Grandpa Carney | Another Country Heard From

Grandpa Carney

Posted by Eileen on Wed March 2nd 2005, 6:32 pm

I would love to know more about Grandpa Carney. Dad had some stories of Grandpa. He would pass the story on to me in his chair in the living room when I would disturb his reading. One of my favorite is when Grandpa was a little boy he would sit on the cliffs of Achill Island and watch the Clipper ships pass.

Another story Dad told was Grandpa and World War I. Dad said that Grandpa lied about his age when he entered America ( to be younger), and he had to enter the war. He ended up on trenches near Germany. He had to charge into battle and was shot in the eye. Dad said he got up off the ground and walked back to the trenches. When asked "Why did he get up and walk back?" , Dad said he would have bled to death. To me it was an amazing story. I told this story to Jack and he loves to tell it to his friends. Jack sometimes confuse the details but he remembers that his Great Grandpa has a purple heart for his wound.

4 Comments

Comment by Kay O'Donnell on Sat September 21st 2019, 4:09 pm

I've done some research about Michael Carney's war experience. I wrote to the Department of Defense for his records. Unfortunately, there was a fire at the center in St. Louis where the records were kept and many were destroyed. The copies they sent are singed around the edges from the fire.

He wasn't awarded the Purple Heart because the Purple Heart award wasn't established at the time. He could have applied later, and received it, but he never did.

I didn't know about him getting up and walking away after he was wounded. But it's probably true that he would have to find his own way back to get medical care.

Through a World War historian I was able to find the name of the battle he was in when he was wounded. It was the Battle of Blanc Mont in France. I have a magazine article with a description of the battle too. It was a terrible battle with so many casualties that General LeJeune, the commander barely mentioned it in his memoirs even though it was a success but a mixed success because of the high casualties rates. I'm not sure about him spending time in the trenches. The American forces didn't believe in trench warfare. They liked to advance. Also they had a lot of farm boys, hunters and cowboys who were good marksmen and they didn't like sitting around in trenches waiting for things to happen. There's also a good account of the battle on the internet at http://www.worldwar1.com/dbc/bm1.htm

Comment by Mary Bridget on Sat September 21st 2019, 4:09 pm

I remember talking to Uncle John about Grandpa Carney's war experience a little bit. Uncle John told me that Grandpa Carney did not lose his eye at first. Rather after when he came home something happened and they had to remove it. I think Uncle John said he went to the hospital, "Crile," right in Parma Heights where the Community College is located.

Comment by Eileen on Sat September 21st 2019, 4:09 pm

Thanks for the information. I always thought Grandpa had a Purple Heart. I cannot wait to find out more about the battle.

Comment by elboggirl on Sat September 21st 2019, 4:09 pm

Yes I never knew where he served and how exactly he was hurt. I guess I thought it was his ear? Which division was he in? Reading this WWI war story I'm struck by how much more tactical war used to be, almost as if the opposing sides even had a respect for each other and their moves. But that might just be because its written with so little emotion. We should go to France and see the memorial. There's an English dance band called Saint Etienne - wonder what their connection is...thanks everyone for exploring this!