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Edward W. Beers – KIA December 22, 1944 (From Lake Wilson, Minnesota)

Discussion in 'What Granddad did in the War' started by comeaux, Feb 8, 2015.

  1. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    Hi Guys ! :)

    My name is Comeaux from South Louisiana (Lafayette) and I’m the son of a retired Navy veteran (20 years) and very proud of my father’s service. He retired at E7 and was stationed at many places around the US, the world and did one year in Vietnam. He was radioman/electronics.

    I first arrived to this website back in June, 2014 and really got some good information from you guys, some awesome links that provided tons of info and I appreciate it tremendously !

    This thread will contain information about my grandfather in which I will be posting copies of the files I received from the National Personal Records Center. Hopefully something that I post will contain a small bit of information that will help someone else looking for information but no guarantees on that, I’m just here to share on learn !

    My maternal grandfather was KIA in WWII in Belgium on December 22nd, 1944

    Edward W. Beers
    Private 1st Class
    Serial # 37120043
    Company A
    Unit 36AIR Infantry
    From: Lake Wilson, Minnesota,
    Place of death: Amonines, Belgium
    Cause of Death : Killed in Action
    Cemetery : Ardennes American Cemetery, Neupre, Belgium
    Plot,Row,Grave D, 33, 10

    I’ve been told my grandfather was killed in Dochamps, Soy or Hotton by other members in the family but the documents that I received from NPRC state that he was killed in Amonines, Belgium although I assume it’s all in the same general area.

    Through the years I always heard all kinds of crazy stories of how he died, my grandfather’s brother, my Uncle Kenneth told me that it was a flame thrower or a land mine but the documents from NPRC states “GSW (I assume is gunshot wound) 30 Cal. Perf. Skull, Temp. Region” so now I know what really happened to him. The “Morphine” checkbox has X9 for doses so I would assume he was alive for a short period of time and they gave him 9 doses of morphine to keep him comfortable.

    I also had mentioned this before but the paperwork that I do have on him says he was 36th Infantry, 3rd Armored Division but I’m not sure about his company as the website where I got the information above says “A” and so does some of his other paperwork but some of his letters that he wrote to home say company “G”.

    So anyway … this is the start and now I will start preparing some files from the NPRC to post up here !

    Thanks again for all of your help my friends !!! Because of this forum I now have my grandfathers medals and military records ! :cheers:
     
    TD-Tommy776 and Slipdigit like this.
  2. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    My grandfather (Edward Beers) was born on June 2nd, 1920 in Lake Wilson, Minnesota. At age 21 he joined the Army on November 5th, 1941 and soon thereafter was sent for training at Camp Polk in North Louisiana.


    On September 5th, 1943 he left the United States for the European Theater of Operations and was subsequently killed on December 22nd, 1944 at age 24.


    Unfortunately I do not know anything about what he did during the 16 months that he was in Europe. As I previously mention he was 3rd Armored 36th Inf. company “A” but also some of his letters back home also stated company “G” so who really knows? I guess when all hell is breaking lose that guys might get mixed up and/or reassigned to companies as needed.



    Here is the first telegram sent to inform my grandmother of his death:

    [​IMG]
     
  3. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    As I said before, I had always heard he was killed in Soy/Hotton/Dochamps but here is the first time that I get confirmation that apparently he was killed in Amonines which I believe is in the same general area. Also it appears he was given 9 doses of morphine so perhaps he was alive for a short time and was being comforted.

    All of these files I received from NPRC are new to my family, I don't believe anyone has ever seen these as I have letters from the 1960's of my family writing to the Army for information such as this. Amazing what technology we have now with the internet !

    [​IMG]
     
  4. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    I wrote a letter to NPRC in June of 2014 requesting records and medals. I got this response along with his personnel files about a month later but I just received the medals last week. It took some time but I have them now !!!

    [​IMG]
     
  5. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    I posted this picture in my introduction in the new member forum but think it should be here as well !

    Here is a picture of me at my grandfather’s grave in Belgium. I had a profound sense of deep respect come over me as I stood above the grave of my grandfather, a man who gave his life as 1,000’s of others have to done to afford us the freedom we enjoy today. One of my life’s regrets is that I never got to meet him.

