Michael Loftus 

Birth: 10/8/1889 (findagrave.com) or 9/22/1892 (military records), Westport, County Mayo, Ireland

Address: 2180 E. 35th St., Cleveland, OH 

Demographics: Caucasian; single; 10/20/1914 completed petition for naturalization; occupation Laborer

Appearance: 5' 6 3/4", 135 lbs., Eyes blue, Hair brown, Complexion fair (as recorded on 10/20/1914 at petition for naturalization) 

Draft Date/Enlistment Date/Rank: Enlistment Date 4/30/1917; Corporal

Service Number: 116949

Deployment: not found

Action: USMC 4/30/1917; Prior serv 1 yr USMC; Philadelphia Pa Apr 30/17; Sup Co 5 Regt June 7/17; France June 27/17; 57 Co 5 Regt Aug 8/17; Cpl Apr 24/18. Aisne; Champagne-Marne; Defensive Sector. AEF June 27/17 to death. KIA June 14/18. Char exc [military abbreviation for character excellent].

Death: June 14, 1918 at age 26; cause of death Killed in Action at Belleau Wood, France. (The Battle of Belleau Wood was the first large-scale battle for American troops in WWI. A pivotal engagement, it saw the U.S. Marines and Army troops fighting fiercely against German troops in France from June 1 to June 26, 1918. It was a crucial Allied victory and and was said to have boosted morale.)

Burial: buried locally in France; 6/2/1919 remains disinterred and reburied at American Cemetery, Belleau, Aisne, France. On 7/9/1921 remains disinterred for shipment to U.S. and arrived Antwerp, Belgium on 7/23/1921; 8/6/1921 remains shipped from Antwerp to Hoboken, NJ aboard SS Wheaton, arriving Hoboken 8/20/1921; 8/29/1921 remains shipped to Arlington, VA for final burial on 9/1/1921 at the National Cemetery, Arlington, VA, Section 18 Gravesite 2556

Next of Kin: Patrick Loftus, brother, 1372 W. 65th St., Cleveland, OH and alternate address 2180 E. 35th St., Cleveland, OH 

Additional Information: Father: Michael Loftus (1860-1924) remained in Ireland in "Bunnahowa," (may be Bunnahowen), Rosturk, Westport, Ireland; Mother: Catherine Caine Loftus (1868-1916), born County Mayo, Ireland, emigrated 1916 and died 6 months later at age 48 in Cleveland after being struck by an automobile; Siblings: Patrick Loftus (1886-1971); Annie Loftus (1887-1889); Bridget "Della" Loftus Mulgrew (1892-?); Marie Loftus Hahn (1894-1984); Nora Loftus Ternansky (1898-1976); Anna Loftus McInnes (1900-1981) who named a son Bernard Michael, presumably after her brother who died in WWI; James Loftus (1902-1932); Martin Loftus (1903-1928). The youngest children Anna, James, and Martin came to the U.S. after their father died in 1924.  

Michael Loftus was the third-born child. He emigrated to the U.S. from Queenstown, Ireland aboard the RMS Caronia, arriving in New York on 5/4/1913. He was 21 years old, traveled alone and had $25 in his possession. His destination was Cleveland, where he reported his sister Marie Loftus was living.

Several family members were buried at Calvary Cemetery, 10000 Miles Ave., Cleveland, OH