In mid December 2007 i found this bracelet in the sidewall of an foxhole.
In very good condition and a name became visible : John L. Page U.S. ARMY / on the backside the number : 34120126 E.R.B
The brand is Sterling.
I found it at a spot where i knew the 22nd Inf. / 4th US Inf. Div. had fought so i thougt to send Robert S. Rush a mail again!
In 2 days he wrote me back the following:

I recognized the name John L. Page as soon as I read it. He figures in
my book Hell in Hurtgen Forest.
He joined Company A 22d on 25 June, entered the Hurtgen battle as a
private first class, was promoted to staff sergeant on 23 November, and
finished the battle as a platoon leader. He was from Lawrence Indiana,
but entered service on 12 January 1942 at Ft Jackson North Carolina. He
survived the war and it appears that he settled in Clinton, South
Carolina after the war. He died in 2005, I believe in Newbury, SC.
I don't know whether he was a member of the 22d Society, but he might
very well have been.
I did not interview Page; he was interviewed as part of a group on 16 December 1944.
I have no idea as to living relatives.

I hope that i will hear more in the future, cause i want to get in contact with his still living family and maybe be able to return the bracelet after 63 years.
That i found his bracelet is one thing but that he figures in a book makes it extra special.

WOW! Now this is an awesome event. What are the odds. What are your plans now?

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American by birth, TEXAN by the grace of GOD!

I'd like to get in contact with members of his family / still living relatives but i do not know how.
I could try the local newspaper of the towns where he lived and where he died, maybe some relatives still live there.
Otherwise i would not know what to do any further.

Good show, Aru!

__________________
Best Regards,
Not Slipdigit

Nice job, man

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"Live as brave men; and if fortune is adverse, front its blows with brave hearts." - Cicero

"It's called getting wounded, Private. Injured is when you fall out of a tree or something." - Sgt. John Martin, "Band of Brothers"

Excellent! It's a shale that Mr Page apparently died in 2005, but He may certainly have some descendants left in South Carolina or Indiana, maybe a widow and/or children. I hope you'll find them.

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Ed,
Clinton is about 2 hours from where I live.I took the liberty of relaying your story to the head of the VFW in Newbury. Perhaps she'll be able to help you out.

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"One asks oneself; Why not me?
But a bullet does not ask about me or you"

~Leutenant Alfred Regeniter, 3rd Battery, Sturmgeschutz, Brigade 276, holder of the Knights Cross

Thanks for your assistance/help, but where stands VFW for?
Also i have read your request and later on i'll send you a reply!

Killer-find !!!

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Eine Lichtung im Walde wo die Sonne scheint.
Eingeschlossen durch Bäume sind wir gefangen,
in dieser Lichtung Gottes...

VFW stands for Veterans of Foreign Wars; she apparently is also the local represenative for the VA (Veterans Administration), and being in these dual roles, she will probably be the one to know where his family is. I'll give her until Monday morning to write me back, and then I'll call and see if I can find anything out. In retrospect, perhaps I can find the obituary notice from the local newspaper as well.

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"One asks oneself; Why not me?
But a bullet does not ask about me or you"

~Leutenant Alfred Regeniter, 3rd Battery, Sturmgeschutz, Brigade 276, holder of the Knights Cross

This is the kind of stories I like to read. I hope a veteran will recognize the name.

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fantastic find Ed!!
keep us posted!!

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...this army made up of ex-resistence men and named by the Prince Himself, became known as the STOOTTROEPEN(Stormtroopers).
Nulli Cedo = I'll give way to no one.

Scott

Ed,
I checked with the 2 funeral homes in the area of Newbury; Well, actually, I called the first one, and the gentleman who answered the phone knew exactly who I was talking about!! He was actually the guy who buried Mr.Page (God bless small town America). Not only did I find Mr. Pages next of kin for you, I found his wife!! I have an address for her, and left my phone number with the Funeral director in hopes that she will call me, so I can pass your info directly along to her. Let me know how you want to proceed.

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"One asks oneself; Why not me?
But a bullet does not ask about me or you"

~Leutenant Alfred Regeniter, 3rd Battery, Sturmgeschutz, Brigade 276, holder of the Knights Cross

Good work Ed and Keystone!

__________________
Best Regards,
Not Slipdigit

What a great thread and a beautiful job. Keep us informed!

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"The only good is knowledge and the only evil is ignorance." Socrates

I made it a sticky.

__________________
Best Regards,
Not Slipdigit

Great work keystone! I hope the lady will call Ed.

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I just got off the phone with Mrs.Page, she is absolutely thrilled! She says they had 5 children; 2 boys and 3 girls, and they all still live in the area, and were very excited by this news. She is very elderly, and doesnt muck about with the internet, so i told her if her children wanted to see this thread, that I would be happy to give them the URL. What a sweetheart she is!! Your typical, sweet old southern type of lady!!

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"One asks oneself; Why not me?
But a bullet does not ask about me or you"

~Leutenant Alfred Regeniter, 3rd Battery, Sturmgeschutz, Brigade 276, holder of the Knights Cross

I would like to get in contact with his wife and family.
So please send me a PM with their adres etc, this is great news.
Maybe the bracelet can return to the family after more then 63 years!!!!
Thanks a lot for your help, hope to hear from them and you, soon!

Wow, this is really great! Both of you did some great work here!

Ed, this is a nice thing you are doing here! Seriously cool thread!!

Thanks for sharing with me!

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...this army made up of ex-resistence men and named by the Prince Himself, became known as the STOOTTROEPEN(Stormtroopers).
Nulli Cedo = I'll give way to no one.

Scott

Y'all be sure to spread the rep points around for this.

__________________
Best Regards,
Not Slipdigit

wow, thats really awesome a great find.

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"Goddam it, you'll never get the Purple Heart hiding in a foxhole! Follow