Singleton and Related Genealogy Pages
A history of many families.
1917 - 2011 (93 years)| Name | James Richard MOONEYHAN [2, 3] | |
| Birth | 13 Jul 1917 | Elliott, South Carolina  |
| Gender | Male | |
| HIST | of Charleston, South Carolina at death- he had additional grandchildren- Patricia Meeks Smith of Centreville, Virginia, Julie A. Bristow (Cole) of Morganton, North Carolina and Rusty D. Meeks (Michelle) of Suffolk, Virginia- who are their parents? jkh at death- he had 12 great-grandchildren James Richard Mooneyhan | Visit Guest Book WHITE ROCK - James Richard Mooneyhan passed away on Thursday, January 20, 2011, at the Heritage at Lowman, White Rock, SC. Born July 31, 1917, in Elliott, SC, he was the eighth child of Charles Green Mooneyhan and Essie Blanche Lindler Mooneyhan. A decorated veteran of World War II, he was in the 502nd Engineers, Light Ponton Company serving in the European Theatre of Operation. On a two-week pass during Tennessee maneuvers and knowing his company would be shipped out, he went home to Bishopville, SC, to marry his sweetheart, Mary Creola Stuckey. After a whirlwind honeymoon to Miami, FL, he left his new bride at the train station in Atlanta to return to his unit for overseas deployment and did not return for 2 ½ years. During this time, Jim participated in the invasion of Normandy on Omaha Beach for D-Day, prepared the reviewing stands for the liberation of Paris, and he rose to the rank of captain during the Battle of the Bulge. Expecting 85% casualties on D-Day alone, he was especially proud that he was able to lead all but two of the 220 men to see home again. For his participation, he received five battle stars â€' Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardenne-Alsace. He just had been notified by the French Embassy that he had received the French Legion of Honor medal which was to be presented by the French Ambassador in April. For 32 years, he worked at a "little oil company," ExxonMobil, serving as plant superintendent for the Charleston Terminal at the time of his retirement. He enjoyed living "on an island under an oak tree," James Island, Charleston, SC, for 56 years. He was an avid vegetable gardener, receiving the status of Master Gardener from Clemson University in 1982. Known for his outgoing personality and his wood crafts, Jim like to make things out of scraps â€' like his "peach pit ducks" or his "tin can tin man". He had a full woodworking shop in his room at the Heritage at Lowman and was working on a wooden dog for his doctor at the time of his death. He is survived by two daughters, Linda Mooneyhan Haslett (Bill) of Winnsboro and Barbara J. Mooneyhan (Everett Davis) of Chapin, SC. He had six grandchildren: Patricia Meeks Smith of Centreville, VA, Julie A. Bristow (Cole) of Morganton, NC, Rusty D. Meeks (Michelle) of Suffolk, VA, Everett C. Davis (Aggie) of Blythewood, Chris Haslett (Sarah) of Charleston, SC, and William Haslett of Pensacola, FL. The apples of his eye were his 12 great-grandchildren. He also had many loving nieces and nephews. He was predeceased by his wife of 53 years and all nine of his brothers and sisters. The family wishes to thank his friends at the Heritage at Lowman, especially Fred, Frank, Norman and Tom and the staff. Hancock Elmore Hill Funeral Home of Bishopville is assisting the family. Services will be on Sunday, January 23 at 1:30 at The Heritage at Lowman Chapel in White Rock with burial in Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery in Bishopville at 4 p.m. The family will receive visitors from 1 â€' 1:30 in the Hoefer Gallery at The Heritage at Lowman. A memorial service will be held at Bethany United Methodist of James Island at a later date. Memorials may be made to Bethany United Methodist Church of James Island, 1853 Maybank Highway, Charleston, SC 29412. Published in The State on January 22, 2011 Read more: http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/thestate/obituary.aspx?n=james-richard-mooneyhan&pid=147967688#ixzz1EZ0XsqsD D-Day veteran receives Legion of Honor Photo Provided D-Day veteran receives Legion of Honor The Legion of Honor, France’s top military award, was given to Army Capt. James Richard Mooneyhan. View all 11 images in gallery. Posted: Sunday, June 5, 2011 6:00 am | Updated: 11:20 pm, Sat Jun 4, 2011. BY RANDY BURNS Special to the Item Lee County had many heroes during World War II. Nobody more so than a country farm boy from Elliott, Army Capt. James Richard Mooneyhan. Mooneyhan died on Jan. 20 at the age of 93 with knowledge that he would receive the Legion of Honor, France's top military award. In October 2010, Mooneyhan, living at The Heritage at Lowman in White Rock, received a letter from the French consulate notifying him that he would be receiving the Legion of Honor for his participation and service in liberating France in World War II. Being recognized by France was a big deal for Mooneyhan, said his daughter Barbara Mooneyhan. "I remember the afternoon I came to see him and he was sitting in a chair with the letter from the French consulate," she said. "He knew about the Legion of Honor. He knew what it meant. He was thrilled. He thought he would have to go to France to pick it up. He wanted my