Age 25. Jassamine Street, Foley, AL. Born 8/06/1917, in Frisco City, AL. Died of burns (death certificate). First Lieutenant, U.S. Army. At the Grove with Capt. Charles Whitmire, U.S. Army, age 23 (Born 7/02/1919. Died 11/25/2003, Arlington, VA, age 84), Greenville, SC, survived, and local school teachers Miss Marion Ambrose and Miss Helen M. Welch, both age 21, both of Winchester, MA, both dead. Foursome attended the historic season-ending afternoon 55-to-12 football upset by mediocre (4 wins, 4 losses) Holy Cross of undefeated (8 wins, 0 losses) Boston College at Fenway Park. Had been seated in the cellar Melody Lounge near the foot of the Piedmont Street stairs, about "two tables in." "Miss Ambrose and Miss Welch went to the powder room preparatory to leaving...and their escorts stood near the door waiting for them. When the fire started one of the soldiers tossed the girls' coats to the second man and dashed through the building in an attempt to rescue the girls" (Medford Mercury, Medford, MA, 12/01/1942). Also: "As far as is known he never reached them." His remains at first were transported to Chelsea Naval Hospital, Chelsea, MA, then removed to Northern Mortuary. "His father...was notified on Tuesday that his son's body had been recovered and identified" (The Onlooker, Foley, AL, 12/03/1942). Was raised in Foley, AL. Graduate and president of the senior class, Foley High School, Foley, AL, 1934. Graduate and class president, University of Alabama, School of Chemistry, 1940. Was attached to Battery E. 605th Coast Artillery (the same outfit as victim in another party, Lieut. John Guggenheimer, U.S. Army, age 27. No other confirmed connection). Was single. One of seven victims from the Cotton State (also Ensign John Albritton, Sr., U.S.N.R., age 28, Lieut. Charles "Barney" Ireland, Jr., U.S.N.R., age 24, William Robert Norton, age 20, Osborne Rainer, Jr., age 18, Broaddus Robinson, age 20, and Pvt. Albert "Clyde" Sullivan, U.S. Army, age 22). Parents Mr. John M., Sr., same address, and the late Mrs. Ethel (Snowden) Stapleton. Burial at Pine Rest Cemetery, Foley, AL. Middle name Martin.

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