Arthur W Jolly (1901 - 1946)

Born 19 Oct 1901 in Okolona, Chickasaw, Mississippi, United States

Ancestors

Died 3 Dec 1946 at age 45 in San Francisco, California, United States

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Biography

Arthur was born in 1901.

He passed away in 1946.

Sgt. Arthur Jolly Dies In California Served In Army Since 1919 M-Sgt. Arthur Jolly, husband of Mrs. Agnes Jolly of 239 Tennessee avenue, Jackson, died in his sleep early Wednesday morning of a heart attaek at an army hospital at San Francisco. barrilv a. month before he was due to be retired from military service. Sergeant Jolly, a native of Oko-lona, joined the Army Air Corps in 1919 at the age of 16, and received training in the mechanics school at Kelly field. He served during his early days in the army under Gen. Billy Mitchell and Gen. (then Major) Hap Arnold. From 1926 to 1928 he served on Corregidor. On the establishment of the Jackson air base, he was transferred here, and served at the Jackson base until January, 1942, when his unit left for the Pacific theater. He served at Munda Point, Bougainville, Rabaul and Guadalcanal, receiving a citation for his service on Guadalcanal from January 9 to February 5, 1943, as line chief for a bomber squadron. He was also commended for his help in developing de-icing mechanism for airplanes. He was scheduled for retirement on December 31. Surviving, besides his wife, are^[1]

Name Arthur Jolly
Age 37
Estimated Birth Year abt 1903
Gender Male
Race White
Birthplace Mississippi
Marital Status Married
Relation to Head of House Head
Home in 1940 Wythe, Elizabeth City, Virginia
Street Harris Avenue
House Number 212B
Inferred Residence in 1935 Wythe, Elizabeth City, Virginia
Residence in 1935 Wythe, Virginia
Sheet Number 51B
Number of Household in Order of Visitation 13
Occupation Tech Sgt Aircraft Inspector
Attended School or College No
Highest Grade Completed High School, 2nd year
Hours Worked Week Prior to Census 40
Class of Worker Wage or salary worker in Government work
Weeks Worked in 1939 52
Income 1,248.00
Income Other Sources Yes
Household Members (Name) Age Relationship
Arthur Jolly 37 Head
Agnes Jolly 36 Wife
Helen Jolly 15 Daughter
Betty Jolly 13 Daughter^[2]

SGT in the US Army and Veteran of World War II.

Printed in the Okolona Messenger dated December 12 1946

Sergt. Arthur Jolly Buried Wednesday

Services were held at Boone's Chapel at 2:30 Wednesday afternoon for Master Sergeant Arthur Jolly, native of the Chalk Bluff Community and veteran of the South Pacific theatre, who died of a heart attack on December 3 in San Bruno, California, while on retirement leave after almost thirty years of service with the Army Air Forces. The rites were conducted by the Rev. E C Brasington, pastor of the Presbyterian Church, and the Rev. W R Hammontree, pastor of the Methodist Church. Burial was in the church cemetery with Military honors. Barry Funeral Home was in charge.

Sergeant Jolly, who was 45, would have been retired on December 28 at Hamilton Field, California.

In May 1943, he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service at Guadalcanal. On receiving the award the commendation in part read "for outstanding conduct during the period from January 9 to February 5 1943 at Guadalcanal. He displayed unusual devotion to duty and personal courage as line-chief for a bombardment squadron. As the squadron had only one man to service each bomber, Sergeant Jolly worked day and night directing, assisting and supervising these men in maintaining the airplanes in commission. Despite nightly enemy aerial attacks, he performed his tasks with such competency that largely through his efforts each airplane was enabled to take off on a flight mission almost daily, and often twice daily."

He had a good conduct medal, South Pacific and American Defense Campaign ribbons and four starts representing four major engagements. He was a contributor to "Air Force," official service journal, and appeared as guest star on an Army radio program, "Mission for Tonight".

Sergeant Jolly liked to recall the story of the first bombing mission engaged in by the Army Air Forces back in 1921 to prove that surface craft could be sunk by air power. The flight was headed by the late General Billy Mitchell. Sergeant Jolly participated as engineer and crew chief on one of the Martin bombers that made the run.

Taking off from Langley Field, Va., the planes set their course for a point 150 miles off Cape Hatteras where the old battleship "Alabama" and a few other obsolete vessels were waiting off shore for the experiment.

Dropping their bombs precisely, the planes left the target area with the "Alabama" listing badly and the other ships sinking, proving conclusively that air power was the coming thing.

A son of Mrs. W M Jolly and the late Mr. Jolly, he was born and reared here, where the family has lived for several generations. Recently he was stationed at March Field, Calif. Prior to Pearl Harbor, he was at the Army Air Base, Jackson, Miss.

In addition to his mother, he leaves his wife, Mrs. Agnes McClure Jolly, two daughters, Miss Helen Frances Jolly, Mrs. V E DeVeer, a granddaughter, Vicki Jean DeVeer, all of Jackson; three brothers, L G Jolly of Memphis, Jesse Jolly of Pulaski, Va., Albert J Jolly of Starkville; four sisters, Mrs. Carrie Brand, Mrs. Mable Mrozewski, both of Dallas; Mrs. Lee Corley and Miss Myrtle Jolly. All of these with the exception of Mrs. Mrozewski were here for the rites.^[3]

Our Squadron Commander at that time, Captain Leroy L. Stefonowicz, flew with "A" Flight, as the thirteenth aircraft - in this case, a lucky number. All fuel tanks were "topped off' during the cool of the night and Master Sergeant Arthur Jolly, our Line-Chief, was overheard reporting this fact early in the morning to Captain Stefonowicz.^[4]

Sources

1. ↑ https://www.newspapers.com/article/clarion-ledger-obituary-for-arthur-jolly/124995309/ Clarion-Ledger Jackson, Mississippi • Fri, Dec 6, 1946 Page 2
2. ↑ https://www.ancestry.com/discoveryui-content/view/20764021:2442 Arthur Jolly in the 1940 United States Federal Census
3. ↑ Find A Grave: Memorial #30322550
4. ↑ https://b26.com/page/70th_bombardment_squadron_history.htm Bombs Away! A History of the 70th Bombardment Squadron (M) in early World War II