Church Record Sunday - 1928 Certificate of Promotion

1928 Certificate of Promotion for my husband's grandmother, Mary L. Ogburn

Sentimetal Sunday: My Grandpa's Poem

In my stack of stuff, I have this little treasure. It is a poem written by my Grandfather (Nov. 18, 1977). Now I never imagined that my grandfather wrote poetry, but my uncle says that he did many surprising things like write this poem. So knowing he held this same paper and wrote these words brings me closer to him. When I read it, I can picture my grandpa taking my 9 year old son's hand, who he never had a chance to meet, and telling him stories about life. Here is the poem:

To a Little Boy from an Old Man

At a friends home I happen to see
A photo of a little boy, who is unknown to me
I studied the picture, then I could see
The beautiful features of the boy, who is unknown to me

My mind wandered back, I wished to be
The age of this boy, who is unknown to me
Mother Nature said, No, that is not for thee

I asked the little boy, let me take your hand
Come along with me. I will show you our great land
We will travel far, we will sit by the sea

As we journey on, I will tell you about life
And what is to be
The hardships, the pleasures, the work and the strife
All this will be part of your life

Be honest, be strong above all be a man
Then I am sure, you will see
What a wonderful life this can be.

All my love to the little boy
Who is unknown to me

Clarence Silk
The Old Man

Treasure Chest Thursday - 1897 I.O.U. for "Oxens"

An original document I have in my treasure chest: 1897 promissory note for "One Team of Oxens"

Wordless Wednesday - A Soldier's Kiss?

Front: Bill "Papa" Locke circa 1944 in Birma

Back: A kiss! Papa says he kissed the photograph and mailed it home to his wife, Mary Louis. My question is where did he get the lipstick?

Military Monday - Part 2 History of the 666th AAA: Movement Orders and a "Chance at the Japs"

As I noted in Part 1, my husband's grandfather served in Burma during WWII.  I am lucky enough to have a copy of a history of his experience. This history was written by Warren M. Knight.  Papa said that one of the men in his unit (I believe it was Knight) kept a journal...another had a camera - neither of which were allowed.  But thankfully for genealogist and historians, they did!  Enjoy this next edition as they leave home and have their first taste of combat.

Movement Orders and a "Chance at the Japs"

"'Movement Orders, Shipment 5198', October 6, 1943, the following organizations will part on or about October 11, 1943, by rail, from Fort Bliss, Texas to Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia so as to arrive there daylight hours on October 23, 1943. 666th AAA MG Btry (Sep) (Airborne) Shipment No. 5198-R. Clothing (summer and winter) and individual equipment as prescribed in T/E 21, March 10, 1943, as amended, will be taken, except that the items listed below are authorized as indicated: Blankets, wool, OD (2 only per individual); Canteens will be aluminum, stainless steel or plastic. The following additional items will also be taken: Covers, mattress (1 per individual); Organizational T/E equipment will accompany troops. Total of dependents and authorized household goods at Government expense will be governed by the provisions of Sec. VI, WD Cir No. 261, 1942 and WD Bull. No. 27, 1942. Rations for estimated travel time of three (3) days, plus one (1) day extra in accordance with current instructions, will be carried."

 "The battery left Fort Bliss, Texas Monday night October 11, 1943, by train and arrived at Camp Patrick Henry, Virginia Friday morning October 15, 1943. We boarded the Andrew Furuseth, a liberty ship, at Newport News, Virginia Saturday morning October 25, 1943, and departed for our overseas destination. Thursday night November 11, 1943, we passed the Rock of Gibraltar and arrived in Oran, Algeria, in North Africa, Friday afternoon November 12, 1943. We boarded the TSS Aronda, a British ship, at Oran, Algeria, Monday morning January 10, 1944, and passed through the Suez Canal Monday, January 17, 1944."

"We arrived in Bombay, India Tuesday afternoon February 1, 1944, Friday morning February 4, 1944, we left Bombay, India by train and Monday, February 7, 1944, we got off the train, crossed the Yangtze River by ferry and boarded another river by ferry and boarded another by train. Friday afternoon February 11, 1944, we got a lot of our back mail at Jorhat, India and Saturday morning, February 12, 1944, we arrived Ledo, Assam in India, our destination. Our APO was 689, and we were attached to the 10th Air Force."

