April 7, 1945. Nana and Poppop received a telegram on April 27, 1945 informing them that their son was listed as missing in action since April 7^th, 1945. Hopes were dashed a couple of days later when the Army confirmed that Uncle Wimpy had been killed in action in Germany. He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously. Sergeant Flatley was inducted into the United States Army on October 13, 1942, trained at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and was assigned to the 638th Tank Destroyer Battalion at Camp Livingston, Louisiana; He embarked with his unit to France in September, 1944, where his unit was attached to the 184th Tank Division, Ninth Army.
	I'd rather have a picture of my Dad in uniform but have to settle for half a uniform. The second from the left in the first picture is my Dad, Sergeant Thomas J. Flatley of the 77th Division. The next picture is clowning for the camera for the folks back home during a quiet moment in Okinawa. Dad's words: "Our rifle company consisted of 206 men when we left the United States. When the war was declared over on August 15, 1945, we had only 24 men of our original company. The others were killed, wounded severely or fell victim to tropical diseases. We were in over 200 days of actual combat." My father was awarded the Bronze Star as well as the Purple Heart. See my Dad's autobiography our History Page.
No this is not Frank Sinatra and Gene Kelly from the movie "On the Town". It's Uncle Larry and Uncle Richie, the pride of the USN. Sorry I don't have a year.
	Now we skip a generation. This one is Timmy taken at Fort Dix, NJ in Aug 1965 while doing basic training. Timmy served in Germany later.
Captain Mary K. Flatley of the USMC
	Here's one of Mary with her big brother Billy. Billy retired from the Navy in 1987as a Chief Petty Officer after 22 years of service.
SFC Peter McSorley who recently returned from Iraq. On his way to Iraq he discovered that his First Sergeant was also his cousin, Richie Heller. I was debating with myself whether I should try for a Family Reunion (in 2005) with short notice or just wait a year. I got an email from Iraq explaining that, under the circumstances, Pete wouldn't be able to make it but asked for tons of pictures and that he will make it the next time. Because of Pete's email I decided there would be a Reunion no matter how many could make it. As you know, more than 100 did. Pete, you got the pictures, we plan to see you at the Reunion.
	And this is Richie Heller. On the way to Iraq, Peter McSorley (above) and Richie traded stories and family history and learned what they never knew before, that they were cousins. Peter's mother is Eileen, granddaughter of David Flatley. Rich's mother is also named Eileen, Eileen Valencourt, daughter of Anna Flatley. Anna was Poppop's (David's) sister. This picture was on Mother's Day, 2005. You can't tell me that this is not cool?
Here's two from Mike Flatley, Uncle Richie and Aunt Ann's son.
	Beth Flatley, Uncle Ritchie's daughter sent me me picture of her son Donnie who is in Iraq. Donnie was born on my birthday, July 26, the same birthday as Gracie Allen, Aldous Huxley, George Bernard Shaw, Mick Jagger, Stanley Kubrick, Estes Kefauver, Carl Jung, Kevin Spacey, Vivian Vance, Blake Edwards ,Sandra Bullock, Dorothy Hamill and Mary Jo Kopechne.