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Info search for WWII soldiers

Discussion in 'Military Service Records & Genealogical Research' started by danelleke, Jun 16, 2014.

  1. danelleke

    danelleke New Member

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    Hello to all of you, I am Danielle from Belgium and searching for info on 3 of my soldiers, I am the care taker of their graves and now I am looking for more info about them and maybe locate some family members.

    BELILES Otis E. H.
    Born 1914, Butler County, Kentucky
    Army serial N°, 35720385
    Private, US Army
    60th Infantry Regiment, 9th Infantry Division
    Entered service from Kentucky
    KIA: October 21, 1945

    GANSBERG Raymond H.
    Born: 28 March 1920, DuPage County, Illinois
    Army serial N°: O2044887
    Captain, US Air Force
    361st Fighter Squadron, 356th Fighter Group
    Entered service from Illinois
    KIA: December 5, 1944

    THARP Edsil R.
    Born 13 May 1917, Braxton County, West Virginia
    Army serial N°: 35781577
    Private, US Army
    394th Infantry Regiment, 99th Infantry Division
    Entered service from West Virginia
    KIA: March 13, 1945

    Every bit of information is very welcome, thank you.
     
    danelleke, Jun 16, 2014
    #1
    TD-Tommy776, formerjughead, KJ Jr and 2 others like this.
  2. GRW

    GRW Pillboxologist WW2|ORG Editor

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    Welcome to the forums, Danelleke.
     
    GRW, Jun 16, 2014
    #2
  3. Biak

    Biak Boy from Illinois Staff Member

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    Welcome to the forum Danielle. Let me be the first to give you a "Salute" for your generous giving of your time and efforts in Honoring the Veterans.
    I've moved your post to this sub-section which is more specific with the topic. This will keep your request more in the forefront and hopefully get a little more notice.

    If you'd like, please tell us more about yourself and your involvement with the Cemetery where you watch over our Soldiers in the New Members section.

    We have some really great members who I'm confident will be able to find more information for you.
     
    Biak, Jun 16, 2014
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    danelleke likes this.
  4. Natman

    Natman Member

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    Welcome, Danielle.

    Re: Capt. Gansberg: Here are the aircraft and MACR numbers for planes lost on 5 December, 1944:

    A/C Serial # Date [​IMG] MACR Group Squadron A/C Type
    44-15079 12/5/1944 10812 356 361 P-51
    44-15118 12/5/1944 10811 356 361 P-51
    44-15169 12/5/1944 10810 356 361 P-51

    Someone with a Fold 3 account will be able to look up the MACR's and see what the one for Capt. Gansberg indicates happened on that day.

    You may have already seen this, but: http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GSln=GA&GSpartial=1&GSbyrel=all&GScntry=19&GSsr=921&GRid=29328982&

    Thank you for adopting the graves and honoring these men. Looking forward to learning more about these men.

    Good luck!
     
    Natman, Jun 16, 2014
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  5. BFBSM

    BFBSM Member Patron  

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    Of the three MAC reports, it is the second in the list which applies to Raymond Gansberg.
     
    BFBSM, Jun 16, 2014
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  6. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    TD-Tommy776, Jun 16, 2014
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  7. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    TD-Tommy776, Jun 16, 2014
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  8. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    Otis E. H. Beliles on ABMC

    The casualty list for Otis E. H. Beliles lists his status as FOD (Finding of Death). That, along with the late date of death (21 Oct 1945), suggests he was MIA, never recovered, and finally formally declared dead as of 21 Oct 1945. Those are just assumptions on my part. It would be a good idea to request his IDPF. The IDPF may help in finding his next of kin.

    UPDATE: I just found him listed as an MIA: http://9thinfantrydivision.net/tribute-pages/missing-in-action/

    So, presumably he was declared dead 1 year after he was reported MIA.

    This would be supported by info on the same website regarding another MIA from the 60th, Raymond C. Blanton, MIA on 14 Oct 1944:

     
    TD-Tommy776, Jun 16, 2014
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  9. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    LRusso216, Jun 16, 2014
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  10. TD-Tommy776

    TD-Tommy776 Man of Constant Sorrow

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    You just beat me to that one, Lou. :) At the bottom it references a "George Nester Tharp Family Tree" on Ancestry.com. That may be helpful in trying to locate living relatives.

    I would also suggest requesting an IDPF for PFC Tharp.
     
    TD-Tommy776, Jun 16, 2014
    #10
  11. LRusso216

    LRusso216 Graybeard Staff Member

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    It's about time I beat you, Tommy. :dance4:

    PS. Thanks for the salute.
     
    LRusso216, Jun 16, 2014
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  12. danelleke

    danelleke New Member

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    Thank you all for the info, it helped me a lot, especially the MACR and the explanation of him declared death after one year of MIA.

    I asked for the IDPF from all of them, got an answer with a tracking number and they also told me the waiting time to get the documents is 48 weeks !!!! Hilarious :)

    Danielle
     
    danelleke, Jun 17, 2014
    #12

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