 [Note: they received their orders on October 6, 1943...left Fort Bliss, Texas on October 11, 1943, and reached their destination in India on February 2, 1944!]

"The entire battery was set up in an area overlooking the evacuation air field. After the camp was duly organized, the second and third platoons started work on their positions around the air field. The engineer troops hauled the necessary filling to build up the eight positions. During the last week in February this preliminary work was complete. Then the final work on the positions was started. During this period the first platoon, which was awaiting the construction of towers around the railroad yards was employed in work around the campsite and with some of the squads who were building their positions. The weather for this period was clear and warm. Morale was excellent."

"The eight gun positions around the air strip were completed by the men, the mounds sodded and a removable camouflage top in the form of a basha roof erected over the pits. Each position had adequate drainage pipes of bamboo or metal installed from the outset. During the month engineers constructed three towers around the railhead and the men hauled up sandbags to complete the positions. Lastly the camouflage was constructed. The other squad of the first platoon was located on a hill overlooking the railhead, and since it was impossible to reach by truck the squad members hauled materials by hand to complete the revetment."

"Plenty of recreational facilities have been available and a dayroom has been set up. A baseball team was organized and several games played with local teams. Outside the battery area there are adequate facilities available for reading and writing, a canteen, restaurant and movies. Morale was excellent."

"On March 27, 1944, with the sounding of the 'Red Alert' the men were ready and eager for a chance at the Japs. Enemy planes had been reported in the area, and the sounds of an aerial battle were heard in the distance. The sky was overcast and prevented them from seeing anything that took place. However, at one time a plane was heard approaching the area in a dive. All guns were trained in the direction of the sound and everything was set in case it should have been an enemy plane. As it burst through the clouds it was identified as a P-51, and the hopes for action vanished. The plane leveled off and headed into the northwest, later on followed by several other planes to the south."

Wordless Wednesday - Two Andrews

My Two Andrews

My Great Grandfather, Andrew

My Son, Andrew

Tombstone Tuesday - Woodman of the World: This One Has Me Stumped

Despite driving by this tombstone everyday, I never noticed it was a tree stump. So I stopped, took a few photographs, and after some research, I discovered what a Woodman of the World Memorial is. (click these links for more info: Southern Graves and Woodmen of the World)





I also noticed that Mr. McIver is buried next to an ancestor (how did I not notice the tree stump headstone before?!)...and he shares the same last name as my ancestor's wife...and they died the same year. Could this stump be part of my family tree?? Sounds like a fun genealogy mystery to me!

Military Monday - Part I: History of the 666th AAA Machine Gun Battery A/B

My husband's grandfather served in Burma during WWII.  I am lucky enough to have a copy of a history of his experience. This history was written by Warren M. Knight.  Papa said that one of the men in his unit (I believe it was Knight) kept a journal...another had a camera - neither of which were allowed.  But thankfully for genealogist and historians, they did!  Enjoy this first edition on training.

666th AAA (Anti-Aircraft Artillery) Machine Gun Battery A/B (Airborne) History from December 19, 1942, to July 14, 1950

"The 666^th Headquarters was at Logan Heights, Fort Bliss, Texas, which was then about 12 miles northwest of El Paso, Texas.  The majority of the enlisted men got to the battery on March 5, 1943. The battery consisted of a total of 90 men, 5 officers, and 85 enlisted men.  There were 52 men from Florida and the rest were from the northern and western states. The battery had three platoons with four gun squads to each platoon.  Each squad had five men including a squad leader and each squad had a .50 cal. water-cooler machine gun."

"In the course of the battery’s airborne training, many road marches were made to condition the men for the twenty-five mile hike into the desert. From April 1, 1943, through the month of May, the battery made two weekly marches in various terrains which averaged ten miles in length. The weather conditions were usually very good until May, when the heat increased greatly. On May 10, 1943, the battery made a forward march of nine miles in fifty-five minutes. Of the fifty-four men and two officers who started the hike only eighteen men and the officers finished as a group. Fifteen more made the march in an added ten minutes, the balance straggling in. Weather was hot and clear. Terrain was level desert road."  

