http://www.cooganresearchgroup.com/crg/index.htm

04 October 2010

COOGAN story  

_____________________________________________________________________
(appearing in ["Gettysburg Times" [PA]], 25 APR 1953):

[P.O.W.s RELEASED]

Mother "So Very Happy;" She Thought Son Had Been Killed
By the Associated Press

"I am so very happy, I thought he was killed.  I had a feeling 
something had happened to him," a Polish-speaking mother in 
Pittsburgh exclaimed when informed her son had been returned by the 
Communists.

Across the state in Philadelphia, another mother cried, "I can't 
believe it, I can't believe it."

....[other families]....

THAT'S WONDERFUL

....[other families]....

HADN'T HEARD SINCE '51

....[other families]....

The Philadelphia mother, Mrs. Edna B. Coogan, said she couldn't 
"believe it," when informed that her twice wounded son had been
released by the Communists after more than 18 months in prison camp.

NEIGHBORS TOLD HER

Mrs. Coogan heard of the release of her son, PFC James J. Coogan
from excited neighbors.  Two of them stayed with her until she
controlled her emotions sufficiently enough to go to the home of a
relative for the night.

Coogan, the oldest of five sons, was wounded in September 1951.  He
was serving with the First Cavalry Division's Seventh Regiment.  A
brother, Michael, is a technical sergeant in the Air Force.

....[other families]....

_____________________________________________________________________
(appearing in "Valparaiso Vidette-Messenger" [IN], 05 MAY 1953, 
PAGE 6):

3 HOOSIERS ARE
ON SMUGGLED OUT
RED PRISONER LIST

PHILADELPHIA, May 5 (UP) - Two notebooks full of names of allied 
prisoners still held by the reds were smuggled out by Pvt. James J.
Coogan, third Philadelphia prisoner to be repatriated under the
prisoner of war exchange.

The books, containing 71 names and the best list yet revealed by
returned prisoners, were made public by Coogan's mother, Mrs. Edna
B. Coogan "so that other mothers may get the thrill of knowing their 
boys are safe."

Coogan was flown to the Valley Forge army hospital at nearby
Pheonixville Saturday in the third "freedom flight."

Names of Hoosiers listed included:

John G. Johnson, 741 Waverly Rd, Laporte; Abner Alford, 1561 Carroton
Ave., Indianapolis; and Homer Wheeler, 928 6th Avenue, Tell City.

_____________________________________________________________________
(appearing in "Great Bend Daily Tribune" [KS], 07 MAY 1953, PAGE 11):

KANSANS AMONG NAMES
SMUGGLED BY EX-POW

PHILADELPHIA, May 5 (UP) - Two notebooks full of names of Allied 
prisoners still held by the Reds were smuggled out by Pvt. James J.
Coogan, third Philadelphia prisoner to be repatriated under the
prisoner of war exchange.

The books, containing 71 names and the best list yet revealed by
returned prisoners, were made public by Coogan's mother, Mrs. Edna
B. Coogan "so that other mothers may get the thrill of knowing their 
boys are safe."

Coogan was flown to the Valley Forge army hospital at nearby
Pheonixville Saturday in the third "freedom flight."

The list included: Richard Schneider, August, Kan., and R. McDonnell,
Lake Promenade, Kan.

_____________________________________________________________________