Page 21 - Gold Star Sons of Georgetown Prep

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UNITED STATES ARMY INFANTRY
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PRIVATE FIRST CLASS ANDREW W. MAHONEY, JR. ’43
Between December 1942 and
August 1944, the first 7 Prep alumni fatalities of the war were
all members of the air forces of either the Army (6) or the Navy (1). And all but
one were pilots. Andrew W. Mahoney, Jr., who attended Prep during the 1942-43 academic year as a post-grad student, did not join an air service. But as a paratrooper, he depended heavily on the U. S. Army Air Force.
Andrew entered Prep having already
graduated as a 17-year-old from LaSalle
Academy in Providence, Rhode Island
and would not turn 18 until mid-November of 1942. So perhaps his parents viewed his spending a year at Prep as an opportunity for him to further mature before entering the military. Whatever the reason, Andrew excelled academically during his year at Prep, finishing with an average of 91.8, 2nd out of 23 in the class. Athletically, Andrew had a passion for
track, a sport that made its reappearance at Prep in the spring of 1943 after a 10-year hiatus. The Cupola yearbook described
the slightly built (5’8”, 130 lbs.) miler, as “unbeatable” in his specialty.
Andrew was also something of a maverick. Under the heading of “Discipline” on his Prep transcript appear the comments: “a lot of trouble – disrespectful to prefects
at times – out late once – trouble in dining room . . . smoked too much. Always felt
that he was being treated wrongly.” His “Cooperativeness” was rated “poor – except in studies – he studied very hard.” Whoever
filled out the transcript, however, noted under “Sociability” that “despite all of his faults” Andrew was “a very likable boy . . . popular with the students,” and an above average leader.
The Cupola styled him “personality plus,” and added that Andrew had fit “easily into the swing of senior activities.” The Cupola especially noted that “His warm, even friendly
SEPTEMBER 25, 1944 HOLLAND
Mahoney on campus
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