"On July 2, 1943, the battery made its long awaited 25 mile road march. We departed camp at 1830 hours carrying full field packs and marched for the first nine miles before a short break was taken. At the end of the next six miles, a hour break was taken, during which the men were allowed to purchase light refreshments. The return march was begun at 2330 hours, and the battery reached camp around 0400 hours. All the men and the four officers finished the march with the exception of two enlisted men. The morale was very high, most of the men singing and joking up until the last five or six miles. The weather was cool and the sky overcast. Roads were wet and muddy." 

"September 28, 1943, the battery joined the 50^th AA Group for a tactical maneuver, traveling 23 miles by truck convoy. A defense of a landing strip was set up with all positions dug in and well camouflaged under desert conditions. All needed measures against gas attack were taken. Camouflage was effected and sanitation measures were taken. On September 30, 1943, the battery marched, with full field packs over sandy desert roads in the full heat of the day, the distance of 21 miles to Biggs Field, Texas where an AA defense was organized. On October 1, 1943, the battery marched from Biggs Field, Texas to Fort Bliss, Texas, a distance of 4 miles. Weather for entire period was clear and hot. Morale was high."

"Papa" - William Locke

Sentimental Sunday - Evelyn

Pearl Evelyn Jensen

...is the name of the beautiful young lady featured on this blog.  She is my grandmother. She is the best grandmother you can imagine. She...

...has a great sense of humor
...loves candy (especially peanut M&Ms)
...cusses (no other grandmother I know would dare cuss)
...has the biggest dimples when she smiles (lucky for me I inherited this trait)
...wraps restaurant leftovers in a napkin and stuffs them in her purse despite being given a to-go box
...stores kleenex in the wrist of her long sleeve shirts or sweaters just in case
...wears a size 4 shoe
...lived in Chicago in the 20's
...loves to watch Soul Train because she "loves the way those kids move"
...did not marry until she was in her mid-thirties

Lucile, Ostense, Evelyn, and Andrew Jensen

...misses her sister, Lucile, very much
...almost died giving birth to identical twins, my father and uncle
...worked for the candymaker Mars (she would bring home pockets filled with candy to share with her mom)
...loves to listen to talk radio (me too!)
...bites her fingernails when she worries
...loves me!

Evelyn passed away in 1987 - the very day, the very minute I drove out my driveway to go to Converse College for my freshman year...my mom says it was her way of making sure I made it to school.  I was her only grandchild so I guess it is safe for me to say I was her favorite.  She lived with me and my parents for ten years after my grandfather passed away.  I would not trade those years for anything.

Grandpa, Grandma, Dad & me

I miss you grandma!

Treasure Chest Thursday - Not So Hidden Treasure!

A treasure that my mother-in-law found in a desk drawer...it  proves that my husband's family is a First Family of Panama City (ie lived in Panama City, FL before 1913).

Wahoo! Now if only all documents were this easy to find!

Military Monday - Attack on Kesternich and a Lesson in Determination

The early morning of 14 December was extremely cold and the snow that had fallen during the past four days was glazed and deceivingly deep. The troops had spent a miserable night. Every man was tense and excited. Feet were half frozen and fingers brittle. The need for arctic overshoes was certainly apparent. Rest was almost impossible during the night because of intermittent artillery and mortar fire. Consequently these non-battle wise soldiers spent most of the night improving their individual positions. (from "The Operations of the 2D Battalion, 310th Infantry (78th Infantry Division) in the Attack on Kesternich, Germany, 14-16 December 1944, pg. 12)

When I first began my genealogy research (two years ago this October), I knew military history and records would be a big part of my search. My family has a rich history of military service. I just never imagined how personal those records would be.

Boldly googling my grandfather's name, Niram L. Sauls, I stumbled upon a monograph written by him posted on the 78th Division Veterans Association website. Well...almost. My grandpa's report had just been removed by the webmaster due to storage issues. So admitting defeat, I bookmark the site and move on to "easier" research.

