Army Badge
  • Name: Harold Raymond Mandy
  • Location of Birth: Laurium, Michigan
  • Date of Birth: January 24, 1919
  • Date of Death: February 10, 1995
  • Parents: Benjamin Mandy & Aurora (Huuki) Mandy
  • High School and Class: 1939 - Greenway High School, Coleraine, Minnesota
  • College:
  • Highest Rank: S SGT (Staff Sergeant)
  • Branch: Army
  • Other Branch:
  • Date Sworn In: June 5, 1942
  • Place Sworn In:
  • Date of Discharge: September 26, 1945
  • Place of Discharge:
  • Military Awards:
    Bronze Star

  • Military Highlights:
    WW II Draft Registration Cards – 10/16/1940 – 03/31/1947
    State: Minnesota
    Name: Harold Raymond Mandy
    Race: White
    Age: 21
    Birth Date: January 24, 1919
    Birth Place: Laurium, Michigan, USA
    Residence Place: Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota, USA
    Registration Date: October 16, 1940
    Employer: Mandy's Market, Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota
    Weight: 245
    Height: 6-1
    Complexion: Ruddy
    Eye Color: Blue
    Hair Color: Brown
    Next of Kin: Benjamin Mandy, father, Bovey, Itasca, Minnesota

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – January 22, 1943 – “January 9, 1943. Dear Friend Horace: I have a little time to write so I want to thank first the Service Men’s Club for a package and card. Of course, I can’t forget the Sportsman’s Club. As you know I was one of the first members and I have really had fun with that outfit, and I don’t mean maybe. I hope the shooting I done there will help me out here. I take it that the folks have told my friends back home that I am on an island in the Southwest Pacific, below the equator. It isn’t terribly hot here. I would call it just right. The people on the island speak French. They raise chiefly coffee and mosquitoes, and I do mean lots of mosquitos. The largest share of the fellows in my company are from Maine, and speak French fluently, so they get along swell here. I want to thank the people for the nice support they are giving the boys in the Armed Forces. They have a very good organization. It makes a fella proud of his “Home Town”. The companies in this battalion have organized some baseball teams, and play each other, so we even have sports away out here. Our company, sorry to say, is at the end of the list. We have tied one game and lost three, so we have to get on the ball before it is too late. My mother sends me the Press and I see by the November 27th issue that my good friend John Unger has gone to take his place in this man’s army. Well, this will be all for now. Hope to hear from you again soon. As ever, a friend, Pvt. Harold R. Mandy.”

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – May 7, 1943 – “April 29, 1943. Dear Friend Ann: Just a few lines to thank you very much for the letters you write in the paper. That is the first place I look to get the news right from the home front (meaning the main street). I really think if all the people in all the other towns in the State would back their boys like Good Old Bovey. Do I ever miss it. Here where I am we don’t get to even taste a cake or any kind of drink outside of coffee, and not too much of that. We see planes dog-fighting overhead occasionally. It is raining here today, so I am spending an awful lazy afternoon, laying down writing letters. When I was home, I could pass for Cotta’s double, but I have went down to 190 lbs. and 34 waist line, so I have lost around 60 lbs., but I feel much better. You should have your dad take exercises every morning before breakfast. It really does a fella a lot of good. Give my regards to all the people in the shop. Hope to see home again sometime. Sincerely, your friend, Harold Mandy.”

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – December 24, 1943 – “Bovey Service Men’s Club: Received the very nice letter written by Edward Ball. Sure was an enthusiastic one. It is nice to know the people back home are backing us boys 100 percent. We read in the papers over here that those so-called USO soldiers are having a hard time back there. They seem to think it is a monotonous life back there in the “Good Old U.S.A.”. Wait til they get sent over here – it will break the monotony. I have received the Bovey Press quite regularly considering the distance it has to travel before reaching me. It sure is swell to read Ann’s letters. She can get more news in a short space than any newspaper editor. All kidding aside, it sure is swell to note the young folks are behind us also. As ever I remain, Harold R. Mandy.”

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – January 21, 1944 – “Hello Lil: Received your card and note. Thanks a lot for remembering me at a time when a fella feels loneliest. I will drop Ted a few lines one of these days, when I get a chance. I know he would enjoy a letter now just getting over here. Your brother sure was lucky to get to England. At least a fella over on that side gets to see a woman once in a while. The folks have had the flu also, so I guess it is making the rounds back there. Hope it doesn’t get serious. I wish you would thank the club for the subscription to the Readers Digest, which I know I shall enjoy. A fella really gets a wonderful feeling for the home town when he knows he is remembered back there. Well, will close now, with loads of love to all. As ever, I remain, Sincerely, Harold R. Mandy.”

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – June 22, 1945 – “Dear Ann: I have just finished reading my April 13th Press, so I thought I had better drop you a few lines. Everybody here is pretty anxious about this new point system. I suppose all the people back there are the same about it. I suppose Roger had a swell time back there. He left for the Army the same time I did, but he was a little luckier than I was, but now that they have stopped the rotation, I am last for a while yet, maybe another year. Give my regards to all. I get the Press better here than any place. Also my mail, so I guess I have no kick in that respect. I remain as ever, Friend Harold Mandy.”

    Newspaper article: Bovey Press, Bovey, Minnesota – July 6, 1945 – “With the 43rd Infantry (Winged Victory) Division on Luzon, P.I. – Staff Sergeant Harold R. Mandy has been awarded the Bronze Star for gallantry while in combat against the Japanese on Luzon Island in the Philippines. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Ben Mandy of Bovey. The enemy laid a terrible artillery barrage on the hill occupied by Sgt. Mandy’s company, during which one officer was seriously wounded by shell fragment. Hearing the cries of the wounded man, Sgt. Mandy, assisted by another comrade, left the protection of his hole in the midst of the shelling and rushed to the stricken man who was bleeding profusely through the mouth from internal wounds. He succeeded in applying a bandage which stopped the flow of blood and removed the wounded man to safety. The citation reads, “In exposing himself to enemy fire to assist a wounded man, Sgt. Mandy showed bravery and service rendered beyond the call of duty.” Sgt. Mandy is an infantryman in the 43rd “Winged Victory” Division. During 32 months overseas, the 43rd has participated in four campaigns: Guadalcanal, Northern Solomons, New Guinea and Luzon.”

  • Wars Involved:
    World War II

  • MIA / POW:

  • Civilian Life:
    Harold Mandy married Elsie Ranta in 1947 in Minnesota. He was a security guard for U.S. Steel, retiring in 1981 after over 30 years of service. He was a member of the Itasca Lodge 208 A.F. and A.M. and the Hibbing Scottish Rite.

    Harold died in Grand Rapids, Minnesota and is buried in Lakeview Cemetery, Coleraine, Minnesota (Block 31). He is survived by his wife, Elsie Mandy; a son, Mike Mandy; and a grandson, Ed Mandy. He was preceded in death by his parents and a brother Ed Mandy.

  • Tribal Affiliation(s):

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