Wow Steve, What a site!!!!! I love the Bio's. Of course, as a book collector I love the reference page as well. Since I put the books on my site, I have recieved about another 10 vet books that I need to put on there. And I have three more coming!
I will spent more time going through your site. It looks really great and a great tribute to these men.
I hope to have ALL Allied soldiers that were KIA and/or buried in The Netherlands. There are 8301 in Margraten plus the ones that died here but are buried elsewhere. And then the Commonwealth airboys and grunts. Those are 10.000s. Don't know how many. At the moment IU am concentrating on the Americans as I get most hits from the States and by far the most reactions as well.
The last year I have been getting a lot of information on soldiers form their families that have visited my site. I am working on about 25 men right now to put on line.
usually I go to a cemetery, take pictures and then start researching the lives of these men. In books, internet, archives. I also try to contact their family and perhaps veterans that might have known them. Often I end up with at least something to write. You can also get their 293 file (deceased file) from teh Personel Command in VA.
I must say that I keep buying books all the time. I often get help from fellow researchers and family and vets. I also try Associations and archives liek NARA and PRO in England. I got all of Robert Morneweck's information from his brother, Art, a regular on this forum as well.
There are several soldiers that the US Graves Registration found dead in Gewrman POW camps. They took them to Margraten to be ID'ed. In the late 1940's the commonwealth soldiers were reinterred in Nederweert War Cemetery and all other nationalities in Amersfoort. So that is why we have a SOuth African and an Indian buried there.
The 2nd Armored actually libertaed a small part of Holland in the SOuth East. Most of their casulaties that are today buried in Margraten were KIA in the Battle for the Rhineland, in Nov-Oct 1944, just over the Dutch German border. I have two of them on line and a couple of others will soon follow. There are a lot of Americans buried in Margarten from different units that were KIA in a few days time. Also the days that Robert Morneweck was killed; A lot of Americans KIA on 12 and 13 April 1945.
I changed the link for Sgt Clawson. Thanks for pointing that out!
I will sent you a email on NARA. I went there a couple of years ago and what a facility!!! It is great doing research there but I advise that when you visit, you let them know in advance what you going to need, as you might end up waiting quite a while. I have a contact in NARA that is very usefull. It is possible to have the documents you need sent to you (on photocopy or microfiche). I have loads of MACRs (Missing AIr Crew Reports) from them. I also need loads of AARs etc. but lack teh money at the time. I suggest you visit their side and get aquanted (sp?) with their holdings, so when you order stuff you can let them know where to look for it. Saves A LOT of time! When you can't find what you are looking for youcan also mail them, but it will take some time before they get back to you.
I will add a link to your site. If there is anything I can help you with, just let me know. WOuld love to be of assistance. The more these men are being commemorated and rememered, the better.
Regards,
Stevin