Less than two years after that initial search and a few half-hearted glances at the Association's website later, I find myself wanting that report. I type my grandfather's name in the Association's search box once again - this time with more determination.

Surprisingly, within the past few months, another researcher posted on the message board a request for various reports including my grandpa's! So sheepishly, I post a request and email the webmaster, Tom, for a copy of the monograph my grandfather had written 60 years ago. With little hope of a response, I once again move on to "easier" research - so much for determination.

A few hours later, while on a break from my "easy" research, I open my inbox hoping to find a response - and there it is! Tom emailed the report! He also supplies me with additional information about the monograph and a link to his Wikipedia site [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kesternich_(World_War_II)] - seems Kesternich is a personal research project of his.

So thanks to Tom and his dedication to researching WWII, I now hold a piece of history - personal history. My grandfather died in 1990 and did not talk much about his experiences in the war - especially to his granddaughter. But thanks to genealogists and history enthusiasts like Tom, the heroic acts of my grandfather and the men of the 78th Infantry, including Tom's father, will live on.

Besides learning about my grandfather's determination, I learned something about having determination in genealogical research. Determination - no matter how sheepishly it appears - does win in the end.

Sunday's Obituary - A Youthful Life Ended

Several years ago, while working for the Panama County Club in Lynn Haven, FL, I discovered a mystery!

One of the perks of the job is taking golf carts for rides around the beautiful course and this day was my first tour. A seasoned employee of the country club, Pat is at the wheel and I, riding shotgun, hold on for dear life as we zoom across cart paths dodging Fox Squirrels. Pat is on a mission to show me the cemetery on the golf course. We arrive and quietly come to a stop. Nestled between Live Oaks and a fairway is a small cemetery with a handful of headstones. If Pat is telling me anything about the people buried there or which fairway is nearby, I am not listening, because I am struck by the lonely, peacefulness of the scene.

Flash forward to a week ago. Still wanting to know who is buried at the golf course, I email a few members of my local genealogical society to see if they have any information about this cemetery. As several emails pass from member to member, I discover that this cemetery and surrounding area used to belong to the Gay family.

With that information in mind, I search several indexes on our society's website and discover one of the girls buried there has an obituary.  With excitement building to finally meet this young lady, I search the Panama City Pilot, which has recently been digitized. After clicking a few pages, I find her obituary:

A Youthful Life Ended - Mrs. Lee Porter died September 18th at the home of her father, R.W. Gay, on North Bay. Mrs. Porter had gone to visit her parents, and was seized with a fatal illness shortly after her arrival. She was given the best medical attention to be had, but without avail. The deceased was an amiable and attractive young woman, who had many friends in this vicinity, where she was born and raised. She was about 19 years of age. February 27, 1913 she was united in marriage to Lee Porter, who together with her parents and other relatives, have the sympathy of the community. Funeral services were held September 19th at 1 o'clock conducted by Rev. W.S.R. Burnett of Lynn Haven, and interment in the family burying ground at the old homestead. (Panama City Pilot, 25 Sep 1913, pg. 4 col. 1)

Ironically, as I sit down to write this post, I notice that she was buried 97 years ago today. So while her life was tragically cut short, it is nice to know that through the efforts of fellow genealogists, I know who Myrta May Gay Porter is...know that she has family and friends...know that she is loved...and know that she has a beautiful and peaceful final resting place.

 

Hurricane Ivan - 6 Years Ago Today - How My Family Survived!

Before Ivan

Six years ago today Hurricane Ivan hit my parents' house and changed their lives for ever...and I believe for the better.

My parents, who live near the Gulf of Mexico, safely evacuated further in town to my house, which had just sold a few days before and was empty. With everything they could carry including their cat, Lacy, my parents road out the storm.  Though my house was virtually untouched, my parents feared their house was not so lucky.  So against better judgment, they ventured outdoors to see what was left of their home.  Despite debris covered roads and down power lines, they made it to the entry of their neighborhood and walked the rest of the way to the house...and, by some miracle, they discovered that their cell phones were working, so my mom was able to call me.  She reported that they were fine, but that the house was "just gone".

