My father died almost 20 years ago in Southern California. He was buried at Riverside Veterans Cemetery. Last week, I was in California to celebrate my mother's 85th birthday, and my niece gave me a picture of my father's grave marker. The cemetery is quite a distance from where she lives, but she and her 11 year old daughter stopped at the cemetery, trimmed the grass and took this photo. It's the first chance I've had to see it, and it was quite emotional for me. My other niece found my father's draft card and paybook (with no entries) in a stack of other pictures. She will send me anything she finds. Here's a photo of the marker. The line at the bottom is from my parents' "song". They signed all their cards and letters with it. I'll post the craft card and paybook when I get them scanned.

Attached Images

Dad's Stone.jpg (160.1 KB, 20 views)

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"Faint heart never won fair maiden", so I say "Go for it!"

Lou

Lou I have to say congrats though that may be not the proper word in this case. at least though simple and small you have something and as for a possible fact you may hopefully find more. this is a start for you, and good luck on the journey finding out more about him and his service for the country.

E ~

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Rip it up !

Thanks Erich. I've learned more about my father's service in the past year than I learned in the previous 60. As with many others, my father rarely talked about his service, so I've spent a lot of time rounding up information. I did manage to get all of his medals and made a small shadowbox that is posted in an album here. I also have a request in with NARA to get any After Action reports available. I also have a lot of printed material, which I posted earlier this year. I applaud all of the Rogues who have guided me in this search. This is just the latest find I have been able to come up with.

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"Faint heart never won fair maiden", so I say "Go for it!"

Lou

continue the search Lou you will be glad you did, my own Father never talked of it so very very things remain that I can look forward to, and I tried my best with my Grandfather when he was home about his time behind the lines in Latvia but he only smiled and help me pick 4-leaf clovers at his home in Santa Cruz, nothing was said though I knew something serious was up as he whistled the days away

keep at it.

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Rip it up !

That is a nice pic Lou, and echoing yourself my own Dad was pretty close-mouthed about his time in the USAAF Transport Command. I wouldn't have known anything at all if a photo ID card of his hadn't slipped out of a box one time when we were moving some of his stuff from one home-office to another.

Here was a picture of a young man, big grin, and his name. The posting was for Greenham Common, Britain. And it was only then (I was about 10) that I even knew he was in WW2 in any active fashion. All his "stuff" is (I've been told) in his safety deposit box, and I'll get to look it over after he is gone. He has Alzheimers these days, and it is getting a bit worse year by year. He is 87 afterall, and has his good days and bad. He tried some drug (Ericept?) a while back but the side-effects were too much for him, so he just quit taking it.

Good luck on creating a "time-line" for your Dad in the future. If/when I get to do so I too will share with the board if possible.

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Happy Trails,
Clint.

Gracious, he was just 72. An honorable man, that I am sure.

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Best Regards,
JW

Hi Lou, and thank you very much for sharing this about your Father. Sorry for his loss as well. I lost my Dad in 1988.

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Lost are only those, who abandon themselves) Hans-Ulrich Rudel.

Thank you for sharing, Lou.

I haven't visited my Dad and Mum's for too long. I'm just thankful they changed the rules so she could be buried with him in Soldier's Field.

Personally, learning about what shaped the man my Dad became is what drives my own WWII research, and even if I get his military record it still won't fill in all that he didn't tell me.

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Regards, Michelle

Oliver Goldsmith, "I love everything that's old: old friends, old times, old manners, old books, old wines."

Thanks for sharing, Lou. A personal bit of your life for sure.

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Kicking up dust since 1978