On May 14, 1948, Norwood learned that the body of Private Michael Eugene McDonough, the town’s first North Africa casualty of World War II, was finally coming home. Pvt. McDonough, son of Mr. and Mrs. Michael O. McDonough of 507 Nahatan Street, was killed on March 23, 1943, while serving with the famed “Fighting First” Division of tank destroyers during the early and brutal stages of the North African campaign.
Just six weeks before his death, he had been wounded in action, hospitalized, awarded the Purple Heart, and cited for bravery. He returned to duty despite his injuries — a testament to his determination and sense of duty.
McDonough enlisted immediately after the attack on Pearl Harbor, on December 8, 1941, and trained at Fort Devens, Fort Belvoir, Camp Blanding, and Indiantown Gap before shipping out to England with some of the first American troops to leave U.S. soil. He had been overseas for nine months when he was killed.
His remains were among 2,530 American war dead returning aboard the U.S. Army Transport Barney Kirschbaum, docking in New York before final burial in Norwood. Sixty‑three Massachusetts servicemen were aboard the same ship.
Pvt. McDonough had graduated from Norwood High School, Class of 1939, studied at the Vesper George School of Art, and worked at Winslow Brothers & Smith before entering the service. He leaves his parents, brothers Edward (a Coast Guard veteran) and Bernard, and sisters Dorothy and Mary.
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