Roland R. Mulvaney was born in 1920 to Mr. and Mrs. Jessie R. Mulvaney, their only son.   His mother died when Roland was young.

Roland attended public schools in Media, Pennsylvania. The family later moved to a farm in Highland Township, Pennsylvania, (south of Parkesburg), between Ercildoun and Buck Run.  His father worked as a lumberman at a local sawmill. Roland obtained employment with Stanley Reeves of Coatesville.

Roland joined the Army Air Forces in March 1943.  He received training in Montana, Canada, and Minnesota. He returned home on leave for Christmas 1943 – the last time his father saw him. His last letter home was from Minneapolis, Minnesota in July.

Roland worked with war dogs, training them as artic rescue dogs. War dogs played a vital role in helping servicemen in the front lines, as well as aiding in rescue. A photo of Roland and Major Westover the Alaskan Rescue Unit Commander, appeared in the Philadelphia Inquirer on August 27, 1944 (pictured at right, click to enlarge).  They were training Huskies to parachute into arctic areas for rescue, called Parapup Rescue Units.

PFC Roland R Mulvaney Died Non Battle on August 13, 1944 due to drowning.

His father received the telegram on Tuesday August 29^th, which read:

“The Secretary of War asks that I assure you of his deep sympathy in the loss of your son, Pfc Roland R. Mulvaney.  A report received states that he died on August 13 in British Columbia, Can. as a result of drowning.”