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Army Soldier (?) - Deggendorf Germany - 1946 (DP Camp?)

Army Soldier (?) - Deggendorf Germany - 1946 (DP Camp?)

Posted: 4 Sep 2014 5:31PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 4 Sep 2014 10:10PM GMT
Surnames: Edwards
The attached picture is the only clue I have related to my paternal grand-father. He either disappeared from the face of the earth or just the memory of my now deceased grandmother and father. The picture is inscribed on the back "to my wife and son - Deggendorf, Germany, 1946".

They were married in '43 in Ponca City, Oklahoma. My father was born in late '44. My grandmother remarried in '50. What happened to this soldier? It's a mystery.

I believe this is an Army uniform. Private rank. The numbers on the tank are difficult to make out. The USA 30111511 is the serial number of the tank. I'd love to find out more about this soldier and what he did after 1946. His name is Carl Edwards.

Deggendorf was the site of a displaced persons camp. I assume his unit was working there.
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Re: Army Soldier (?) - Deggendorf Germany - 1946 (DP Camp?)

Posted: 4 Sep 2014 10:15PM GMT
Classification: Query
If you get your grandmother's marriage licence for her marriage in 1950 it probably has some sort of documentation mentioned stating that she was free to marry again. It could give you a clue as to where to search next.

Re: Army Soldier (?) - Deggendorf Germany - 1946 (DP Camp?)

Posted: 5 Sep 2014 4:51AM GMT
Classification: Query
Did Private Carl Edwards die while in the U.S. Army, 1946-49? If so, I suggest you obtain his I.D.P.F. (Individual Deceased Personnel File). If he did not die while a member of the U.S. Army, check local (Ponca City ?) newspaper obituary. Also, have you searched Find A Grave on the internet?

Richard V. Horrell
WW 2 Connections

Re: Army Soldier (?) - Deggendorf Germany - 1946 (DP Camp?)

Posted: 5 Sep 2014 8:42PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you - all great suggestions!

Re: Army Soldier (?) - Deggendorf Germany - 1946 (DP Camp?)

Posted: 7 Sep 2014 2:09PM GMT
Classification: Query
Edited: 7 Sep 2014 3:49PM GMT
Have you copies of Oklahoma marriage certificate and father's birth certificate? Do you know a middle initial? Where born and age. One or both should be on those records.

There are several Carl Edwards that enlisted...

There is a Carl L. Edwards in the database "U.S. Rosters of World War II Dead, 1939-1945" but it does not have a death date. He was buried in the Margraten Cemetery, Holland (per next of kin). Has he was an Army Private with Serial Number 39477250.

At the American Battle Monuments Commission website it is known as the Netherlands American Cemetery. Just now tried to do a search of burials but it is "down". The search engine reports no results in that cemetery for last name Edwards. But it also has no results for any surname I tried in any cemetery for any war. You might try later, as it usually give Unit and place enlisted from. http://www.abmc.gov/search-abmc-burials-and-memorializations

Now the NARA has online U.S. Army Enlistments at the ADD Website and it has Service Numbers (Ancestry's same database does not.) It seems a Carl L Edwards with the above service number, enlisted in in Ft Lewis Washington and was from Multnomah County Oregon. Age 19 married, enlisted 1944.
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtc...

There is also a Carl M Edwards that home is Osage County OK, b. 1927 enlisted in Oklahoma City, 1945. Was married and Army Service Number 38781018. Ponca City is in both Osage and Kay Counties.
http://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtc...

Divorce was still somewhat of a "shame" back then. He may have come back and wanted a divorce or stayed overseas and wanted a divorce so that is why finding out what status your grandmother claimed with second marriage is important. As well as he age and place of birth. Also she may have gotten the divorce......

Edit
SSDI has a Carl M Edwards b. 1927 SSN issued in Oklahoma d. 1983 last address Wichita, Sedgwick County Kansas.
An obit or death notice is in the Wichita Eagle and Beacon, can get copy through Historical Society: http://mhgswichita.org/83obits.html

There are only 4 men named Carl Edwards in WWII casualties lists...
Carl A Edwards. Navy ...missing at sea
Carl L Edwards. Army...buried in Netherlands, information above
Carl L Edwards Army ...buried Iowa
Carl W Edwards Army...buried TX. Carl Weldon Edwards in NARA ADD

Re: Army Soldier (?) - Deggendorf Germany - 1946 (DP Camp?)

Posted: 7 Sep 2014 5:41PM GMT
Classification: Query
Thank you so much for the time you took to look all of this up. I've clicked through many of those records before. I spent about a few hours today going back over everything. The Carl M Edwards from Osage County, OK is the most obvious connection.

If that is really him, then he was 16 when he married my grandmother, not 21 as he stated on the marriage license. (My Grandmother was 18) Then, almost 2 years after they married and 1 year after my Dad was born he enlisted and went to Europe.

There is a marriage record for him on 12/31/1946 in Arkansas to a Buelah Proctor. He states he is 21 on this marriage license, putting his birthdate at 1925.

My conclusion is he fabricated his age on the 2 marriage licenses. His army enlistment and the 1930/1940 census all match a 1927 birthdate.

I'll keep digging. Thanks again!
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