"What do you mean gone? How bad is it mom?"
"Suz, it's so bad my underwear is in the trees!"

After Ivan

Must be bad when the President visits your neighborhood!

Now, those words have become a punch line to a family story, but at the time it was very true.  My parents' house was a complete loss, and their clothes were literally hanging in the trees.  It took several years for them to rebuild...they had to fight insurance companies and builders...they had to find a temporary place to live...they had to recover what they could from the house.  And they did all this together.  Most marriages would crumble under the strain of a disaster like this, but my parents' relationship thrived. Quickly they realized what was important - family (in fact, a few days after the storm, my son and I traveled to Gainesville, FL where my parents' were staying on the way to be with my aunt and uncle, just so my mom could hug her grandson).

Hurricane Ivan took some family pictures and some sentimental objects, but it did not take the most important item - family.
We are still in one piece.
We are still a family.

The New House

Wedding Wednesday - My Parents

Amanuensis Monday - 1952 Trip to Japan

This is a letter from my mother's paternal grandmother to my mother's maternal grandmother about getting ready for a trip to Japan.  My mom (Sharon), her mother (Wilma), her sister (Muriel), and her brother (Jimmy) flew from Florida to California to board a ship to Japan where her father (Roy Sauls) was stationed. Hope I have not confused you too much...enjoy!

[I apologize for the quality of the pictures...these are scanned copies of a copy of the original letter.]

 
Feb 2, 1952 at 7am

Dear Alvie,

Here is the snap of our children dressed and ready for breakfast at “Minnie’s and Nellie’s” house.  The film must have been crowded in the camera for the doorframe is crooked.  I just love this picture.

This is a few minutes later.  Leila had to have a picture too.  She looks more like the Blairs all the time.  She and Muriel are about the same height but Leila is heavier.  Jimmie looks sleepy and I suppose he was for they got up at 6:30.

 

7:30 and breakfast. Nellie on the piano bench – she thought she wouldn’t show in the picture.  I’m sure our house isn’t this crooked.  The cake saver looks as if it might fall off any minute.  Breakfast is over, it was very light.

Now at 7:35.  They were on their way out to the car and their last ride in the blue Buick.  I’m sorry Sharon’s coat don’t show more for it was so pretty.  Muriel’s hat was krimmer trim and matched the old coat very good.

   

 

On to the plane at 9:25.  They let Priscilla inside the gate to take this one.  Jimmy refused to carry his top coat and pants so Sharon is loaded down.  They were all so excited and happy.  The plane was a 50 passenger sleeper.  But we were glad when this day was over.

 

 

Right on schedule they went up into the “wild blue yonder” then made a return and took off toward St. Pete and the Gulf of Mexico.  Now if we only had a few snap shots of their landing and meeting with LeRoy.

Best Love,

Minnie

Random Acts of Genealogical Kindess

I am so excited because today was my first day as a volunteer for Random Acts of Genealogical Kindness.  I signed up yesterday after listening to the Family Tree Magazine podcast and last night I received my first request.  Being so excited, I immediately jump on the research bandwagon!  (I didn't wait 48 hours like they suggested in the How To on the website...so maybe I am a little TOO excited to start.)  Anyway, putting caution aside, I dive headfirst into researching the request which was for an obituary and a death record. After searching the indexes on my local genealogy society's website, I find which cemetery the ancestor is buried. Then I make plans to set out in the morning to the cemetery and the library - my first real genealogical act of kindness!

This morning, with the excitement brewing as well as coffee, I set out to the cemetery. I find the headstone and snap a picture. How cool is this!? I am a real researcher now because not only am I armed with a camera, but I am excited to be in a cemetery. Even the wasp and the storm clouds I see cannot spoil my mood. Next I head to the library to search the microfilm for the obituary. Lucky for me the information I was given is correct, and I am able to find a the obituary and print out a copy for my "customer" in no time flat. Monday I will be off on another adventure...to find a copy of the death record. Wish me luck!