Two great grandchildren standing outside the home of Charles and Mary Gow Byrne at 156-14 59th Avenue, Flushing, Queens, New York.

Roger says "my father spoke highly of my grandmother Mary. She was very involved in Democratic politics, patronage jobs to help feed the family. The highlight of her life was when, during the 1960 presidential campaign, John F. Kennedy came over to say hello to her and he knew who she was. This was the house they raised five kids in. The three boys, Donald, Jay, and my father Bill all slept in the unheated and uninsulated attic . . . and the two girls Helen and Rosemary, they got to sleep in a heated bedroom."

Charles Byrne's birth record says he was born on August 30, 1894, in Rossville, Richmond, New York. His mother was Mary Cassidy Byrne, age 32, born ion New York. His father was Wm. F. Byrne, age 32, a clerk, born in New York. Rossville is a neighborhood of Staten Island, across Arthur Kill from Carteret, New Jersey.

Charles Joseph Byrne's death certificate says he was born on August 30, 1894, in Staten Island, New York, and died March 27, 1948, at work at 2 am of arterio sclerotic heart disease. He died at age 53. He was a foreman at the Lily Tulip Co. when he died. He and his wife Mary lived at 156 14 59th Avenue in Flushing, Queens. His parents were William and Mary Cassidy Byrne, both born in Albany, New York.

Charles J. Byrne and Mary Catherine Gow were married on May 22, 1913, in Queens, New York. Source: New York City Municipal Archives; New York, New York; Borough: Queens; Volume Number: 1.

The Gow Family Book says that "Mae" was born on April 20, 1895 in Wallasey, Chester, England. She moved to America with her parents as a baby. She lived in Flushing, Queens, New York, most of her life. She died there on November 17, 1977. Her parents were Donald "Dan" and Roseanne "Rose" Murray Gow, who were married in England on May 7, 1882. Donald Gow was born in 1864 in Pultneytown, Wick, Scotland. The Gow family has been traced back to William Gow, a crofter, who married Catherine Forbes in 1779 in Latherton, Caithness, Scotland.

Charles Joseph Byrne's enlistment form for the New York Naval Militia says he enlisted on August 31, 1912, was age 19, and lived at 509 Pelham Street, Pelham Manor, New York.

Charles Joseph Byrne's WWII draft registration card says he was age 47 and born on August 30, 1894, in Staten Island, New York. It says he worked for the Hunter Sign Co. in Flushing. He and his wife Mary lived at 156 14 59th Avenue in Flushing. This was the fourth WWII draft, conducted on April 27, 1942, for men age 45-64 (born 1877-1897).

His burial record at Long Island National Cemetery says he died March 27, 1948. He served as a bugler in the 102 Engineers, 27th Division, New York National Guard, from 1916 to 1919. His wife Mary was buried in the same plot in 1977 (Find A Grave).

27th Infantry Division shoulder sleeve insignia. Source: John F. O'Ryan.

The 27th Division of the U.S. Army consisted of the New York National Guard. It trained at Camp Wadsworth in Spartanburg, South Carolina. It was known as the New York Division. Units included:

• 105th, 106th, 107th, 108th Infantry
• 104th, 105th, 106th Artillery
• 104th, 105th, 106th Machine Gun
• 102nd Engineers

The Commanding Officer of the 102nd Engineers was Cornelius Vanderbilt III, a great grandson of the Commodore.

In March 1916, the 102nd Engineers joined the Pancho Villa Expedition. Revolutionary Pancho Villa had led a hit and run raid against the small border town of Columbus, New Mexico, and then fled in fear of U.S. retaliation. Woodrow Wilson sent U.S. Army General John J. Pershing to capture Villa. The 27th Division was sent to Texas as a back-up in July, but did not see action. The 102nd Engineers returned in October and December. Pancho Villa was never captured.

On April 6, 1917, two days Congress voted to declare war, the United States formally entered the First World War. The 27th Division trained at Camp Wadsworth until departing for France in May 1918. On May 17, the 102nd Engineers sailed on the USS Pocahontas from Newport News. They arrived at St. Nazaire on May 30. The 27th Division was engaged with the British in the Hindenburg line smash during World War I. See: The Story of the 27th Division.

Son William Byrne and Ruth Lyden were married in Manhattan on November 27, 1951. Source: Index to Marriages, New York City Clerk's Office, New York, New York.