Info on the 226th FA in Leyte.

I am guessing I need five posts to send a pm, so here it is.

 

I am guessing I need five posts to send a pm, so here it is.

 

Wow it has been a while since I posted (mostly due to my AV software kept saying this was a dangerous site). But a few things. I have got the 8mm movies transferred to digital. It is about a 12 minute movie showing some equipment and "pet" monkeys. I also was able to get more copies of my grandfathers records showing a silver star.

I do have a question. Does anyone know where I can find a breakdown timeline of when and where they were and what happened on those days.

thx

 

Forgot to add the youtube address for the video.
http://youtu.be/IECWGxhb02Y
Enjoy

 

Great video, wildstorm. It is interesting to see a bit of what daily life was like. It's really great that most of it is in color. Thanks for sharing this on the Forum.

 

No prob. I believe the more we share the more we learn. Unfortunately the film I wanted where he was strafed by a Zero was not in the movies. Family said it was probably confiscated by the Army.

Have you guys tried http://army.togetherweserved.com/landing/

Just sign up and enter the info for the person who served and you may be connected to others that served with that person

 

Also check out my FB page for the 226th. We are constantly adding pics and stories for people to see and share.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/111368445548542/

 

Just a note. I am not associated with anyone from the 226th FA. An obituary notice in the New Jersey Star Ledger from 13 November 2013 reports the death of Steven Tarcynski formerly with the 226th. No other military details are reported except that he was involved with the towing of artillery by horseback from North Carolina to the west coast and that he served five years in the military and three years in the South Pacific.

 

Sorry I haven't been here in a while.

Unfortunately my Dad, James J Roach passed away 10 August 2014. For the last year or two his memory had faded, along with his eye sight. I tried on several occasions to shake some of the memories loose, but it really didn't work. And any papers or memorabilia he may have had was lost when his parents home burned down in 1948.

Also learned that his good friend from his old neighborhood in Brooklyn, and was with him when they were the 105th FA, Ernie Obrecht also passed 02 June 2012.

I guess I regret not trying get more of his memories down on paper when he had the faculties.

 

A while back, a member wrote to me if I could get any information about the service of his Dad, Harold Vander Maas. As I mentioned, I haven't been on in a while, and neither has he, but I did ask my Dad, and I owe him, his father, and the members the answer I got from my Dad:

June 03 2011 04:16 PM
jvmass --> Realist_State

My father served in Battery C and was killed in action 10/25/1944 on Leyte when the battery was attacked by a Jap patrol. Tech 5 Robert Hamilton became seriously woulded and my Dad left his position and crawled trough heavy Jap fire to try and save his life. Needless to say neither one returned to the battery. This info is per a letter my mother received from Lt Ralph Knight Commanding Officer of Battery C. I don't remember my father, I was 2 when he left and 3 1/2 when he was killed. You are the first person , in my long struggle to find someone from that unit, that knows someone that was there. Would it be too much to ask to see if your father remembers mine and if there are any things in particular that he may remember? You may never know how just how much I would appreciate hearing anything. My family never talked about my dad much and when my mother remarried 6 years later I guess any discussion of him was taboo. My Dad's name was Harold Vander Maas.

March 31 2015 07:00 AM
Realist_State --> jvmaas

I am so sorry it took me so long to get back to you. Unfortunately, my Dad, Cpl James J Roach passed away August 10, 2014. I did mention your Dad's name to him a while back, and when I did, he got very choked up. My Dad was a loader and used to cut fuses for the gun. He said he was one of the bravest men he knew. The night it happened, he said it was the darkest nights he could remember. he hated the dark...and snakes. It was so dark, the only comfort you got was by sitting back-to-back in the hole because you couldn't see each other. The Japs had been probing their line all night. When Hamilton was hit (my Dad's closest friend), he said "Dutch" (that's what he called him) didn't hesitate. He said they were providing him cover fire with the .30 caliber. He teared up then, and said he almost made it. Then he stopped talking. He was lost in the pain of the memory. I didn't want to push it. But it would appear your Dad was a hero in every sense of the word.

 

wow! I have been absent from this site for quite a while, but I got an email from Jim last night and I had to come and see this post. Thanks so much for sharing Realist!

 

I would like to thank Realist-State for his post about my father and more so, I would like to thank him for his telephone call. He took the time to cover the action that occurred that night and it was wonderful hearing what his father thought of my father. I have now learned first hand and after all of these years I feel I now have some type of closure.

 

Hey Jim,
I'm so happy that this brought about some closure for you, and I'm truly happy to have been a small part of this!
all the best!


Scott