Purple Heart - Family History & Genealogy Message Board

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

juliehopper165 — 2012-06-15 20:54:51Z

Hello Mark,
I am very interested in talking to your family. My FIL was in 773rd as well. We live only 2 1/2 hrs from DT Chicago, so not far for a visit, or we can Skype. Any information you have to pass along would be great.
I look forward to hearing from you.
JulieHopper@mac.com
Thanks
Julie

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

write2harriet — 2012-02-07 21:05:19Z

Mark & Steve,
I would love to talk to you both about your loved ones' experiences with the 773rd. Mark, I am thrilled to know that your grandfather is still living! I live in the Dallas area and don't have any plans of visiting Chicago anytime soon. With my daughter's help, I might could Skype. I need to learn how to do that since my daughter will be attending grad school at Vanderbilt this fall and it would be helpful to know how! I could also call you both. My email address is write2harriet@gmail.com.

If you haven't discovered the following website, I would suggest that you check it out. It has been very helpful... http://www.tankdestroyer.net/index.php?option=com_content&am.... Under the 773rd newsletter and roster, I couldn't locate your grandfather's name under Co. B or even your dad's name, Steve. I could have overlooked it, though, too. The list could be incomplete, also.

I have several questions...were they in a tank? or support? What postition? Did they go over to England on the Acquitania the end of Jan, 1944 with the unit? While in England what all did they do? I know that they were able to take leaves into London, Stratford-on-Avon, Oxford, etc. What kind of things did they do on these leaves? My uncle wasn't a drinker or womanizer, so what kind of things would he have done? What was it like living in the tanks once they were in France? Did they participate in the Battle for the Falaise Gap? What do they remember? What about Paris? They went around it but I know that they rested for 2 weeks and got 18 hours passes into Paris. Any memories? What do they remember about the battle for Lunneville and the Parroy Forest?

In my story, I do want it to be factual but I also want it to be a human interest story. I don't want just facts but I want the book to tell the human side of serving during WWII in a TD. I want to put muscles, flesh, and feelings on the bones of this story! Any help would be greatly appreciated.

I will also contact you both by email so we can exchange personal information.

Thanks,
Harriet Wright

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

bushbeater59 — 2012-02-05 21:19:40Z

Mark,
Likewise excited to receive your reply. My father, William Earl Halley, was also with Company B, the 2nd Platoon, but has been deceased since 1987. I have several items of memorabilia but have also just completed a fairly large writing project on my father's life focused mostly on his wartime experiences with several pictures of the unit. I would be happy to forward a copy if you supply your email address. My address is: stephenhalley@abbnebraska.com. We are located about twenty miles north of Omaha, Nebraska. Would also enjoy visiting with you via telephone if possible. Will share number to your direct email.
Thank you for responding,
Steve Halley
Arlington, Nebraska

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

markcsciacca — 2012-02-05 16:52:23Z

Greetings,

This is exciting! I've had this posted for years with no replies or inquiries. My grandfather is still alive! His name is John Sowa. He recently turned 90 years old. To be completely honest, he is still very with it mentally; however, his hearing is very poor, particularly from WWII combat. I don't know how good his memory is, but I'm sure that it is not verbatim. I discussed this with him and he was very intrigued. My grandfather has been my biggest role model and his greatest accomplishment has been defending this country's freedom.

We all live in the Chicago area. If you live around here, we would love to meet up and discuss this with you. If not, maybe a phone call/skype session would hold true. Also, a few years ago, my grandfather and grandmother did some research with regards to his war history. I have an entire packet that explains his history and that of the 773rd. I would be more than happy to send this to you if you'd like.

I believe that he was in Co B 773rd T-D Bn. I have another document that states, "John Sowa, 367 IOI38, Private First Class 773rd. Tank Destroyer Battalion, United States Army".

Please let me know if you would like more information. I would be glad to help.

Thanks,
Mark

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

write2harriet — 2012-01-26 21:55:56Z

Nancy, I have been trying to locate someone from your family. I have read the journal that you posted online about your dad's service with the 773rd. I know that two of your brothers live in Kileen, TX, and I tried to locate them when I was down at Fort Hood in Nov. My uncle was killed in the Parroy Forest outside of Lunneville, France on Oct. 9, 1944. Your father talked about this event in his journal. What he didn't realize at the time was that 2 guys from the tank actually survived. He mentioned Peabody but Sarg. Ernie Rabe (Dan Rabe's father) was thrown from the tank but could not be evacuated for hours because of the intense fighting around him. I am in the process of writing a book about my uncle and the story to bring him home after 66 years. I would love to hear from you. I have some questions that you might be able to answer. I hope and pray that your father is still living. I would love to talk to him, if possible. He gave me so much insight into the unit. Thanks! I look forward to hearing from you soon.

