Bart Francis Shea
Staff Sergeant, U.S. Army
32205176
Company G
120th Infantry Regiment
30th Infantry Division
Born: 1917
Oaklyn, New Jersey
Died: January 15, 1945
Belgium
Buried: New St. Mary’s Cemetery
Bellmawr, New Jersey
Awards: Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster
Introduction
Staff Sergeant Bart Francis Shea
Staff Sergeant Bart Francis Shea grew up in Oaklyn, New Jersey, at 300 Beechwood Avenue, and attended Collingswood High School in Collingswood, New Jersey. After high school, he worked at United Engineers and Constructors, and married Eileen Dymond. They lived at 513 White Horse Pike, in Oaklyn.
Bart Shea entered the Army on January 27, 1942 at Fort Dix, New Jersey, did his basic training at Fort McClellan, Alabama, and received training at Fort Benning, Georgia as part of the 124th Infantry Regiment. He was later sent to Fort Jackson, South Carolina, Camp Atterbury, Indiana, and Fort Miles Standish in Massachusetts before going overseas as a member of Company G, 120th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division. He went overseas in January of 1944, and landed with his unit in France in June of 1944.
He was wounded outside of St. Lô France on July 17, 1944, when he stepped on a land mine. He was evacuated and sent to a hospital in the United Kingdom where he rehabilitated, and returned to active duty on November 27, 1944. Shortly after his return he was wounded again; this wound was minor and did not require hospitalization.
On January 15, 1945, Bart Shea was killed in action during the final days of the Battle of the Bulge. His body was returned after the war to the United States, and a Mass was held for him at St. Aloysius Roman Catholic Church in Oaklyn, New Jersey. He was survived by his parents, Bartholomew J. Shea of Camden, and Mrs. Raye Shea of 300 West Beechwood Avenue, Oaklyn; his wife; and a brother, John P. Shea, who was in the Navy with the Seabees.
Bart Shea was brought home to New Jersey. He was buried at New St. Mary’s Cemetery in Bellmawr, New Jersey, on December 13, 1947, where he now rests with his father, who passed in 1950, and his mother, who joined them in 1963.
Bart Shea Killed In Action In Belgium
BART SHEA KILLED IN ACTION IN BELGIUM
Tragedy struck another Oaklyn family this week, when word was received by his wife that Staff Sgt. Bart Francis Shea was killed in action on January 15th.
Mrs. Shea, the former Eileen Dymond, resides with her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Walter B. Dymond, of 513 White Horse Pike.
Sergeant Shea, son of Bart Shea of Camden, and Mrs. Rae M. Shea, of 300 West Beechwood avenue, took part in the invasion of France with the 120th Infantry and was wounded at St. Lo on July 7th, by stepping on a land mine. Hospitalized in England until November 22nd, he returned to his outfit in Germany. His last letter had been sent from Belgium.
Always active in athletics, he was graduated from Oaklyn Schools and Collingswood High School.
Another brother, John P. Shea, SF 2/c, has been in the South Pacific with the Seabees for the past two years.
Staff Sgt. Bart A. Shea
Unknown newspaper —
Mass will be Sung Monday for Oaklyn, N. J., Soldier
A Solemn requiem Mass will be sung Monday at 9 A. M. in St. Aloysius Church, Oaklyn, N. J., for Staff Sergeant Bart F. Shea, 513 White Horse Pike, who was killed in Belgium on January 15. He was 27.
A graduate of Collingswood High School, he worked for the United Engineers and Constructors before entering the service in January, 1942. He had been overseas since January, 1944. Surviving are his wife, Eileen; his parents, Mrs. Raye M. Shea, Oaklyn, and Bart Shea, of Camden, and a brother, John P., Petty Officer Second Class, now overseas.
Sgt. B.F. Shea Mass, Burial Saturday
Camden Courier-Post —
High requiem Mass for S Sgt. Bart F. Shea will be sung in St. Mary’s Church, Gloucester, Saturday at 10 a. m. Relatives and friends will meet at 9 a. m. in the funeral home of Walter J. McCann and Sons, at Monmouth and Gloucester streets, Gloucester. Burial will be in New St. Mary’s cemetery, Bellmawr.
Sergeant Shea was killed in action in Belgium Jan. 13, 1945. A resident of Oaklyn, he was a graduate of the Collingswood high school. Before he entered the Army in January, 1942, he was employed by United Engineers & Construction Co., Philadelphia. He went overseas in January, 1944. Surviving are his widow, Eileen; his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Raye M. Shea, 311 White Horse pike, Oaklyn, and a brother, John P., Oaklyn.
Photos
Grave of Staff Sergeant Bart Francis Shea — New St. Mary’s Cemetery, Bellmawr, New Jersey