HOPEDALE, Feb 23 [1944] - Tech. 5th Grade Francis Xavier Gaffney, of the 592nd engineering regiment, serving in the South Pacific, was killed in action Feb. 16, at Cape Gloucester, New Britain, according to a telegram received by his sister, Mrs. John J. Kelley, Jr., 27 West Walnut Street, Milford, yesterday afternoon.
Tech. Gaffney was born in Hopedale Sept. 5, 1916, son of John F. and the late Emma (Grant) Gaffney, attended the public school and was employed by the Henry Patrick Co. and more recently by the Draper Corp. He was a member of the Sacred Heart Church and popular with all who knew him, being a possessor of a sunny disposition and fine character. His friends called him "Honey," a name which suited his personality.
Tech. Gaffney had been in the army over two years and spent his last furlough here in October 1942. He had been overseas since January, 1943, serving in Australia and New Guinea. Letters were received from him last week and in one he mentioned a close call that he experienced when a shell fell nearby his quarters.
In addition to his sister, Mrs. Kelley, survivors are a father, John F. Gaffney, and a sister, Helen, both of Milford, and four brothers, Charles A., Edward J. and William, all of Hopedale, and Sgt. John Gaffney, U.S.A., in England. His brother, William, served two years in the South Pacific, receiving an honorable medical discharge [End of clipping] Milford Daily News
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