Family in WWII and Other Wars?

I'm sure this topic has been posted before but I couldn't find one, plus we have new members.

We'll, most of my family was born just before WWII or just after, so not many of my relatives were involved.

My Great great Uncle served in the 1st Infantry Division and was on Omaha Beach for D-Day where he was hit bad and got the lucky ticket home.

I have two distant relatives on my grandmother's side who where in the Pacific and saw action on The Solomon Islands, Iwo Jima, and Okinawa, lived through it all. Not sure what unit they were in however.

My grandfather served in the Navy during the Korean War/Cuban Missile Crisis aboard a Destroyer Escort, I believe it was the U.S.S. Huse (DE-145).

 

American Revolution - One relative on Mother's side served in the Continental Army.

Civil War - Two relatives on my Dad's side, both served with Custer. One died at Gettysburg. Another relative on My Mother's side served.

Spanish American War - Great Grandfather on my mother's side.

World War I - Great Grandfather on my Mother's side (same gentleman as above) served as a colonel, saw action in the Argonne. My Great Great Uncle on my Mother's side served as well as my Great Great Uncle on my Dad's side who was gassed during the war and suffered from respiratory illnesses for the rest of his life.. I also had a member of my family on my Dad's side still living in East Prussia at the time fly in the German airforce. He was an ace.

World War II - My Grandfather on my Mother's side served as a navigator in B-17'S and Mosquitoes completeing 51 missions over Germany. My Great Uncle on my Dad's side served on the USS Ben Franklin and was killed in a Kamikaze attack. My other Great Uncle on my Dad's side was a B.A.R. gunner at the Bulge. My Grandad's cousin on my Mom's side flew B-25's in the Pacific and was shot down and killed over Rabaul. My Great Uncle through marriage was a Marine and served at Guadalcanal, New Britain, and Pelelieu. It is also rumored but not proven that we had a relative from our German branch of the family in the Luftwaffe. This is where we lose track of my German side of the family.

Korea - My Grandfather on my Dad's side served in the Navy.

Vietnam - My Great Uncle on my dad's side was a warrant officer in the Navy who rode a patrol boat and was shot several times but managed to keep fighting and survive. Two of my uncles through marriage served with the Marines.

 

Wow! How'd you manage to find the documentation to show you had relatives in the Civil and Revolutionary War??

 

We keep pretty good family records especially on my Mom's side. We have it pretty accurately traced back to when our British relatives came over on the Mayflower. We know the fellow's name who served in the Revolution but not much else. She's a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution so she knows more about the whole thing than I do. As for my maternal relative in the Civil War we have photographs, letters, newspaper clippings, the works. As for my two relatives at Gettysburg on my Dad's side they were part of my Irish heritage. They emigrated from Ireland and lived in Canada for a while until later they moved down to the States, signed up for the cavalry, and went to war.

 

http://ww2f.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=13&stc=1&d=1172641627

The Goldstein boys in WW2

For the full story you will have to go to:
http://rongoldsteinsarmyalbum.blogspot.com/#114079076175206464
or (if you have an hour to spare)
http://rongoldsteinsarmyalbum.blogspot.com/

Regards to all

Ron

 

Both my grandfathers and also my grand uncle (father side) served in both world wars (French army).

My other grand uncle father side, served in WWII, I know he was in Belgium area, and he was captured.

Both grand fathers were in the artillery (because they had studied engineering), and I don't know about my grand uncle. I know they were all taken prisoners during WWII.

At least one of them (my grandfather father side) had medals he showed me when I was a kid, but I've got no idea what kind of medals and what was the war.

The only story I recall is about him, while he served time in captivity, was elected by his mates to share their meager rations, because he was able to cut very small and equal slices and shares.

I don't know much about their serving time, now they have all passed away and I feel horrible ATM because I never really discussed with them about their wartime. I did not discussed much with them at all. That's why I praise what people like Erich do : collecting verterans recollections.

