35th infantry Regiment of the 25th infantry division.

My name is Reb Bacchus, and I am doing research on my paternal uncle Sydney Bacchus who was a member of the 35th infantry Regiment. I have his mother's scrapbook that contains photos and letters including a letter from his company commander, his chaplain and Douglas MacArthur after he was KIA.

I also have a copy of the regimental history that includes the day he was killed along with 28 other members of his company when someone threw a grenade into a Japanese cave filled with munitions. I have always enjoyed military history, but only began looking into my uncle's service after I became interested in genealogy. My father and his surviving brother are both graduates of the Naval Academy. My father graduated in the class of 46 which went into service in June 1945. I believe that was the only Academy class to graduate in three years.

Unfortunately, both my father and his brother are now at a stage of life where their memories are at best very imperfect. I do have his "lucky bag" for the years he was at the Academy as well as copies of the Trident magazine for which he was an editor. My father retired in July 1965, but entered the service 20 years earlier and saw action in the Pacific and later in China. Wild service began in the reserves in 1965 and continued until 1970 when I received an honorable discharge for medical reasons.

I believe I have the name of the ship he served upon in the last two months of World War II. But I don't have any information on the subsequent service in China in 1946. I would appreciate any tips on how to research that. And history.

 

Answers to questionnaire

1 my real name is Robert Edward Bacchus, jr but I've been Reb (my initials) all my life. I ways use my real name because I think I'm the only Reb Bacchus in the world and its easier than trying to remember alter-egos.

2 I'm almost 65, and have been a history buff my whole life. WW II is only one area of military history I enjoy.

3 My father was career Navy. I was born in Coco Solo Panama. I lived all over the world until my senior year in HS when he retired to a small town ranch in Central Texas, Georgetown. I swore that dust of that burg would never settle on my sandals. 48 years later I'm still here.

4 I'm interested in the 35th infantry regiment during the Luzon campaign. I also am interested in the last months of the Pacific Naval campaign. Also the 1945-7 China campaign.

5 the only hobby that relates to WWII is geanology. I have been to many of the European sites as a teen but my travel hobby has generally been confined to USA battle sites.

6 I have been very interested in the War of Northan Aggression since starting Junior High in Norfolk in 1960. We took class an personal trips to most of the important sites as part of the centennial of that war. There were a number of exhibites that were on special loan, like Jeb Stuart's uniform. I was disapponted that it wasn't more elaborate. I've also been to a number of Rev War sites Valley Forge & Kings Mtn being my favorites. Cowpens is on my list because Morgan is in my direct line.

The battlefield that changed my understand the most was Little Bighorn. I couldn't understand why Custer allowed the Indians to get so close until I saw the terrain.

7 I'm a retired computer jocky. I designed systems and databases back in the era of stone knives and bearskins.

 

Welcome Aboard Reb!