Robert John Patrick Courtney
Uncle Bobby, as we all knew him, was born on 24 May 1929 in Boston, MA. He passed to the eternal life on 8 June 2024 in Cambridge, MA. He had a hard life. Some of it from circumstances beyond his control and some of it self-inflicted.
His parents, Michael John and Helen Josephine Courtney,were both immigrants from Ireland. He father passed away two weeks before his sixth birthday and his mother a few months later, Both parents passed away from Tuberculosis. He, his twin sister Helen and his other 2 sisters were separated and spent the remainder of their childhood living with Aunts. He is predeceased by his sisters, Mary M O’Rourke, Helen Vogt, and Kathleen Whalen and his godson/nephew Michael O’Rourke. He is survived by his nephew James O’Rourke, nieces Mary Quinlan, Ellen O’Rourke, Christine Lynch, Terre Conway and their families.
In Jan 1951 Uncle Bobby enlisted in the Marine Corps. After a brief period of training at Camp Pendleton, CA he shipped off to Korea where he served as a platoon radio operator in the 1st Bn, 1st Marine Div. He rec’d excellent reviews and was promoted to Sergeant. Sgt Courtney experienced 15 months of battle in Central and South Korea. After Korea, he spent the rest of his military service at Camp LeJeune, North Carolina. He was honorably discharged in Jan 54. His service medals include:
Korean Service Medal 2 oak leaf clusters, United Nations Service Medal: Korea, National Defense Service Medal, Good Conduct Medal 2 oakleaf clusters
In his younger adult days, he enjoyed playing a game or two of basketball with his nephews Jimmy and Mike. Uncle Bobby had a beautiful tenor voice. His talent and love of singing was shared by his sisters Helen and Mary He also was very talented at whistling tunes. He knew the streets of Somerville because he walked everywhere! Uncle Bobby never drove. He also remained single his entire life. He would frequently stop by his sister Mary’s house for a cup of coffee and rake her leaves or shovel snow for her.
Sgt Robert John Patrick Courtney was many things in his life but he deserves to be remembered as a war hero who served honorably as a Marine. The Korean War Veterans did not receive the recognition they earned nor treatment for the PTSD that so many of them suffered. SEMPER FI Sgt Courtney! You will be remembered!