They all survived the war. I'll ask my parents to tell me what they know.

 

alas comming from the coal fields of north east England mining was a reserved occupation though my great uncle was lost at the battle of kohima.

 

One great uncle on my fathers side was a Hussar in the Boer War, one of his brothers was a Sgt in the Royal Engineers. Several great grandfathers/uncles served in WW1, grandpa was an officer in WW2 and Nana was ATS, Grandad was a miner (bevin boy). My Mother was an army nurse.

 

My father was initially in the 36th Infantry Division, 36th Quartermaster Company, signals section but was not allowed to go with the division overseas due to medical reason and was reassigned to the headquarters 6th Army with the communications section at the rank of Captain. He was medically discharged at the end of the war. Two uncles were in the US Navy, one served on the USS Lexington (Essex class) as a gunner's mate on a 40mm mount. The other I don't have details on his service.
Another Uncle was in the Army. He became a career officer retiring at the rank of Colonel. Again, his WW 2 service is not known exactly to me.

 

From what I've worked out so far my Grandad spent most of the war in India, posted back to the UK in '44 he was then sent to Scotland in May, correct direction to be heading with DDay looming I feel.., His most time actually 'in action' seems to have been in Palestine post-war. Royal Signals through and through he joined at 15 as a boy soldier and left as a Lieutenant Colonel. Top old bloke with a true taste for the lethal Pink Gin, I miss him.
His father was killed at Neuve chapelle on March 10th 1915 with the Devonshires, 4 months after arriving in France.
Missus's grandfather was invalided out in 1916, his death certificate from 22 years later reads 'Effects of gas' as the cause.
One German Aunt's high ranking SS father was killed in Berlin.
A great uncle was killed in Burma by a mine while riding in a Jeep, the immediate family never mentioned him again from the point the news arrived.

Always intrigues me that you never have to look too far in any family for more 'personal' traces of conflict.

Cheers,
Adam.

 

My grandfather was a fireman in WW2 and was based in London during the blitz, I remember as a child he told me some story's that scared me.

 

My FIL was ground crew in England with the 8th. Two uncles were flyers, but I think they were instructors. My father enlisted but only made it to a staging area when V-J day happened. My dad lost a cousin or two. A family friend was captured during the Battle of the Bulge.

 

I have only some brief info on my grandfathers, here's one:



(Photo with thanks from www.awm.gov.au)

He's the officer - LIEUTENANT L.G. GARDNER, this was taken on the 25-Oct-1941 in JEBEL TOURBEL, SYRIA when he was serving with the AIF 2/31ST INFANTRY BATTALION

and one of my great uncles (my grandmothers brother) this is the pages from the 6 Commando site that lists some of his service record.

http://www.6commando.com/Pages/Other%20Ranks/OR%20Pages/P/Pritchard%20P/OR%20Pritchard%20P.html

But I have to do a bit more diggin around to find out exactly where they were stationed and served

 

as an addition, my son who is in the teritorial army (british equivilant of the american national guard) is now doing intensive training with the likelyhood of his unit being posted to Afghanistan easlry next year

 

Grandfather was a foreign volunteer for the Waffen SS. He joined while attending school in Germany. Emigrated to US after released from prison. Spain would not allow him to return.

My father (Born in US) was in US Air Force and fought in Vietnam. He was a wild weasal. He did 3 tours.

I was also in the Air Force with the Electronic Security Command and took part in the invasion of Panama, Desert Shield/Storm, supported the advisors in El Salvador and Honduras during the civil war in El Salvador and Nicaragua, was part of the Air Force Special Operations Team during Cobra Judy/Ball, plus some other operations gathering ELINT.

My son is about to go into the Air Force in the electronics field.

That is as far back as I can go.

