Harry Doran, RIP

Just got back from the funeral of my friend Pat Doran's father Harry, and his burial in the Rhode Island Veterans Cemetery. Quite a tribute, including eulogies by two of his best friends, a State Police escort, and burial with full military honors. Harry was loved by many, and generous to a fault. He also never bragged, although he could (and should) have. His obituary text below left out a few things that he never talked about - mainly that his B-24 was shot down over Germany and he was a prisoner of war. His future wife sent him letters often - the Germans never delivered them. What he went through as a prisoner of war makes the 'outrage' of the Left over Guantanamo et al look like the farce that it is - Harry (and all other American prisoners of war since WWI to this very day) would have given anything to be treated a fraction of how we treat terrorist prisoners of war today.

Another fact that I just found out - Harry's wife (Pat's mother), who died many years ago, was also a Vet and was given a commendation by our country for helping to decrypt the Japanese secret codes during WWII. Quite a family, and quite a legacy. RIP

DORAN, HARRY L., 84, of Twin Oak Drive, died Sunday, June 25, 2006 at Kent Hospital. He was the husband of the late Marion V. (Dunnigan) Doran.

Born in Spark Hill, NY, a son of the late John H. and Elizabeth (Newman) Doran, he had been a Warwick resident for over 50 years. Mr. Doran was a self-employed manufacturing representative in the jewelry industry for 40 years before retiring and a WWII Army Air Corp veteran. He was a communicant of St. Benedict Church.

He was the father of John H. Doran and his wife, Donna, of Lorena, TX, Joseph M. Doran of Coventry, Patrick A. Doran and his wife, Susan, of Warwick and the late Thomas P. Doran. Grandfather of Thomas Doran, Heather Matthews, David and Colleen Doran, Melissa Bready, Brent and Taylor Doran and the late Alicia Doran. Great-grandfather of 5 great-grandchildren. Brother-in-law of Marcella Doran of Redondo Beach, CA. Brother of the late Jack Doran.

His funeral will be held Wednesday at 8 a.m. from the Thomas & Walter Quinn Funeral Home, 2435 Warwick Ave. with a Mass of Christian Burial in St. Benedict Church, Beach Ave. at 9 a.m. Burial will be in the RI Veterans Cemetery, Exeter. Visiting hours Tuesday 4-8 p.m. In lieu of flowers, contributions to St. Benedict Church, 135 Beach Avenue, Warwick, RI 02889, will be appreciated.