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

write2harriet — 2012-01-26 21:47:47Z

Mark, I am in the process of researching about the 773rd TD bn for a book about my uncle, Judge C. Hellums who was a member of the 773rd and killed in the Parroy Forest in Oct. of 1944. Is your grandfather still living? I would love to talk to him if possible. Do you know what company and platoon he was in? Thank you! I look forward to hearing from you.

Re: surviving members USS Langley, WWII, Battle of the Coral Sea

fosterus — 2011-11-19 03:42:45Z

Oh, and by the way, the Langley was sunk off java, Indonesia, in the Indian Ocean, not the Coral Sea, which is part of the Pacific.

Re: surviving members USS Langley, WWII, Battle of the Coral Sea

fosterus — 2011-11-19 03:41:43Z

Did he survive the sinking? If so, what happened to him?According to official histories this seemed very unlikely and yet there were Langley reunions for some years after WW2. This puzzles me.

Re: surviving members USS Langley, WWII, Battle of the Coral Sea

@@Cindyrussell@aol.com — 2011-11-19 00:08:39Z

Thank you for your reply. It is terrible to think of the lost lives.

Re: surviving members USS Langley, WWII, Battle of the Coral Sea

fosterus — 2011-11-16 08:33:17Z

I believe this account is pretty close to the truth and may assist. But what happened to Tom Donovan on his return to the US?

Episode 3
Futile Missions and Tragic Naval Losses

In the grim days on 1942, all around Christmas Island the opposing naval forces had been in continual conflict. The USS Langley, originally constructed pre-WW1 but converted in 1920 to become the US Navy’s first aircraft carrier, had been refurbished as a seaplane tender and was based in Darwin in January 1942. It was ordered to Perth to load 32 P40 fighter aircraft and pilots, desperately needed by the embattled Dutch forces in the East Indies and was enroute with this cargo when sighted by the Islander in February. It later left this convoy, along with the similarly laden transport Seawitch, to deliver its aircraft and pilots at Tjilatjap, on Java’s southern coast, on 27 February. The Langley never made it to Tjilatjap but the Seawitch did manage to unload its precious cargo, all of which was later destroyed, still in crates, by the retreating allied forces.

Needing an escorting force to provide anti-aircraft cover, the Langley rendezvoused near Java with two destroyers, the aging USS Whipple and USS Edsall , and together they then sought safer waters. Unfortunately, the three ships were caught by Japanese bombers in the confines of the coastal waters and the venerable old Langley was seriously hit and finally abandoned. The two destroyers rescued 485 survivors and then the Whipple shelled and sank the disabled old Langley, to prevent its use by the Japanese. The two destroyers were ordered to rendezvous at Christmas Island on 28 February to transfer those rescued to the veteran fleet oiler USS Pecos, which had been supporting American ships in action in around Java and was bound for Colombo. The vessels duly met off Flying Fish Cove later that day.

During the transfer they were attacked by land-based bombers but fought them off and hurriedly withdrew further south, out of range, but in their haste they left ashore a US naval officer from the Langley, Lt-Cmdr Thomas Donovan. They completed the transfer in the open ocean early on the morning of 1 March. The Pecos now had 700 survivors on board and the Whipple steamed off to protect another tanker near the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. The USS Edsall had been ordered to retain the 32 USAAC personnel and was now instructed to deliver them to Java to assemble and fly the P40 fighters, an increasingly futile mission.

At 0830 on 1 March the Edsall turned northwards again began its approach into Java. Soon afterwards the Pecos, now sailing alone, was attacked by carrier-borne dive bombers and after several hours continuous action was sunk at about 1548 hours. Soon afterwards the Edsall steamed back into the scene, in answer to the distress calls from the Pecos, probably seeking to rescue as many of its old stricken comrades as possible. When still about 64 kms away, it was pounced upon by a lurking Japanese fleet but defended itself gallantly for several hours, much to the frustration of the Japanese commander, before finally being sunk at 1731. Only a handful of survivors were rescued by the Japanese vessels. It is not known if any of the hapless USAAC personnel, who had now been sunk twice, survived.

Meanwhile the old Whipple had returned to the last position of the Pecos and at 1922 hours began picking up survivors. It detected and attacked a submarine but remained in these perilous waters until 231 men had been rescued, though many had been affected by the anti-submarine attacks. However, aware of the ongoing risks to Whipple’s safety, the captain then accepted the necessity to withdraw, leaving many sailors still in the water to their fate and sailed south to Australia.