 

PzJgr,
Have you ever been to Keesler or Pope AFB? I used to work at Keesler (only a few miles from the home 20) and when stationed at Bragg we'd go to Pope to thumb down C-130's headin' for the DZ. Oh yeah, 'bout Tinker AFB in OK? I've passed it hundreds of times when I drove big trucks, however, I never had the time to stop, even though we had a terminal just down the street.
Of relatives in WWII I had an uncle (went West a few years ago) that was a turret gunner on an Avenger in the PTO.

 

I was at Keesler in 89' for some training. Tinker we stopped for refueling when I was supporting Cobra Ball. Never been to Pope. I flew around on the RC-135s as well a stink in the USNS Observation Island. A Navy ship owned by the Army and operated by the Air Force. Talk about Joint Service.

I have been stationed mostly overseas. My stateside assignment was being stationed at Kelly, AFB (actually Medina annex) but we were mobile so we did alot of deployments mostly in the Middle East and Central America. I also did a TDY with the White House Communication Corps and flew around with then VP Qualye. I also attended Combat Survival School (basic and advanced) at Fairchild, AFB and water survival at Tindell, AFB. Also with AFSOT out of Ft. Meade.

 

Father was a Gunner first with 58th Heavy Battery RCA, then from at least 1942 16th Battery 3LAA Royal Canadian Artillery with 2nd Division World War II. Served England, Normandy (landed July 6), Caan, Falaise, Belgium, the Scheldt, Rhineland, Nijmegen, Gronigen, Hochwald Forest. Demobbed Aug 1945. RCAF Sept 1946 to 1960 served Vancouver, Ft. Nelson, St.Hubert, Saskatoon in Canada, as well as with 4th ATAF in Trier, Germany in 1950s. My brother, did not serve in war, but was long time member of Militia and was a small arms specialist.

His cousin also served in the RCAF, some time in England - but mostly with British Commenwealth Air Training Command in the Prairies of Canada. Another cousin by marriage was imprisoned in Stanely Prison by the Japanese.

Mother worked for "The War Department" in London. As mentioned in New Member forum working my way through tracking that information down. One cousin, English, ended up Australian Army and died as prisoner of Japanese - thought Burma but lately heard otherwise - need to clarify. Her brother reserved occupation as tool & die maker worked for De Haviland and a cousin was also tool & die maker and recently learned he worked on making parts for decoding the Enigma machine.

Her father and uncle both in the British Artillery in World War I. No proof yet re paternal grandfather's service although he was of age and a multi-linguist who did quick draw exhibitions at fairs.

Father's grandfather and his cousins served in Canadian militia against Fenian Raids in 1860s from US; and before that their's served in War of 1812 in Chateuguay/Beuharnois area of Quebec. Suspect had family on both sides of the US Revolutionary War.

 

Mum's Side:
Great Great Uncle Andrew Johnstone - Was in the Gordon Highlanders in WW1.

Great Uncle Thomas Alexander - Was Killed in Tunisia on 7th April 1943 serving with the Black Watch.

Grandfather Vincent Alexander - Fought at the Suez Canal in the royal Signals during his National Service.


Dad's Side:
Great Great Great (plus lots) Grandfather was a Colonel in the Napolionic war.

Great Uncle Gorden Howe - Was in the Royal Navy and fought at Dunkirk.

Great Uncle Robert Howe - RAMC taken prisoner at Tubruk in Africa. Worked as a POW in Italian hospital, but the hospital was bombed by the Americans and he died.

Great Uncle John Howe - Merchant Navy Lost at Sea while staioned in Alexandria. Was apparently sunk by a U-Boat.

Grandfather Basil Rootes - Was in 207 Sqdn RAF as a Flight Engineer working on Lancaster bombers.

Grandmother Stella Howe - Nurse in London during the Blitz.

Most of my Mum's family were Scottish fishermen and were therefore in reserved occupations for both wars.

My Dad's family however did another vital service in WW2. My Great Uncles - William and Reginald - founded the Rootes Group who produced Armoured Cars, Planes and other vehicles in WW2.