Notes for Gordon Brancy Cox: There have been rumors circulating around the family about the circumstances in which Gordon died. It was rumored to be that he was the cause of the fire which ultimately took his life. This could not have been further from the truth. Gordon died a hero. He was saving men when the roof of the barracks collapsed. This is from a gentleman who was stationed at Camp McCoy at the same time.
"It was Friday. We had just gotten our laundry back. Laundry used to come wrapped in paper. The trash cans were full of paper and somebody tossed a cigarette into one of them.
Your uncle was found dead in the building after the roof collapsed. Another man was severely injured and maybe died later. I'm not sure what happened to him. They never knew who tossed the cigarette into the trash can.
They were not able to get all of the details figured out then and it was dropped as one of those things that happens. Probably 80% or more of the men smoked and it could have been anybody.
His body was sent home with two armed guards, a heroes return home. I sincerely doubt it was his fault, he would not have gotten a heroes transport if he had been guilty of burning down a barracks and injuring at least one other man."
More About Gordon Brancy Cox: Burial: Unknown, Woodville Cemetary, Chester County, TN.106 Military service: Bet. 22 Dec 1942 - 23 Jul 1944, Sergeant in the Army of the United States - 34 501 921 Unit 808 TD.107 Social Security Number: 410-44-0990.
Gordon Brancy Cox (b. 1922, d. 23 Jul 1944)
Notes for Gordon Brancy Cox: