James William McCullagh

James W. (Jimmy) McCullagh, 93 years old, died in Bronx County, NY on June 16, 2020. Jimmy was born in Manhattan on June 25, 1926, the third of seven children born to Patrick McCullagh of Teebane East, Greencastle, Co. Tyrone and Mary Tunney of Curryane, Swinford, Co. Mayo. Jimmy spent almost his entire life in the Bronx, residing for over 45 years in Riverdale. Jimmy is survived by his sister-in-law Barbara McCullagh of Garnerville, NY, and 20 nieces and nephews. In addition to his parents, he was predeceased by his siblings Tom (wife Terry), Jack (wife Joan), Joseph, Patricia McMahon (husband Vincent), Bro. Martin D. McCullagh, C.F.C., and Madeline, who died as an infant. Jimmy’s service in the U.S. Navy Seabees during the Second World War was the defining moment of his life. He joined the Navy in 1943 at the age of 17 and trained at Camp Peary in Magruder, Virginia and in Gulfport, Mississippi. He was assigned to the 118th Naval Construction Battalion, Company C-3. Jimmy served in the Pacific at Milne Bay, New Guinea (1944 – 1945) and at Zamboanga and Subic Bay, the Philippines (1945). He enjoyed telling his nieces and nephews stories of seeing Gen. Douglas MacArthur in person in the Philippines, having a pet monkey in Zamboanga, and meeting up with his brother Tom in 1944 in New Guinea, many miles from their Bronx home. His sense of humor was legendary. When asked what his specialty was during the war, he replied, “Hiding out.” For five decades after the war ended, Jimmy joined his fellow veterans at reunions across the country. He was one of the last survivors. Jimmy worked for many years as a truck driver for Carolina Freight. In retirement, he spent many a day still driving, not a truck, but his beloved BMW, to his favorite gaming spots in the Tri-State area. A funeral mass will be held at St. Francis of Assisi Church on Monday at 10 a.m.