MOONEY BROTHERS

_Davie County Enterprise Record, _5 November 1987 “Davie Brothers Die in War."

“Ralph and Bill Mooney, brothers who lived on Wilkesboro Street in Mocksville, were both killed in action within nine days of each other during World War II. “Ralph was in the Army, trained in Panama and returned to active duty when World War II began. He was a staff sergeant when assigned to overseas duty and was on the move with an infantry regiment moving through Italy to Germany. He was killed in action Sept. 22, 1944 in Florence, Italy, nine days after his brother, Bill, was killed in Belgium in a motor transportation accident on Sept. 13. Both men’s bodies were returned to the United States for burial in the Beaver Hill Cemetery in Edenton, where their father had moved shortly after the boys entered service.”

_Mocksville Enterprise _October 27, 1944

“The two Mocksville boys were killed in army service overseas within nine days of each other. Sons of the late former Connie Johnson and C.B. Mooney, they are Lieut. William J. Mooney, who lost his life in a motor transportation accident on September 13, and Staff Sgt. Ralph Mooney, killed in action in Italy September 22. Lieutenant Mooney left a young widow, the former Virginia Shanklin, who lives at Occoquan, Va. His father, a well-known local contractor, moved to Edenton at the start of the war. A sister, Mrs. Lillian Valentine, of Chevy Chase, Md., and two brothers, Hubert of Occoquan, Va., and Jack, of Edenton, are also survivors.”

William J. Mooney, white (brother to Ralph, previous veteran), name on monument

William Jonathan “Bill” Mooney, full name and nickname

Birth: 7 July 1918

Death: 13 September 1944

Buried: Beaver Hill Cemetery, Edenton, Chowan County, North Carolina

1920 US Census: William J., 1 5/12, living in Davidson, Mecklenburg County, with parents, Charles B. and Carrie J. Mooney, sister Lillian; brothers Hubert L., Charles B., Jr., and Ralph J.

1930 US Census: Billy, 11, living on Wilkesboro Street in Mocksville with his widowed father, C.B. Mooney, sister, Lillian, brother, Ralph, an uncle, and a cook; C.B. was a building contractor

1940 US Census: William J., 20, carpenter, brick mason, living at 196 Wilkesboro Street, Mocksville, with his widowed father, Charles B., contractor, and his brother, Ralph J., brick mason

Draft Registration: William Jonathan Mooney, 22, born in Ocean View, Virginia, on 7 July 1918; living in Mocksville and working for his father, Charles Boyd Mooney

Enlistment: enlisted on 16 May 1941 at Fort Bragg; four years of high school, chauffeur, single

Mocksville Enterprise, 6 October 1944: “Lt. Bill Mooney Killed in Belgium. Word has been received here from Mrs. Lillian Mooney Valentine of Chevy Chase, Md., of the death of her brother, Lieut. William (Bill) Jonathan Mooney, in Belgium September 13. Lieutenant Mooney, a motor transportation officer, was killed in a motor accident. The son of the late Connie Johnson Mooney and C.B. Mooney, now of Edenton, he spent practically all his life in Mocksville. He was a member of the Baptist church and a graduate of the Mocksville High school. Lieutenant Mooney entered the army May 16, 1941, and served with the 253 C.A. and Fourth corps area service command before going to officers candidate school. He received his commission as second lieutenant at the infantry school at Fort Benning, Ga. He is survived by his widow, the former Miss Virginia Shanklin, of Occoquan, Va.; his father, C.B. Mooney, of Edenton; 3 brothers, and his sister.” Photograph from this article

The Davie Record, 11 October 1944: “Lieut. Bill Mooney Killed. Lieut. Bill Mooney, 27, son of C.B. Mooney and the late Mrs. Mooney, formerly of this city, was killed in a motor transport accident in Belgium on Sept. 13th. Lieut. Mooney is survived by his widow, who lives at Occoquan, Va., his father, C.B. Mooney of Edenton, one sister and three brothers. Lieut. Mooney spent most of his life in Mocksville, his parents moving here more than 20 years ago. He had many friends here who were distressed by news of his untimely death. This is the 18th young man from Davie county who has given his life in defense of his country.

Social Security Death Index: William J. Mooney, 7 July 1918 – 13 September 1944; card issued in NC

Find A Grave: 7 July 1918 – 13 September 1944, buried at Beaver Hill Cemetery, Edenton, Chowan County, Plot A-221-B; 1st Lt

Photograph of William’s tombstone taken by Claudia of Shepard-Pruden Memorial Library in Edenton, NC at the request of the author

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