Michael J. Healy Sr.

Michael J. Healy was born in December 1926 in New York City. He initially lived in Queens, but later moved to the “Hell’s Kitchen” neighborhood of Manhattan. His father, who was born in Ireland, served in WWI. Healy was a teenager when Pearl Harbor was attacked. At the age of 18, he registered with Selective Service and was drafted in March 1945. Healy was initially sent to Fort Dix and then to Camp Croft in South Carolina for Basic Training. On completion, he went to Pittsburgh, where he waited to be shipped out from San Francisco, then was assigned to the 491^st Quartermaster Battalion.

Healy was in the Philippines for three to four weeks before moving to join the occupying force in Japan on September 25, 1945. The war had ended, and the American mission during the occupation of Japan was to help maintain order, which he remembered as being easy, because the Japanese never gave the Americans any trouble and were very friendly. Healy served as a clerk in the occupying army. The weather was pleasant, and he did not miss home, as mail and packages arrived for him regularly. Healy returned to America in September 1946 and was discharged from Fort Dix on November 25.

After leaving active duty, Healy joined the reserves, and got to see movies for a cheaper price when wearing his uniform. As a veteran, he was also able to go to college at Fordham University with aid from the GI Bill. Healy graduated from Fordham with a Bachelor of Science degree in accounting. Five years later, he married and subsequently had a son and two daughters. Healy worked at Blue Cross-Blue Shield of Greater New York as an accountant and retired in 1991, then served as a Paraprofessional with the Middletown Township School District.

Healy never liked to make a big deal about his medals, which included the Expert Infantry Badge, Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Army of Occupation Medal, and the NJ Meritorious Service Medal. 

Michael J. Healy, Sr. passed away on July 27, 2019, at the age of 92.