Thomas Coughlin - The Uncle

The Adirondack Record-Elizabethtown Post
Thursday, April 5, 1945, Page 1

PVT. THOS. COUGHLIN,

A FORMER RESIDENT,

IS KILLED IN ACTION

Pvt. Thomas Coughlin, former resident of Au Sable Forks, was reported killed in action in Germany March 15, according to a telegram received Thursday by his widow, Mrs. Constance Coughlin of Worcester, Mass., who notified his parents, Mrs. and Mrs. Daniel Coughlin of Palmer Hill.  The Record was unable to obtain definite particulars concerning Pvt. Coughlin’s army career except that he was serving in the American Rangers, an organization similar to the British Commandos, and that he enlisted or was drafted about two years ago.  He was about 23 years old.

Pvt. Coughlin was born on Palmer Hill and attended Au Sable Forks high school.  He was well known and popular with all.  He left here about two years ago to work in Worcester, Mass., in a defense plant and was married in that city about a year ago.  He served in this country about a year before being shipped overseas.

Besides his widow and parents, he is survived by three brothers, Bernard, David and Daniel Coughlin, Jr., of Worcester, Mass., and two sisters, Miss Elizabeth Coughlin of Au Sable Forks and Mrs. Gerald Thompson of Troy and also by several nephews and nieces.

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This Thomas Coughlin is my paternal grand uncle and my father's namesake.  There is supposed to be a memorial in the town of Au Sable Forks, New York with the names of the war dead on it.  My dad said it was always funny to pass it and see "his" name on it!  

I do not know what happened to his wife, Constance Fleming Coughlin. I found a few leads but nothing concrete.....yet.

I do know he was living in Worcester, Massachusetts when he joined the Army.  And from the American Battle Monuments Commission I know he is buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery, St Avold, France, Plot F, Row 10, Grave 8.  If you have not had the chance to check out the American Battle Monuments Commission website for overseas internments, I highly recommend it.