James Anthony McGuckin

PRIVATE JAMES ANTHONY McGUCKIN was the son of Mary A. and Hugh "Harry" McGuckin. He was born in Pennsylvania around 1886. His father had died by 1896, and his mother had come to Camden, according to the City Directory for that year, which has them on Chester Street. The McGuckins moved around Camden in the late 1890s and 1900s. The 1906 Camden City Directory shows his widowed mother living at 924 Market Street. James McGuckin worked as a roofer prior enlisting in the United States Marine Corps, around 1913. Before entering the military, he lived at 1128 Lawrence Street in Camden, New Jersey. By 1917 his mother had moved to 1062 Line Street.

James McGuckin enlisted in the United States Marine Corps in 1915,  and served in the Philippines, Panama Canal Zone, and along the Mexican border prior to World War I. He was sent to France as a member of the 49th Company, 5th Marine Regiment. 

Private McGuckin was wounded on June 6, 1918, taking a bullet to the scalp. He recovered from his injuries and returned to his unit, only to be killed in action on October 4, 1918. He was 32 at the time of his death.

James Anthony McGuckin was survived by his mother, of 1047 Haddon Avenue in Camden NJ. His body was returned to the United States after the war, and he was buried at Calvary Cemetery in Cherry Hill NJ.

Marine Corps records and casualty lists released in November of 1918 report James McGuckin's rank as that of Private. It is unclear as to how and when the rank of Gunnery Sergeant was attributed to him.

Camden Courier-Post - January 20, 1928

GOLD STAR MOTHERS TO ATTEND FOREIGN WAR VETERAN’S BALL

Gold Star Mothers will be the honor guests at the first annual military ball of the Camden Post, No. 980, Veterans of Foreign Wars, to be held on Friday evening, February 3, in the Elks ballroom, Seventh and Cooper Streets.

Elaborate plans for this ball are under the chairmanship of John S. Pennington.

Invitations have been issued for patrons and patronesses and the list will be announced early next week.

Gold Star Mothers to attend the affair are Mrs. C. Alberger, Mrs. Harriett Ablett, Mrs. Laura Brown. Mrs. A. Crangel, Mrs. A. Cassidey, Mrs. R. Dilks, Mrs. Kate Geist, Mrs. M. Griffen, Mrs. Horace B. Keebler, Mrs. H. Kirk, Mrs. Ross Leahy, Mrs. M. A. Matson, Mrs. M. McGuckin, Mrs. Mary Martin, Mrs. M. Matthews, Mrs. Cooling Pond, Mrs. Oliver Powell*, Mrs. Mary Pennington, Mrs. C. Rolk, Mrs. E. Simons, Mrs. Mary Schucker, Mrs. Margaret Steigerwald, Mrs. Annie Taylor, Mrs. M. Osborn, Mrs. Mary Keegan, Mrs. Anna Kennedy, Mrs. T.C. Young and Mrs. Walters.

Assisting Mr. Pennington in planning this ball are John Rouh, James W. Connor, Charles Bozian, Robert MacMahon, Edward Watson, David Lukoff, Harry Laxton, Edward A. Stark, George Jones, William V. Long, Joseph Keefe, Charles Blank sad Marvel Passwater.

* Newspaper error- Mrs. Oliver Powell was actually Mrs. Oliver Purnell