Considering the flow of events taking place on Java at this time, and with the virtue of hindsight, it is difficult to justify the decisions that put the Whipple, Langley, Edsall and Pecos and so many precious allied personnel and resources in such perilous danger with so little prospect of success. Certainly, the commencement of bombing raids on northern Australia two weeks earlier meant that aircraft and pilots were sorely needed elsewhere.

Re: surviving members USS Langley, WWII, Battle of the Coral Sea

winddancerjules — 2011-11-16 02:31:33Z

My father, Kenneth C. Roush, was a Marine on the USS Langley during WWII. Any information about what transpired is greatly appreciated. Thank you so very much.

Re: Purple Heart+other Awards, Material-1st US / Canadian SPECIAL FORCE, 1943-45

riven37 — 2011-10-13 13:35:30Z

http://www.archives.gov/

Robert Dexter Southerland

suzz1962 — 2011-08-26 04:36:08Z

I am looking for his family. I am a cousin and want to talk to them about his Purple Heart. I also have a photo of him.

Kimi Southerland

Purple Heart+other Awards, Material-1st US / Canadian SPECIAL FORCE, 1943-45

jdel0116 — 2011-03-15 08:48:28Z

Also is trying to "Find" my Fathers Purple Heart and other such offical US Service items...mailed back home to Springfield OR Worcester, Massachusetts area to his Aunts, Uncles & Cousins...for safe keeping.
His name was: James Philip Delaney, US Army (1st US / Canadian SPECIAL FORCE) 1943-1945 Anzio, Italy. Southern France.

Re: purple heart info? on uncle

jdel0116 — 2011-03-15 08:44:54Z

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

cneff516 — 2010-12-14 12:47:21Z

I have recently learned my uncle, Ray Walker, was a member of the 773rd. I am interested in any information you can provide. Thanks much.

Re: surviving members USS Langley, WWII, Battle of the Coral Sea

qtpiemeg1623 — 2010-10-17 21:11:06Z

Hi there.

The reunion that you speak of regarding the Langley and Whipple was run my great aunt, Henryetta Cokor and her now deceased husband, John for many many years. Her father, and my grandmother's father was the commander in chief, Hank Mummey. It was called the Covered Wagon Association. If you would like, go ahead and email me and I can contact her as well tomorrow and see if I can give her your number to chat. My email is qtpiemeg1623@yahoo.com. I would love to help as best as I can.

I remember growing up going to these reunions with just the Langley survivors and it was amazing and so much fun! I am now 25 years old and definitely cherish those members with those old men.

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

dobw1 — 2010-08-05 16:55:40Z

Cindy,

Thank you so much for the information about Clair Barth. I hope my project will honor him and all other World War II veterans.

Dob Wallace

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

cindyrussell59 — 2010-08-04 18:15:04Z

Hi Dob,
I have a list of members of the 773rd and yes Clair E. Barth was a member of Company B of the 773rd under First Sergeant Joseph B. MacIntosh. This list of members is from "The Jerk: 2nd Anniversary of the 773rd TD BN."
Good luck in your research.
Cindy Russell

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

dobw1 — 2010-07-30 00:54:37Z

Hey Joe,
Saw your post stating that you have a list of 773th TD members. I'm a high school teacher looking for info about Clair E. Barth for a history project. Can you confirm that he was a member of the 773rd? Thanks, Dob Wallace

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

bushbeater59 — 2010-05-28 16:35:43Z

Mark,
Glad to hear your grandpa is still alive and kickin'! My dad, William Earl Halley, served as a heavy machine gunner with the 2nd Platoon of B Company, 773rd Tank Destroyer Battalion. He never talked about it too much, and he's been gone now for almost 25 years. I wish I'd been more persistant gathering and recording information when he was alive. Dad joined the unit in November 1944, when they were fighting for the town of Dillingen on the Saar River. He then proceeded with the unit north to the Battle of the Buldge and then into Germany, ending the war in Czechoslavokia. I know that he was involved in a fairly intense action in the town of Oberwampach in Luxembourg in January 1945. I'm in in the process of gathering information and writing it all down, so my kids (who don't remember a lot about their grandpa) will maybe some day appreciate the sacrifices that generation made for them. Have some pictures and items. Please share with your grandpa, and respond for more info. Anyway, here's a couple websites that might be helpful:
God bless them and all who served-Steve Halley

http://www.evri.com/media/article;jsessionid=7719af1m0mlk?ti...

http://www.90thdivisionassoc.org/90thDivisionFolders/mervinb...

