Jean Stoy DeLong Cavanaugh
Jean Stoy DeLong Cavanaugh, 88, of Tallahassee, passed away Tuesday, Jan. 24, 2006 in Cordele, Ga. She graduated from Madison High School and from FSCW, now FSU, in 1939, where she received a degree in education and was a member of Delta Delta Delta Sorority.
She married Army Captain C.W. DeLong, a dentist from Live Oak. His father had helped establish Dowling Park retirement village in Suwannee County. Captain DeLong was sent to the Philippines and was stationed there when Pearl Harbor was attacked by the Japanese on Dec. 7, 1941. When the Philippines were surrendered to the Japanese, Captain DeLong was captured. He survived the infamous Bataan Death March and was imprisoned at Cabanatuan Prison Camp on the island of Luzon. He and the other prisoners suffered greatly and 2,656 Americans died there. Prior to the Americans invading the Philippines, Captain DeLong was transferred by the Japanese to one of their so-called "Hell Ships" where he was locked in the hold with many other prisoners, to be transported to the Japanese mainland. The Japanese marked the "Hell Ships" with only Japanese "Rising Sun" markings and not Red Cross or POW. The Americans sank it and Captain DeLong was one of the many who drowned.
The prisoners remaining in Cabanatuan were eventually liberated by the Army's 6th Ranger Battalion and Filipino guerrillas, 511 out of the 513 were brought out, two having died. A movie called "The Great Raid" has recently been made of this daring rescue behind enemy lines, based on the 2001 book entitled "Ghost Soldiers."
Upon hearing her husband of three months was captured, Jean joined the Red Cross and said she was going to get him. She was stationed in Australia, where she met Eleanor Roosevelt, New Guinea, the Philippines, Korea and occupied Japan. Along the way she also met Admiral William F. Halsey. Jean was shot at by the Japanese fighter plane strafing an air field where she worked; and by ground troops from an ambush. She arrived in the Philippines while battles were still raging, but her husband had already left on the "Hell Ship."
Her Red Cross duties included food service and handling the mail. As a result of her duties, Jean was awarded the Southeast Pacific Service Ribbon; and the Philippine Liberation Medal by the Philippine government.
Jean later married Thomas B. Cavanaugh of Bradenton and Savannah, Ga., a former World War II Navy pilot who was employed by the Arabian American Oil Company (ARAMCO). They lived in Saudia Arabia for several years. Tom was then employed as an engineer with NASA and they lived in Titusville, where she became active in Welcome Wagon and embroidery groups. After Tom died, Jean later moved to Tallahassee to be with her cousins, J. Robert McClure Jr. and wife, Rae, and retired Circuit Judge Charles D. McClure and their families; who survived her. She is also survived by a cousin, Lorton Stoy Livingston of Savannah, Ga. and numerous Livingston cousins; and by close Titusville friends Bobby and Kay Pulliam. Jean was of Episcopal faith and had the same birthday as Katherine Hepburn, which she said was her one claim to fame.
Graveside family services were held in Madison on Jan. 28 where she was buried beside her parents, Hal T. and Jean Ferguson Stoy. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Big Bend Hospice, Inc., 1723 Mahan Center Blvd., Tallahassee, FL 32308 or to the American Red Cross.
Beggs Funeral Home Madison Chapel was in charge of all arrangements.