By LOIS KINDLE
Marine Corps veteran Edward J. Mahoney survived the brutal battles in the Pacific around Guadalcanal, Guam and Iwo Jima during World War II, came home and lived what some would call an uneventful life. He worked as a mechanic, raised a family, moved to Florida in 1958 and retired to Sun City Center 41 years later.
He doesn’t consider himself special, but many others do. More than 60 friends and family members came to celebrate his 100th birthday party on August 14 at the Caloosa Golf and Country Club, and the festivities included special letters of thanks from President Joe Biden, U.S. Congressman Vern Buchanan and retired Lt. Col. Paul Wheat, commander of American Legion Post 246.
Ed Mahoney is seen here at his recent 100th birthday party attended by 60 friends and family members. He received special letters of appreciation from President Joe Biden, U.S. Congressman Vern Buchanan and retired Army Lt. Col. Paul Wheat, commander of American Legion Post 246.
Nick Parham presents his friend Ed Mahoney with a vial of volcanic sand recently recovered from the beaches of Iwo Jima, as Mahoney’s wife Dessie looks on. Mahoney was a member of the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Corps, which spent 34 days on the island fighting Japanese forces in the most brutal battle of World War II.
PHOTO COURTESY
Ed Mahoney, front row right, is pictured here at Gaudalcanal with his fellow Marines from the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Regiment, who served in the Pacific during World War II. Half of these men never came home.
Retired Army Lt. Col. Paul Wheat, commander of American Legion Post 246, reads a special letter of appreciation signed by President Joe Biden and addressed to Ed Mahoney at his 100th birthday celebration on August 14.
Mahoney was born and raised in Dexter, Mississippi, a farming community of 3,000. He graduated from Dexter High School at age 17 and joined the Marine Corps in 1942.
After training as a rifleman and sniper at Camp Pendleton, California, he was sent to New Zealand in February 1943 and from there to the British Solomon Islands of Guadalcanal and Bougainville.
In February 1945, the 3rd Battalion, 9th Marine Corps, landed on the southern tip of Iwo Jima. Mahoney spent 34 days on the ash-covered island, fighting Japanese soldiers in the bloodiest battle of World War II.
“I had a rifle and an A4 Browning machine gun,” he said. “I was never injured, but many friends and really good men died there.”
Like many warriors returning from war, Mahoney keeps most of his memories of the experience to himself.
Ed Mahoney considers living to be 100 years old his greatest accomplishment. He said the key to a long life is “having good genes, living a good, clean life and treating others the way you want to be treated.”
“I’m sure he didn’t say much about the many near misses he had in combat on Guadalcanal, Bougainville, Guam and Iwo Jima,” said his son Patrick. “I want to tell you about one – his attempted landing on Guam in 1944.”
“His landing craft took a direct hit and burned. He was the only survivor. Dazed, with lost equipment and gunpowder burns on his legs, he was pulled ashore by someone. He awoke and made his way inland to find other Marines.
“He saw two Marines ahead of him operating a machine gun,” his son continued. “When he got there, both were dead. He went further inland and saw a group of Marines standing in a shell hole. Before he could get to them, it hit them directly and they were all killed. He eventually joined his unit and was relieved to spend the night in a shell hole with the chaplain.
“There are so many stories like this. It’s just unbelievable that he survived. He always said he had a guardian angel on his shoulder.”
For his service in the Pacific during World War II, Mahoney received the Presidential Unit Citation with two stars, the Navy Unit Citation with four stars, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Streamer with one star, and a WWII Victory Streamer.
Cpl. Mahoney was discharged after the war and immediately joined the Missouri National Guard, where he served from 1945 to 1957, reaching the rank of Sergeant 1st Class.
He was married twice. He married his first wife, Loveta, in 1945. Seven years after her death in 1992, he married his current wife, Dessie, who is now 96 years old.
Pictured here is Ed Mahoney’s birthday cake at his 100th birthday party.
PHOTO COURTESY
Marine Cpl. Edward J. Mahoney, circa 1945
Mahoney has two sons, Mike (who hosted his father’s recent 100th birthday party) and Pat (who organized the celebration with his wife Lee but was unable to attend due to illness), twin daughters Joy and Jan, four grandchildren and four great-grandchildren.
He was an avid golfer until five years ago and says he stays in shape whenever possible.
“My knees and hips are giving me some problems, but other than that I’m fine,” Mahoney said, adding that he doesn’t follow a special diet, chews his food well and allows himself a bourbon every day and a cigar once a week.
“Now I spend most of my time sitting on my butt and spending time on the computer,” he said. “I feel good.”
The newly minted centenarian said his greatest achievement was reaching the age of 100.
PHOTOS BY NICK PARHAM
World War II veteran Edward J. “Ed” Mahoney and his twin daughters Joy (left) and Jan (right) celebrate his 100th birthday on August 14 at the Caloosa Golf and Country Club in Sun City Center.
“You have to have good genes, live a good, clean life and treat others the way you want to be treated to survive that many years,” he said. “My mother was 99 when she died.”
Mahoney is amazed at the things he has seen over the past ten decades.
“It blows my mind to think about how far we have come in this world, what lies ahead and where we will go in the next 100 years,” he said.
“I’ve had a good, happy life,” he added. “I don’t regret anything and would do it all again. I’ve always had a job, saved what I earned and been in excellent health. I wish all of that for everyone.”
