Thomas Joseph Manion, age 87, of Crown Point, IN, passed away on Saturday, October 31, 2009 at St. Anthony Hospice.

He is survived by his wife, Cecily; children Patrick Kathy Manion, Mary Beth Michael Cozzie, Susan George Ches and Thomas John Manion; grandchildren, William Becky, Andy and Michael Cozzie, Anita Manion, Carrie Michael Kinzig and Jessica Manion; great-grandchildren, Christine and Jordan Manion, Madeline Kinzig; sister, Joan Charles Luedtke; 2 cousins, Catherine Curley and William Curley; 2 sisters-in-law, Mary Elizabeth Kelley and Margaret Griffin; close relative, Felix Pavloff.

Funeral services will be held on Monday, November 2, 2009 at 11:00 AM at St. Anthony Home Chapel, Crown Point, IN, with Fr. Myron Lowisz officiating. Interment will be at St. Mary Cemetery, Crown Point, IN.

Visitation will be held at St. Anthony Chapel from 10:00 AM until time of service, at 11:00.

Thomas retired from US Steel in Pittsburgh, PA in 1983. He served as a paratrooper in the U.S. Army in World War II.

(courtesy of "Indiana Bill")

Grave marker for Thomas J Manion in Saint Mary's Cemetery, Crown Point (Lake county), Indiana.

Thomas enlisted in the Army at Indianapolis, IN on 8 October 1942 and was assigned to Company E, 508th PIR..

Pvt Manion completed jump school on 5 March 1943.  On 11 March 1943 he was attached to the 1st PIR at Ft Benning for 5 weeks.

On 10 May 1943, Pvt Manion was appointed to the rank of Corporal.
Cpl Manion was transferred to AAF ETTC ATC* Greensboro, NC..

Cpl Manion apparently saw action during WWII as his marker indicates he was awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star.

* the jargon seems to stand for Army Air Forces Training Command, Eastern Technical Training Command, Air Transport Command.  The  Eastern Technical Training Command was headquartered in Greensboro, NC.