sister to go ahead and renew our passports. We would be going to France." American soldiers honored by France received the "knight level" of the multi-tiered award, Mooneyhan said. "My father thought he was becoming a knight and that he would be greeted as 'Sir,'" she said. It was a proud moment for James Mooneyhan. And it was also a proud moment for the Mooneyhan family when the French consulate sent a representative to Columbia in April to give the posthumous award to the family. The Legion medal is the size of a half dollar, star-shaped and gold. It is accompanied by a document of thanks signed by the French president and awarded in a ceremony by a French diplomat. The veteran's combat history is recounted and formal thanks are extended on behalf of the French people. Since 2004, the French have bestowed the medal on Americans from WWII who fought to liberate France. Many of the recipients such as Mooneyhan landed on Normandy's beaches on D-Day. He was among the 160,000 troops who landed in 1944 along the Normandy coast in France to free Europe from the Nazis. "My father landed at Omaha Beach about seven hours after the first invasion," Mooneyhan said. To receive the honor, one must be nominated and it must be verified that the individual participated in the war in France. Barbara Mooneyhan said the circumstances responsible for her father's nomination were "unbelievable." James Mooneyhan was nominated for the Legion of Honor by Bernard Marie, who as a 5-year-old boy, huddled with his mother in the cellar of their house for 16 hours on D-Day, just 200 yards from Omaha Beach. Marie reportedly remembers his mother hugging an American soldier who had broken through the German defenses. The soldier gave him a Hershey's chocolate bar. Marie moved to the U.S. and started hosting luncheons for D-Day veterans in Charleston in 1986. He began nominating D-Day veterans for the Legion of Honor in Charleston in 1989. James Mooneyhan went to one of the luncheons after reading an announcement in the newspaper. In time, Mooneyhan and Marie would recognize their bond, and became friends. "It's really unbelievable how this happened," the daughter said. Now living in Roanoke, Va, Marie also was instrumental in building the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va. Mooneyhan and her sister always knew their father served in the Army during World War II, but their father never talked specifically about his experiences. He began to open up some in 1995 when the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, Mooneyhan said. "My father saw very sad things through the D-Day Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge," she said. He fought five battle campaigns in Europe: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes. He received battle stars for each. "My father had a wall full of awards, but he was never about the recognition," she said. "He carried 220 men into battle and his proudest accomplishment was that all but two lived to come back home." Mooneyhan assumed command of 220 soldiers, attached to V-Corp, after his troop commander was injured during the Battle of the Bulge. He spent most of the war building bridges in Europe as an Army engineer. "Think about it, on D-Day they expected 85 percent casualties," Mooneyhan's daughter said. "All but two of 220 soldiers came home. That was amazing." Barbara Mooneyhan said her father never "lost sight of where he came from." "There's no doubt that Elliott and St. Luke Methodist Church made my father what he was," she said. "He contributed to that little church (St. Luke) until the day he died, and he hadn't been going to that church for 60 or 70 years." Nelle Player of St. Charles, whose late husband Blain Player was Mooneyhan's cousin, said James Mooneyhan was always the center of attention at family reunions held at St. Luke Methodist Church. James Mooneyhan was on hand for the 2010 reunion, Player said. He brought along a dozen or more wooden figures that he had carved. "He was 92 years old and I guess they let him use all of that equipment in his room," she said. "He would auction them off to raise money to help pay for the reunions." Mooneyhan also told stories, but he seldom talked about the war, Player said. "The main reason my husband wanted to go to the reunions every year was to see James," Player said. "He was such a unique and interesting person. He could tell the best stories. He should have been on TV." Mooneyhan talked about driving to Sumter when he was 12 years old to sell eggs, raising a pet alligator in an Elliott creek, bartering and trading animals and such and being a "poor farm boy from Elliott." "James told a few stories about the war," Player said. "He talked about how the equipment always got bogged down in the mud. And the city boys didn't know what to do. It took a country boy from Elliott to figure out what to do. He never said, but I think he was able to climb so high in the Army because of the knowledge he had from growing up on a farm." James Mooneyhan was one of 10 children of Charlie and Essie Mooneyhan of Elliott. "All five sons and one of the daughters served during the war," Barbara said. "And they all returned home. My father said he remembers when they all