Re: Unit members of 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion

markcsciacca — 2010-05-12 17:38:36Z

Hello,

My name is Mark and my grandfather was in the 773rd Tank Destroyer Batallion. His name is John Sowa. My grandfather is currently 88 years old and is still alive and well. He married my grandmother, Florence, and they had two wonderful daughters. I am one of John's 5 grandchildren. I was with him last evening and we talked about WWII. He loves nothing more than to tell me old war stories, and I love nothing more than to hear them. I have done a ton of research on the 773rd today and he never mentioned that they were the best TD battalion the war had ever seen. I am so proud and honored. He is the biggest and best influence in my life. If anyone out there has any information on 773rd reunions or has any pictures/documents/name lists of this Battalion I would love to share them with him. Please contact me if you do and thanks.

GOD BLESS THE 773RD TANK DESTROYER BATTALION

Re: Info on a WWII purple heart recipient

diskoverit — 2010-05-06 05:08:26Z

Try this website. Some of the sites are $ some are free.
Good luck.
http://www.militaryindexes.com/worldwartwo/

Info on a WWII purple heart recipient

tbo6652 — 2010-02-25 18:26:26Z

Is there anything on Ancestry.com or anywhere online where I can find info about my grandfather who got a purple heart in WWII as a Marine?

Re: surviving members USS Langley, WWII, Battle of the Coral Sea

fosterus — 2009-08-20 13:38:38Z

While transferring the survivors in Flying Fish Cove, Christmas Island, an air raid forced a hurried departure and, ij fact, one Langley officer was left ashore. He was Lt Cmdr Thomas Donovan. When the japanese took the Island on 31 March 1942, he was taken prisoner and interned along with the small remnant group of Europeans on the Island. The Indian troops in the small garrison had mutinied and murdered their British officers and comrades but spared Donovan and the civilians, who were treated as POWS for the remainder of the war. In 1943 food shortages forced a ransfer to the Celebes, where the camp conditions were very grim indeed. I have seen records that Donovan survived to be repatriated but I have not heard anything of his later life. How many Langley survivors lived to return to the US after the war?

Re: Purple Heart Found-Would like to return to family

DecMay — 2008-07-11 02:52:46Z

Copied and pasted from the Military>WWII>Lost and Found message board by dawna0304 Posted: 4 Dec 2007 6:26PM

Classification: Query

I just found one to and was told my law that they are to be mailed to the Secretary of Defense at the Pentagon. See the following.

Official Policy on Lost Dogtags and other U.S. Military property.
Because there are many bogus dogtags being "found" everyday, and because too many fraudulent people are attempting to make personal contact with veterans or their families with the hope of seeking a reward or obtaining publicity, the following official policy on LOST AND FOUND
MILITARY ITEMS is being provided to all veterans. Please forward this information to other American veterans and veterans organizations.

OFFICIAL POLICY: LOST UNITED STATES MILITARY PROPERTY

1. Found U.S. Military items remain the property of the United States Government and the Department of Defense as official custodian.

2. Found military items should not be retained by the finder who is seeking, for whatever reason, to make personal contact with the GI who lost the item, or a member of the GI's family. By law, found military items must be mailed immediately to:

Secretary of Defense
Room 3E880
The Pentagon
Washington DC 20301

3. The Dept of Defense has many resources at its disposal to return and/or preserve lost U.S. military items.
4. When sending items to the Secretary of Defense the finder should include a letter describing the place and circumstances in which the item was found, and the finder's personal contact information for Department of Defense investigators:

WHERE WAS THE ITEM YOU HAVE ENCLOSED FOUND
_________________________________________________________
DATE THE ITEM WAS FOUND
_________________________________________________________
NAME OF FINDER
_________________________________________________________
FINDER'S
ADDRESS
____________________________________________________
CITY ____________________________________________________
STATE/ZIP ____________________________________________________
PHONE ____________________________________________________
EMAIL ____________________________________________________

Re: Purple Heart Found-Would like to return to family

mrbobmspat — 2008-02-11 17:43:56Z

There is a Donald R. Bennett who was in the Army from Gloucester County N.J. He was born 1919 went in Army 1942. On the Social Security Death Index there is listed a Donald Bennett born 30 Oct. 1919 died May 1986.was from Wooodbury Heights Gloucester Co. N.J. Might be worth a try to find Bennetts in that town who are related.
Bob

Purple Heart Found-Would like to return to family

Carol_Hendricks — 2008-02-11 03:25:43Z

The Trenton Historical Society has taken receipt of a Purple Heart with the name Donald R. Bennett on the reverse. It is in the box in which it was presented and has some wear. Please help us find the proper family to return it.

