Marion & Group,
First let me say thank you for allowing me to tag along in pursuit of information concerning family & friends who have engaged in keeping our FREEDOMS intact.
Chasing Dad's service life has been a blessing and a curse. I have really enjoyed the few scraps of information that I have found. It sheds a little light on the man I never knew (dad did not talk much about his service in the Army): I am sure it was a difficult time for him. The curse is I never really know what is comming or what I might truly discover. The stories and tales of my father seem to slip further and further away each year. His service time is lost and only he and those who were with him truly know the story there. What a shame.
This journey started for me after dads death in 1995. I was looking at an old photo album of dad and his service buddies and it started me to wonder: who were these young men and what has happened to them. I started to ask questions of family members and anyone who might have chatted with dad about those times. Mostly "tall tales" and not much to follow-up on. I did contact the VA and received some small packet of paperwork containing discharge papers, medical records, decorations and what looks like training documents. Not much to go on!
It is believed that dad was there on D-Day--I do not know what wave or unit he was serving with. This was from family members who had heard dad talk about it long before I was ever born ( I'm 56). He was rumored to have been at St Lo, France during the fighting there---but I do not have factual information on that or anything really. Hence, My search.
What really got me to digging was my children asking me about my service time. My girls are in theirs 20's and old enough to ask hard and demnading questions. I have tried to answer them the best I can. I wish I had pressed dad as hard.
My search continues.
Thank you,
geo
Welcome George:
Thanks for joining. I hope we will be able you obtain more information on your father. It can be a very frustrating pursuit; just ask me!
There are several avenues you can try, so please see our Research section for contacts. They include the National Archives in Maryland (reports on the unit themselves), WWII Connections (a private research company), to name a few.
You may also want to contact the local library and newspapers of your dad's hometown. The papers carried small articles about their hometown boys, and many people are pleasantly surprised when they contact these agencies.
Good luck and Merry Christmas to you and your family.