Sheldon Paul McCloskey (April 15,1919– November 1, 1996)
By Courtney Lebron
Early Life
Sheldon Paul McCloskey was born on April 15, 1919 in Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, to James and Dessie McCloskey. Sheldon’s father worked as a machinist for the Pennsylvania Railroad Company.1 James B. and Dessie M. McCloskey had five children. Roy McCloskey, who would have been Sheldon’s older brother, died before his first birthday. In 1930, the McCloskey children were James R. McCloskey Jr., Ellsworth J. McCloskey, Sheldon P. McCloskey, and Patricia M. McCloskey.2 After graduating from high school, McCloskey worked with his father at the Pennsylvania Railroad Company building railroad cars. 3
Military Service
The World War II draft began on September 16, 1940 after the Selective Training and Service Act of 1940 passed.4 As seen here, McCloskey registered for the draft on October 16, 1940.5 At the time, he was working in the US Naval Yard and living in Washington, D.C. At the age of twenty-five, on June 3, 1944, Sheldon P. McCloskey enlisted to the US Navy. During his time in the service McCloskey served on two Navy Submarine tender ships, the USS Orion (AS-18) and the USS Sperry (AS-12).6 pictured here. Submarine Tender ships carried the supplies and personnel needed to support submarines in action. Both the USS Orion and the USS Sperry entered active service in 1941 and both served in the Pacific theater during World War II.7 McCloskey achieved the rank of SAO3, Special Artificer Petty Officer Third Class.8 With this rank, McCloskey likely spent much of his war time repairing optical instruments on the ship, such as periscopes, telescopes, and compasses. McCloskey separated from the Navy on February 15, 1946, after World War II ended.
After returning home to Washington D.C., McCloskey joined the Marine Corps reserve squadron VMF-321. During his time as a reservist, McCloskey achieved the rank of Sergeant while serving in the VMF-321.9 Squadron 321 was an active squadron during World War II before being transferred into a reserve unit after the war ended.10 It had the nickname “Hell's Angels.” McCloskey squadron, mainly worked with F8F (Carrier-Based Fighter) Bearcats.11 Overall, McCloskey served in two branches of the US Military during and after World War II in several different capacities.
Post Military Life
While McCloskey was still in the military, he married Laura Rebecca Scott on May 1, 1943 in Washington D.C.12 Together they raised four children: Karen, Rebecca, Scott, and Sheldon Jr. Later, McCloskey moved to Venice, Florida, south of Sarasota where he spent the rest of his life. He passed away on November 1, 1996 at the age of 77.13 Sheldon McCloskey is memorialized at Florida National Cemetery in section MD, site 43.14
Endnotes
1 “1930 United States Censes,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com (accessed: July 16, 2017), entry for James B. McCloskey, District 0066, Logan, Blair County, Pennsylvania, Roll: 2005, p. 12A.Ibid.
2 Ibid.
3 “1940 United States Censes,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.Ancestry.com (accessed: July 16, 2017), entry for Sheldon P. McCloskey, Same House, Blair County, Pennsylvania, Roll: T627-3441, p. 6A.
4 Allan R. Millett, For the Common Defense: A Military History of the United States of America (New York: The Free Press, 1994), 416.
5 “WWII Draft Registration Cards,” database, Fold3.com, http://www.fold3.com (accessed 7/19/2017), entry for Sheldon Paul McCloskey, Serial Number 738, Order Number 1568.
6 “U. S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938 – 1949,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 719/2017), entry for Sheldon P. McCloskey, USS Sperry, Ship # AS-12, August 1, 1945; “U. S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938 – 1949,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 719/2017), entry for Sheldon P. McCloskey, USS Orion, Ship # AS-18, August 1, 1945.
7 “Orion II (AS-18),” Naval History and Heritage Command, Published 8/17/2014 (accessed 7/20/2017), https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/o/orion-ii.html; “Orion II (AS-18),” Naval History and Heritage Command, Published 11/12/2008 (accessed 7/20/2017), https://www.history.navy.mil/research/histories/ship-histories/danfs/s/sperry.html.
8 “U. S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938 – 1949,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 719/2017), entry for Sheldon P. McCloskey, USS Sperry, Ship # AS-12, August 1, 1945; “U. S. World War II Navy Muster Rolls, 1938 – 1949,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 719/2017), entry for Sheldon P. McCloskey, USS Orion, Ship # AS-18, August 1, 1945.
9 “U.S. Marine Corps Muster Rolls, 1798-1958,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 7/19/2017), entry for Sheldon P McCloskey, Vmf 321, Anacostia, Washington D.C.
10 Peter B. Merskey, A History of Marine Fighter Attack Squadron 321 (Washington DC: History and Museum Division, 1991), 11.
11 Ibid., 13.
12 “District of Columbia, Marriage Records, 1810 – 1953,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 7/19/2017), entry for Sheldon Paul McCloskey.
13 “U.S. Phone and Address Directories, 1993 – 2002,” database, Ancestry.com, http://www.ancestry.com (accessed 7/20/2017), entry for Sheldon P. McCloskey, Venice, Florida.
14 National Cemetery Administration, "Sheldon P. Mc Closkey, Sr.," US Department of Veterans Affairs, accessed June 13, 2017, https://gravelocator.cem.va.gov/NGLMap?ID=6068034
© 2017, University of Central Florida