    [​IMG]
     
  6. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    [SIZE=11pt]Here is his original Purple Heart Certificate [/SIZE]

    [​IMG]
     
  7. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    Mr. Edward W. Beers ! :)

    [​IMG]

    I'll post some more stuff later !
     
  8. Slipdigit

    Slipdigit Good Ol' Boy Staff Member WW2|ORG Editor

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    If he was buried in a local grave, then moved to Henri-Chapelle, there should be reports produced by the move. I am not sure what governmental body would have that information, but it could shed more light on his death.
     
  9. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    It is very possible that he was transferred from one to the other. Getting the Morning Reports should settle the question as they would indicate any troop reassignment by listing the name and ASN of those being transferred.


    I would think it would most likely have been handled by Graves Registration. Requesting his IDPF should shed some light on this.
     
  10. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Once again, Tommy beat me to it. The IDPF probably will give you more information. You have quite a bit of material that others don't have.
     
  11. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    Slip, Tommy and Russo ... Once again guys thank you very much !

    I'm confused about this "IDPF" as I thought the documents that I received from the NPRC are all that is available?

    I received his records from the National Personnel Records Center so where can I get these IDPF files and will they contain more info? Even if there is a chance of more info then I'm all over it !

    You guys are awesome !
     
  12. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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  13. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    Thank you Lrusso and since I am a member in several other forums I should have known it's best to do more research myself before asking questions that are asked repetitively but I must say that you were much more nice in your reply than I have seen on other forums when newbs ask redundant questions !

    I'm going to request these IDPF files and see what else I can find, hopefully I can get more than I already have !
     
  14. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    Here are the names of others from Murray County, Minnesota where my grandfather was from. If anyone has a relative on this list then I'm more than happy to share info and communicate !

    [​IMG]
     
  15. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    The last correspondence ever sent to my grandfather was this Christmas card sent on 12-14-1944

    Sadly he never received it as it was returned "deceased" as he was killed on 12-22-44 ... three days before Christmas.

    I think about how good we have it now, how happy my 4 year old is and the life he has compared to what I had or even a harder life such as my dad and grandfather.

    How cold and lonely it must have been covered in snow, freezing temperatures, hungry, miserable, missing family, surrounded by death ... thank god for the strength and perseverance of the greatest generation on earth.

    [​IMG]
     
  16. comeaux

    comeaux Member

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    A letter home (October 9th, 1944) ... two months before he was killed

    I noticed how he asked about my grandmother "Lillian" and the "twins" which is my mom and her brother ... I can't image how tough it would have been to be in his environment with a family at home :(

    [​IMG]
     
  17. Natman

    Natman Member

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    I see Edward is now in Company G, as you've previously mentioned.

    You may already be familiar with these resources but it not,

    3rd AD Association Archives at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign: http://archives.library.illinois.edu/guides/3rdarmor/

    3rd Armored files (about 10, 000 pages) at the Eisenhower Library, page 56 of this file: http://www.eisenhower.archives.gov/research/finding_aids/pdf/US_Army_Unit_Records_1.pdf

    I've researched 3-4 times at the EL, great folks to work with, very user friendly. Never been to the U of IL.
     
  18. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    Never be afraid to ask questions. Our goal us to help, regardless of whether the question has been dealt with before. Most members will gently direct you to the correct thread.
     
  19. Smiley 2.0

    Smiley 2.0 Smiles

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    As someone who was in your shoes comeaux needing help once, I echo what LRusso said. Never be afraid to ask questions. When you ask questions and get help from others you can get a lot more accomplished. In this forum the members here do their best to help people like yourself who are in need of assistance.
     
  20. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    The Individual Deceased Personnel File is a collection of documents which record the collection, handling, and final disposition of a soldier's remains. Some of the documents in the IDPF may also be in the OMPF, but not necessarily all of them. In the case of my great uncle Glenn, his OMPF was destroyed in the 1973 fire. However, I was able to get his full IDPF which was very helpful. It indicated he was buried twice before he was exhumed and moved to a mausoleum in Manila, and then finally returned to the USA. There were also copies of correspondence between the Army and the family.

    Right now it is taking a very long time to get and IDPF. Something like 40 weeks or more. When I requested Glenn's, it took about 4 months.
     

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