Edward "Ed" Benjamin Mandy

Jeremy Anderson2021-06-20T15:22:40-05:00

Name: Edward "Ed" Benjamin Mandy
Location of Birth: Hancock, Michigan
Date of Birth: July 10, 1916
Date of Death: May 11, 1965
Parents: Benjamin Mandy & Aurora (Huuki) Mandy
High School and Class: 1935 Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
College: Young & Hursh Business College, Duluth, Minnesota
Highest Rank: TEC 3 (Technical 3)
Branch: Army
Other Branch:
Date Sworn In: April 8, 1942
Place Sworn In:
Date of Discharge: November 11, 1945
Place of Discharge:
Military Awards:

Military Highlights:
WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
State: Minnesota
Name: Edward Benjamin Mandy
Race: White
Age: 24
Birth Date: July 10, 1916
Birth Place: Hancock, Michigan, USA
Residence Place: Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
Registration Date: October 16, 1940
Employer: Benjamin Mandy, Mandy's Market, Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota
Weight: 225
Height: 6
Complexion: Light brown
Eye Color: Brown
Hair Color: Brown
Next of Kin: Aurora Mandy, mother, Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – November 6, 1942 – “Dear Gang (Bovey Sportsman’s Club): Received your present and want to thank you for the same. It really was nice. How did you boys make out Farmer’s Day? Fine, and the same as usual, made pretty good? Who is the best shot up there now: Len (Lavalier) I imagine. Everyone must be working pretty hard up there. I’m in the land of palm, cocoanuts and pineapples and Hula Hulas. It is real nice country, but quite warm. Ralph Trebnick is here abouts some place. I also heard Bob Bay was home on a furlough from his camp. Give my best wishes to the gang and don’t drop too many birds. You ought to have pretty good hunting up there this fall. Get a few for me too. Ha! Ha! Well, there isn’t much more to say, so I guess I’ll come to a close. Best wishes and regards, I remain, Edward B. Mandy.”

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – December 11, 1942 – “Dear Friends: Received your Christmas box yesterday and want to thank you all very much for it. I receive the home town paper and really am glad to read it. I have been going to write right along, but never seem to make it. I work from daylight to dark every day, but I don’t mind it one bit. I have seen George Chrape and Merlin Randall and was surprised to see them. Have gone out with George and had a grand time. Are having a laulau [sic], which is a large native feast with pork. All the food is cooked under the ground with hot rocks. They have everything with it. It really makes a good feast. Real colorful also. Have some pictures taken of it to show you when I get home sometime. Keep up the good work. Give my best wishes and regards to all and wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy and Prosperous New Year. Hoping to see you soon. One of the Bovey gang. Edward Mandy.”

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – April 2, 1943 – “March 1, 1943. Hi Gang: Was reading the Bovey Press and it is really good to get. When I was home I would just glance at it and let it go at that. Now, I look it over and over, to be sure not to miss anything. We had a big Minnesota Paul Bunyan Picnic and I attended it, and I never realized that there were so many of them around. They had a good program and I met some friends from around home. Bob Dargan, Ralph Trebnick, Jimmie Olson from Taconite and the Norgard boys from Trout Lake and George Chrape were all there. It was a real nice get-together for the whole day. I want to take this opportunity to thank the Club (Sportsman’s) for the card and the money-order, which I received some time ago. Many thanks for them. How was the hunting last fall? Good, I hope. I am working in the wards here in the hospital as a ward master. My job is to see that everything is in top-shape and clean. Was promoted to Corporal last month. Wish that I could spend some time at home. This weather stays too much the same for a fellow used to so many changes. Best wishes to all, I remain, Friend, Edward Mandy.”

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – December 10, 1943 – Dear Mrs. Tok: Received the Hospitality Card for which I want to express my thanks for it certainly is wonderful how the old home town is doing these things for the boys that are scattered pretty well over the world. I know that it is quite a job for you all back there. Well, I am working in an army hospital and like the work very much, because it is an interesting subject. One can learn a lot if he keeps his ears open and asks questions on certain things. I have a real nice Major to work for which helps a lot in a lot of ways. I have lost some weight, Vi. Guess there isn’t hardly any one left in the old home town now. Suppose the ore is still rolling and the washing plants going full blast. Well, is the frost on the pumpkin yet? Heard you had your first taste of snow already. What did Frank Provost do, sell out? Do you ever see Chet Johnson around? If you happen to, say hello to him. He never writes to an old friend. What is the news around the old home town? What is Johnny doing these days? I can’t say very much of the place here, because of the strict censorship that we have. See George Chrape every so often and talk to him of old times. His brother Johnny spent some time with him. Well, Vi, there is not much more that I can think of to say, so will sign off. Regards and best wishes to all. As ever, Edward B. Mandy.”

Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – June 22, 1945 – “January 16th, 1945. Hello Ann: Received your letter and had to sit down and answer it right away. I’m kind of letting the letter writing go. I’ve been feeling fine and the work goes along the same as always. Sorry to hear of Harry Holmes passing away. You know, Ann, when you talk of the cold weather it makes me homesick. Especially when one is so used to all the changes of the season and here it stays the same the year round. I’d sure like to see some snow and cold weather again. I see in the Press where the boys from the other side are starting to come home on rotation. They all deserve to get home for a while and it does them all good. Yes, all the old timers are passing on. When I get home I won’t know anybody in the old hometown. Will be all new faces around. Well, there isn’t much more to say for now. Give my regards to all. I remain, Friend Edward Mandy.”

Newspaper article: August 1945 – “Edward Mandy (Ed to all his pals), son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Mandy, arrived home Wednesday from the Hawaiian Islands after an absence of three years and five months. He reported to Camp McCoy, Wisc. and from there home. Harold has been in the Philippines, and after an absence of three years and three months, is expected that he will be rolling in most any day now.”

Newspaper article: October 1945 – “Ed Mandy is spending a few days of his 30-day furlough in the Itasca County hospital, having undergone an appendix operation Sunday evening. Kind of tough in some respects, but there are some nice young nurses and nurse aides over there, and Uncle Sam will no doubt dig up an extension which comes in handy during the various hunting seasons.”

Wars Involved:
World War II

MIA / POW:

Civilian Life:
Ed Mandy was employed by the Oliver Iron Mining Co., the D.M. & I.R. Railway (Duluth, Missabe & Iron Range Railway), and since 1962, the Blandin Paper Co. He was a member of the Masonic Lodge 271, the Lodge of Perfection of Hibbing, the Bovey Fire Dept., and the Blandin Gun Club.

Ed died in Bovey, Minnesota and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, Minnesota (Block 31). He is survived by his mother, Mrs. Benjamin Mandy; a brother, Harold; an aunt, Minnie Koivula; and a nephew, Michael.

Tribal Affiliation(s):