Burial record of my uncle

You would know more than I, but I would think Patrick Joseph Cullen is a relatively common name.  Can't really be sure, but the one interred in LI National that I think may be him shows up in a number of records, for instance:

1940 Draft Card - the WWII draft began on 1 Oct 1940.  He was living in Detroit where he registered as required on 16 Oct.  He was 34 at the time (the draft law required all men 21- not yet 36 to register), and had a wife, Ann Cullen.

1940 Census - living in Detroit, wife Ann and two children, Patrick Jr (4) and Margarite (2)

1950 Census - Still in MI but now Dearborn, four children, Patrick Jr (14), Margarite (12), Carol Ann (8), Mary (2).  However, states under "Veteran", NO

I believe Ann, his wife died in 1960.  Perhaps His daughter, Carol Ann is the Ann De West in the cemetery record?  She would have been 27 and maybe she went by "Ann", and De West was her married name?  But then she definitely would have been an NOK, hmmm??

Didn't see anything so far on parents or siblings.  Also, I'm thinking he ENLISTED in 1942 as they were not drafting married men at the time, especially 36-year-olds with two kids!  1944, yes!

OH, just noticed, his 1934 marriage cert indicates Father's name - Hugh Cullen, Mothers maiden name Ellen Burns!  Does that help?

Perhaps others can add more, or comment.

The issue is, why did he enlist in Pennsylvania in 1942 if he was living in Detroit in 1940? 

Why does it say "No" for Veteran?

Where does it list place of birth? We know the one we are looking for should say "Ireland."

If the Carol Ann listed as a daughter is the Ann De West, why would she list "none" for relationship if she was his daughter?

I think this individual is the wrong person. The information appears to be a match but doesn't withstand close scrutiny.

Liz:

From what you've posted, I see very little information withheld and nothing withheld that would give you any new information about your uncle. It appears that some information was not available or not collected.

The Patrick buried in L.I. National WAS Irish. We proved that with his military and immigration records that match your uncle's birthplace.

Have you applied for a NYC Death Certificate yet? That MAY list his address at time of death, but if he was hospitalized for a long period, maybe not. It will at least narrow your search so you can check newspapers and neighborhood directories.

No need to feel defeated! You have made great progress in the past few weeks. Your original question of "Is this my uncle?" has been answered with a big YES. I don't think anything else you find will change that, only add more perspective to your findings.

Specifically, what would make you feel like you succeeded?

I don't know if this is YOUR Patrick. Elmont and Valley Stream are both on Long Island, NY near where he ended up living in 1950. (Credit The Nassau Daily Review as found in NYS Historic Newspapers)  I have also found references to "Brookside" about a baseball team and fire company in the Nassau/Queens county areas in the 1930's. There may have been a small area that went by that name, but I couldn't find anything relating to that name and horses.

I'm wondering if his planned career as a jockey worked out. At 5' 6", 148 pounds he was on the large side.

Liz (and T, and Trajan):

Another document I received from St. Louis today.

The same Patrick J. Cullen, identified by Serial number (33293459). In December 1943, he's stationed at Camp Lee (now Fort Gregg-Adams), Virginia, assigned to the Station Complement (nowadays we call it the Garrison Staff). His was in the Quartermaster Corps--if you recall his final pay calculation, it had "QMC" printed on it, but that was crossed out and "MD" was handwritten in, likely indicating that he had been reclassified.

On 17 December 1943, he was admitted to the Station Hospital at Camp Lee for some sort or nose and throat infection, and was discharged 10 days later.

BUT THAT'S NOT THE IMPORTANT PART!

Look at Block 10: NATIVITY

It says "Ireland."

Now we have a document prepared while he was on active duty, probably by a clerk who actually asked him the question, and was told "I was born in Ireland"

And in block 8, it says he was 37. 1943-1906=37.

So now you have the missing piece. You have the draft registration card that says "Ireland." and lists Dr. Dunne. You have the enlistment record that says "Ireland." You have this record, prepared while he was on active duty that says "Ireland," and you have the PA Claim form that says "Ireland," and lists Dr. Dunne. All of them have the same serial number except the draft registration card, and it and the claim form list Dr. Dunne, and address upon induction also match. This is about as solid as you can get. There are a lot of people who would kill for a document trail this solid, given the fire in St. Louis.

And the birth date, date of induction and date of separation, as well as the serial number, all match the Patrick J. Cullen buried in the grave in the Long Island National Cemetery.

It's him!

CullenPatrickJ-QMC-33293459.pdf

For whatever it’s worth, Belmont Racetrack is in Elmont.  Many of the tracks workers live in the area.

Hope not him.  Larceny!!  His family always said he was a groom/ stableman, not a jockey. 

 says he was exonerated, because they couldn't find the person who accused him. So it very well could have been some sort of hustle.

Jockey came from his immigration record.

I know. I was surprised. Thanks for all your help.  Much sppreciated

But remember, that was some immigration official's interpretation of what your uncle told him. If he had a thick Irish brogue and said "I'm going to be working with horses at a racetrack" and the immigration official didn't have a lot of time to spend on him because there was a long line, he could have just written "jockey," and said "next in line," even if your uncle was 7 foot 3 inches and weighed 350 pounds . . .

But remember, that was some immigration official's interpretation of what your uncle told him. If he had a thick Irish brogue and said "I'm going to be working with horses at a racetrack" and the immigration official didn't have a lot of time to spend on him because there was a long line, he could have just written "jockey," and said "next in line," even if your uncle was 7 foot 3 inches and weighed 350 pounds . . .

Donald, May have bern a stable jockey or tried being a jockey. I don’t know. His draft record said stableman. Anyway worked with horses!!  Thanks for all the help