Charles Peter “Manny” Bacon was born November 29th 1919. Manny grew up in Hopewell Junction in a house near what is currently The Hopewell Inn on Route 376. He attended Elementary School in the Three Room Schoolhouse on Beekman Road. Manny entered Beacon High School in January 1934 and left March 10, 1937. After leaving school, he went to work for the maintenance division of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad. At that time, Manny was also a Lieutenant of Hopewell Hose. On April 15th 1942, Manny received his induction notice to report to the Memorial Building 446 Main Street in Beacon. On May 21st, 1942, he was accepted for military service at Fort Jay, NY. After basic training, he was shipped to Ireland and was part of the invasion forces to hit North Africa in November of 1942. Manny was a member of the 9th Recon Troop. On May 19th 1943, Mr. and Mrs. Bacon were notified that Manny was missing in action. Two weeks later, another War Department telegram informed them that he had been killed in action April 20, 1943. He was the first resident of Hopewell Junction killed in World War Two. He was first interred in the American Cemetery Beja, Tunisia (plot B, row 10, grave 3). After the war, his remains were returned to the United States and he was buried in the Long Island National Cemetery at Pinelawn in Farmingdale (LI), New York. His grave is located in Section J, grave # 14770. At the time of his death, he was survived by his parents Lewis (3/10/1897-5/1966) and Marcella (6/25/1902-8/23/1994) Bacon, one sister, Margaret, and two brothers, James and Lewis. In 1949, American Legion Post 1758 was created in Hopewell Junction and named in honor of Manny. Any corrections or additional information about Manny or his family would be greatly appreciated. Please contact: Post Historian, Manny Bacon American Legion Post 1758, PO Box 92, Hopewell Jct. NY 12533 (email: historian@al-ny1758.org).
Data researched and collected by James D Reynolds 2003.
Thanks to George Bailey (charter member and Past Commander) and Doug McHoul whom Manny's Mother entrusted with memento's of Manny.