came back home to Elliott, sitting at the kitchen table, telling war stories." James Mooneyhan also returned home to a Bishopville girl - Mary Stuckey - who he married before leaving for Europe. "I grew up in Charleston," Barbara Mooneyhan said. "And we never lived in Bishopville, but it still was an important part of my life. We would visit all the time - vacations, holidays and the summer. I always wanted to live and go to school in Bishopville." Mooneyhan said an aunt Charlotte Stuckey, a long-time public school teacher in Lee County, would always plan an adventure for them when they "came home." And Lee County was always home for James and Mary Mooneyhan, she said. "That's where my parents acquired their work ethic and their values," she said. "We felt like all of us were from Lee County." The Associated Press contributed to the story Posted in Local news, News on Sunday, June 5, 2011 [1, 2, 3, 4] | |
| MILI | He was a decorated veteran of World War II. He was in the 502nd Engineers, Light Ponton Company serving in the European Theatre of Operation. On a two-week pass during Tennessee maneuvers and knowing his company would be shipped out, he went home to Bishopville, SC, to marry his sweetheart, Mary Creola Stuckey. After a whirlwind honeymoon to Miami, FL, he left his new bride at the train station in Atlanta to return to his unit for overseas deployment and did not return for 2 ½ years. During this time, Jim participated in the invasion of Normandy on Omaha Beach for D-Day, prepared the reviewing stands for the liberation of Paris, and he rose to the rank of captain during the Battle of the Bulge. Expecting 85% casualties on D-Day alone, he was especially proud that he was able to lead all but two of the 220 men to see home again. For his participation, he received five battle stars â€' Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe, and Ardenne-Alsace. He just had been notified by the French Embassy that he had received the French Legion of Honor medal which was to be presented by the French Ambassador in April. D-Day veteran receives Legion of Honor The Legion of Honor, France’s top military award, was given to Army Capt. James Richard Mooneyhan. View all 11 images in gallery. Posted: Sunday, June 5, 2011 6:00 am | Updated: 11:20 pm, Sat Jun 4, 2011. BY RANDY BURNS Special to the Item Lee County had many heroes during World War II. Nobody more so than a country farm boy from Elliott, Army Capt. James Richard Mooneyhan. Mooneyhan died on Jan. 20 at the age of 93 with knowledge that he would receive the Legion of Honor, France's top military award. In October 2010, Mooneyhan, living at The Heritage at Lowman in White Rock, received a letter from the French consulate notifying him that he would be receiving the Legion of Honor for his participation and service in liberating France in World War II. Being recognized by France was a big deal for Mooneyhan, said his daughter Barbara Mooneyhan. "I remember the afternoon I came to see him and he was sitting in a chair with the letter from the French consulate," she said. "He knew about the Legion of Honor. He knew what it meant. He was thrilled. He thought he would have to go to France to pick it up. He wanted my sister to go ahead and renew our passports. We would be going to France." American soldiers honored by France received the "knight level" of the multi-tiered award, Mooneyhan said. "My father thought he was becoming a knight and that he would be greeted as 'Sir,'" she said. It was a proud moment for James Mooneyhan. And it was also a proud moment for the Mooneyhan family when the French consulate sent a representative to Columbia in April to give the posthumous award to the family. The Legion medal is the size of a half dollar, star-shaped and gold. It is accompanied by a document of thanks signed by the French president and awarded in a ceremony by a French diplomat. The veteran's combat history is recounted and formal thanks are extended on behalf of the French people. Since 2004, the French have bestowed the medal on Americans from WWII who fought to liberate France. Many of the recipients such as Mooneyhan landed on Normandy's beaches on D-Day. He was among the 160,000 troops who landed in 1944 along the Normandy coast in France to free Europe from the Nazis. "My father landed at Omaha Beach about seven hours after the first invasion," Mooneyhan said. To receive the honor, one must be nominated and it must be verified that the individual participated in the war in France. Barbara Mooneyhan said the circumstances responsible for her father's nomination were "unbelievable." James Mooneyhan was nominated for the Legion of Honor by Bernard Marie, who as a 5-year-old boy, huddled with his mother in the cellar of their house for 16 hours on D-Day, just 200 yards from Omaha Beach. Marie reportedly remembers his mother hugging an American soldier who had broken through the German defenses. The soldier gave him a Hershey's chocolate bar. Marie moved to the U.S. and started hosting luncheons for D-Day veterans in Charleston in 1986. He began nominating D-Day veterans for the Legion of Honor in Charleston in 1989. James Mooneyhan went to one of the luncheons after reading an announcement in the