There is another memento in the box which we would hope could be identified also.

purple heart info? on uncle

denniswalker191 — 2007-12-08 19:30:06Z

Please help my wife to find more info on her uncle, a purple heart recept. His name was Joseph G Balkus Jr.,born
18feb1913,He served in Europe in WWII, and was honorably discharged 26nov1945. Is there a way to learn about why he was awarded the Purple Heart and the event/s that took place? This is our first attempt at family history, thank you, Dennis and Mary Walker

Re: Purple Heart

Robersabel — 2007-09-17 21:28:23Z

Your father should have been issued a WD AGO Form (Separation paper) identifying the Awards and Medals authorized.

If he served after WWII it should be on his DD Form 214.

Robert
Robersabel@aol.com

WW2 - Zachariah Edward Bishop - HELP!

ehochstein — 2007-03-01 17:36:18Z

I posted this message below in the other message boards. I want to try to reach as many people as possible.

I hope that someone out there can help us! My in-laws live in France. They have a friend nearby that has a bracelet given to her as an infant, day after she was born, by a US Serviceman. She was born on June 12,1944.

This serviceman, along with another man, had their plane shot down nearby the baby's grandfather's farm a few days after the baby was born. The grandparents took the two Americans in and hid them from the Germans. Both men were wounded and a doctor came to attend to their wounds (I would assume that he was given some medal &/or Purple Heart!). One of the servicemen gave the family the bracelet to give to the baby....to say thank you for taking them in. That baby is of course a full grown woman now. She has rediscovered the bracelet again and wishes to return it to the family of
the American serviceman.

What my husband and I have discovered:

All we knew about the bracelet were the initials on the front (Z E B). There is a patent number, where I found the original patent online. I was able to confirm that this was indeed an American made bracelet. There was another number on the bracelet.....it turned out to be Z.E.B.'s service
number.

We now have a name to this man because of his service number:
Zachariah Edward Bishop

What we know:
Zachariah Edward Bishop was born to George E Bishop & Emma Woods in Massachusetts, June 25,1912. He has an older half-sister named Clara M Bishop.

We know his social security number. We know that his last residence was in Van Nuys, Los Angeles county, CA. He died May 3, 1966.

He was buried at Ft. Rosecrans National Cemetery in San Diego, CA . He is in Section A-F Site 788 and interred on May 9, 1966.

His military record:
He enlisted in the US Army from 1941-1945. He was a Private First Class - Infantry.

All of the above information we were able to get from Veteran's Affairs, National Archives, Ancestry.Com, Family Search, and the Cemetery website.

Soooooo.......We need help in locating this man's family! We don't have information about marriage or children...any next of kin. That is our priority. It would also be interesting to find out what Army unit he was in because he was an infantry (US Army) guy in an aircraft (US Army Air Corps) in the Loire Valley area. A bit of a mystery there.

I contacted the Cemetery to see if there are family members we could contact? They shot me down and said that due to privacy reasons they cannot give me information. I asked if I could leave a message and they said no. My husband was considering contacting the National Archives for military records....but found out that between 1912-1959 that 80% of the military personnel records had been destroyed by a fire in 1973. We'll still try.

I heard about contacting the local VFW in Zachariah's last known address (Van Nuys - got a disconnect number). I am going to try a VFW Post in another city in Los Angeles and in San Diego.

I filled out a form and sent a check to request a Death Certificate a few days ago.

Anyone have any thoughts on where to go to next? Do any of the Bishop family members listed above sound familiar? Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!
Eileen & Pat

Re: Purple Heart

2006-08-15 17:57:00Z

A few years ago I wrote away for my father's complete military records and was sent a letter stateing they were all destroyed in the fire and I was led to believe that was it. A few years later I went to NARA and found some records for him and wrote to them. I received a very informational Report of Seperation record which listed the medals he received while overseas.

Purple Heart

2006-08-15 15:55:57Z

I did contact the DOD to try to get information about my fathers awards, and his records were in an area of the Pentagon that was burned, and now there is no records of his military awards and honors for him, isn't that terrible.

Re: Purple Heart -help needed

2006-07-29 01:34:56Z

you will have to write ,contact americain dept of defence good luck

surviving members USS Langley, WWII, Battle of the Coral Sea