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Transcribed and submitted by Linda Talbott
for the USGenNet Data Repository http://www.us-data.org/
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Formatted by USGenNet Data Repository Chief Archivist, Linda Talbott
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Battle Creek Enquirer and News
Wednesday, 17 December 1941


         Service to Be Held
           For Ensign FLAHERTY
           
         Requiem Mass Will Be Said
           Over Empty Coffin in St.
             Philip Church Monday.
             
         A requiem mass for Ensign FRANCIS C. FLAHERTY, 22,
       Battle Creek naval reserve officer who lost his life
       in action in the Japanese war, will be said by the
       Rev. Fr. Maurice Walsh in St. Philips Catholic church
       at 9 a.m. Monday.
         News of Ensign FLAHERTY'S death came yesterday in a
       navy department message to his brother, JOHN J. FLAHERTY,
       of 76 Broadway boulevard, Urbandale, an employe of the
       army's sixth zone constructing quartermaster's office
       in Chicago.
         The family is awaiting further information from the
       navy department concerning Ensign FLAHERTY'S body. The
       navy department message yesterday said "if the remains
       are recovered they will be interred temporarily in the
       locality where death occurred and you will be notified
       immediately."
         The requiem mass will be said over an empty flag-
       draped coffin. The service precludes flowers in the
       church.
         Ensign FLAHERTY, son of Mr. and Mrs. FRANCIS E.
       FLAHERTY of Charlotte, both of whom died in 1932,
       enlisted in the naval reserve in July, 1940, and
       after a three-month training course was commissioned
       an ensign. He was serving aboard a vessel which the
       navy department has acknowledged to have been damaged
       in the Japanese attack.
       
       TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE: Ensign FRANCIS CHARLES FLAHERTY
       was serving aboard the USS Oklahoma at Pearl Harbor
       on 7 December 1941 when the Japanese attacked. As
       the vessel was capsizing he remained aboard in a
       gun turret holding a flash light in an effort to help
       others escape. He was posthumously awarded the Medal
       of Honor for his bravery. His remains were identified
       in 2021 and returned to Charlotte for burial.
       
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