newspaper. In time, Mooneyhan and Marie would recognize their bond, and became friends. "It's really unbelievable how this happened," the daughter said. Now living in Roanoke, Va, Marie also was instrumental in building the National D-Day Memorial in Bedford, Va. Mooneyhan and her sister always knew their father served in the Army during World War II, but their father never talked specifically about his experiences. He began to open up some in 1995 when the country celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of World War II, Mooneyhan said. "My father saw very sad things through the D-Day Invasion and the Battle of the Bulge," she said. He fought five battle campaigns in Europe: Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Central Europe and Ardennes. He received battle stars for each. "My father had a wall full of awards, but he was never about the recognition," she said. "He carried 220 men into battle and his proudest accomplishment was that all but two lived to come back home." Mooneyhan assumed command of 220 soldiers, attached to V-Corp, after his troop commander was injured during the Battle of the Bulge. He spent most of the war building bridges in Europe as an Army engineer. "Think about it, on D-Day they expected 85 percent casualties," Mooneyhan's daughter said. "All but two of 220 soldiers came home. That was amazing." Barbara Mooneyhan said her father never "lost sight of where he came from." "There's no doubt that Elliott and St. Luke Methodist Church made my father what he was," she said. "He contributed to that little church (St. Luke) until the day he died, and he hadn't been going to that church for 60 or 70 years." Nelle Player of St. Charles, whose late husband Blain Player was Mooneyhan's cousin, said James Mooneyhan was always the center of attention at family reunions held at St. Luke Methodist Church. James Mooneyhan was on hand for the 2010 reunion, Player said. He brought along a dozen or more wooden figures that he had carved. "He was 92 years old and I guess they let him use all of that equipment in his room," she said. "He would auction them off to raise money to help pay for the reunions." Mooneyhan also told stories, but he seldom talked about the war, Player said. "The main reason my husband wanted to go to the reunions every year was to see James," Player said. "He was such a unique and interesting person. He could tell the best stories. He should have been on TV." Mooneyhan talked about driving to Sumter when he was 12 years old to sell eggs, raising a pet alligator in an Elliott creek, bartering and trading animals and such and being a "poor farm boy from Elliott." "James told a few stories about the war," Player said. "He talked about how the equipment always got bogged down in the mud. And the city boys didn't know what to do. It took a country boy from Elliott to figure out what to do. He never said, but I think he was able to climb so high in the Army because of the knowledge he had from growing up on a farm." James Mooneyhan was one of 10 children of Charlie and Essie Mooneyhan of Elliott. "All five sons and one of the daughters served during the war," Barbara said. "And they all returned home. My father said he remembers when they all came back home to Elliott, sitting at the kitchen table, telling war stories." James Mooneyhan also returned home to a Bishopville girl - Mary Stuckey - who he married before leaving for Europe. "I grew up in Charleston," Barbara Mooneyhan said. "And we never lived in Bishopville, but it still was an important part of my life. We would visit all the time - vacations, holidays and the summer. I always wanted to live and go to school in Bishopville." Mooneyhan said an aunt Charlotte Stuckey, a long-time public school teacher in Lee County, would always plan an adventure for them when they "came home." And Lee County was always home for James and Mary Mooneyhan, she said. "That's where my parents acquired their work ethic and their values," she said. "We felt like all of us were from Lee County." The Associated Press contributed to the story Posted in Local news, News on Sunday, June 5, 2011 [3, 4] | |
| _UID | B0008A20175F4895831A5A9B614400C7AB6A | |
| Death | 20 Jan 2011 | at the Heritage at Lowman, White Rock, South Carolina |
| Burial | 23 Jan 2011 | Bethlehem United Methodist Church Cemetery, Bishopville, Lee County, South Carolina [3] |
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| Person ID | I199218 | Singleton and Related Families |
| Last Modified | 1 Nov 2020 | |
| Father | Charles Green MOONEYHAN, Sr., b. 6 Jan 1881 d. 5 Nov 1938 (Age 57 years) | |
| Mother | Essie Blanche LINDLER, b. 16 Jun 1880 d. 2 Jul 1967 (Age 87 years) | |
| _UID | 19FE3AC3A8CA435A8B9D90E81E313AE02CC5 | |
| _UID | 19FE3AC3A8CA435A8B9D90E81E313AE02CC5 | |
| Family ID | F86172 | Group Sheet | Family Chart |
| Family | Mary Creola STUCKEY d. Bef 20 Jan 2011 | |||||
| _UID | D4CB78B0C86B44C196C8E33A01F32113A2DD | |||||
| _UID | D4CB78B0C86B44C196C8E33A01F32113A2DD | |||||
| Children |
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| Family ID | F135227 | Group Sheet | Family Chart | ||||
| Last Modified | 23 Mar 2026 | |||||
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