My father was in the Army Corps of Engineers, 835th Aviation Battalion
in North Africa and Southern Italy during WWII. I have recently put
up a blog [www.armyengineers-835thaviationbattalion] in an attempt to
locate some of his army buddies, but so far to no avail. [Please
don't report back to me on the Blog which I put up, I obviously
already know about it.] I have looked in the obvious places [e.g.,
military.com, etc.], but most of what I find pertains to that unit
during Korea, whereas I am trying to find WWII Vets. News of any
reunions, etc. of WWII Vets of that unit would also be most welcome,
in addition to locating individual soldiers. I have so far located
just one man, who lives in Connecticut. |
Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
02 Feb 2004 18:05 PST
I tried to visit your link but it does not appear to be working. Are
you sure you posted the correct web address?
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga
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Clarification of Question by
query007-ga
on
02 Feb 2004 18:14 PST
The link in the question did not work when I clicked on it, but when I
went straight to my browser and entered
http://www.armyengineers-835thaviationbattalion.com/
it worked just fine!!!
Try cutting and pasting the link. If that doesn't work, then try:
http://renfrew.typepad.com/army_engineers/
Thanks for your attention. My father is in advancing age and
declining health, and any help you could give would be profoundly
appreciated.
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Request for Question Clarification by
omnivorous-ga
on
03 Feb 2004 09:05 PST
Query --
Your father may wish to request service records from the period, in
order to help identify officers and others who served with him.
They're kept in two places, though I'd probably start with the
National Personnel Records Center:
http://www.archives.gov/research_room/obtain_copies/veterans_service_records.html
In communications with them, let them know the urgency.
Having service records with dates and locations would give you
additional keywords for search (or for your web page).
One final suggestion: see if you can get a columnist with a major
newspaper or the Associated Press interested in some aspect of the
story. I might suggest Myra Vanderpool Gormley, who edits the weekly
Rootsweb electronic newsletter:
http://www.rootsweb.com/~rwguide/authors.htm
Best regards,
Omnivorous-GA
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
03 Feb 2004 09:58 PST
What is the last name of the man you found in Connecticut?
I believe I might have found two of your father's companions, but the
problem stems from our policy which prohibits us from giving out
information about private individuals. So, I must ask, how shall we
proceed? If I can have these men contact YOU through your website
information, would this suffice as an answer? If so, how many men
would you consider sufficient as an answer given the difficulty of
rounding them up after all these years? Keep in mind that even one man
might be able to provide connections to other men.
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga
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Clarification of Question by
query007-ga
on
05 Feb 2004 20:58 PST
The man I found in Connecticut had the last name of BROWN, initials S. L.
If you found one or two OTHERS who actually were in my Dad's unit, and
have them contact us the "Bob Jones" email link which is on the site,
and have them mention you or Google [so I will know it is not a hit
unrelated to you], I would consider your money earned.
It would be helpful also if you also would send a message through the
"Bob Jones" link, confirming you have done this.
Both your email and theirs should mention the Army Engineers 835th
Aviation Battalion, because the email actually goes to my Mom, who
believes the computer I gave her [except for its wonderfulness as a
solitaire machine] is actually an instrument of the devil utilized
only by persons trying to steal her credit card numbers. I will warn
her to look for these "good" emails.
If worse comes to worse, and we actually do get info on one or two of
the guys through your efforts, just post a comment here that you were
responsible and I will take your word for it.
If you have actually accomplished this, bless you.
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Clarification of Question by
query007-ga
on
05 Feb 2004 21:00 PST
Although we don't have any results yet, I want to thank both
tutuzdad-ga and omnivorous-ga for their thoughtful suggestions and
efforts, whether or not ultimately successful.
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
06 Feb 2004 16:35 PST
Unfortunatley, our policy prohibits us from contacting your directly
by any means outside this forum. Having said that, there seems to be
no way to have one of these gentlement contact you other than the
internet, and if they are anything like your father, they probably
won't be able to use a computer either. This poses a rather perplexing
problem. If you wish to be contact by telephone you'll need to post a
telephone number on your your site (not here) so these guys can call
you if they are found. My guess is that only a few of them, if that
many, have computers themselves so a phone number would give us
something to tell them besides an email address.
I believe I may have some valuable information some time this evening
but I have no way of contacting you, since I cannot email you myself.
If the information develops, I will post it as an answer per your
instructions.
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
06 Feb 2004 17:35 PST
My information did not develop as I had hoped.
I found a CHARLES SPERO who was in fact in Italy in WWII but he said
he was in the Signal Corps and not in an Aviation Battallion.
STAUNTON BROWN is still listed in Connecticut telephone directories
but he passed away in 1984. I believe RALEIGH BURNETT may also be
deceased.
I wish I could have come up with some positive information for you,
but as yet I have not been able to find any. The other names you
provided were far too common to search for successfully. Maybe if we
had other names and details (like where they might have lived, etc) we
might be able to do more.
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
09 Feb 2004 17:26 PST
Please ask your father if he is certain about his unit number. The
reason I ask is because I found what would prove to be a terribly hard
to locate copy of a document which discusses the units in North Africa
whose job it was to build, level, repair and resurface air fields
there from Novemember 1942 to May 1943. Among them are listed the
888th, 887th, 817th, 815th and 809th Aviation Engineer Batallions. If
he has even one of the numbers incorrect in his memory we could be on
a wild goose chase.
It would also be helpful if he could recall what Regiment he was in,
who is commander was or the names of any senior members of his cadre.
I have some emails out and I'm doing what I can to help. It would help
me quite a bit if you could respond to my earlier post about the
telephone number and also check this post daily for more information
as it comes available.
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga
|
Clarification of Question by
query007-ga
on
09 Feb 2004 20:18 PST
I have added the telephone number as of tonight.
I am forwarding your further inquiry to my Dad [care of my Mom] tonight.
Thank you so much for everything you are doing.
[Please let me know if there is a way, even if we don't ultimately
succeed, that I can give you at least part of the "price" of the
question in appreciation for all you have done.]
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
11 Feb 2004 14:46 PST
I can continue on for a bit in hopes of finding additional
information. I hope that through persistence I be able to eventually
locate at least one of the members of your father's old unit. I will
know more about the possibility of succeeding as soon as you can get
back to me with your father's answers to my questions.
Should it become apparent that we are not going to be successful, but
you'd like to accept as an answer what I have been able to find out,
even though it doesn't specifcally answer your question, we can
discuss that option if it arises. Until then, as a researcher, I must
assume that there IS an answer out there - it's figuring out where it
is that poses the problem (and with your help I'm working very hard on
solving that).
I'm looking forward to hearing back from your father.
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
11 Feb 2004 14:48 PST
PS: I hoping to get a response to my email inquires soon. If luck is
on my side, the fellows I emailed do know SOMETHING. How much they
know or whether they get back to me at all remains to be seen.
Fingers crossed;
tutuzdad-ga
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Clarification of Question by
query007-ga
on
11 Feb 2004 17:41 PST
I spoke to my Mom last night. She had spent the ENTIRE day searching
the house and garage looking for my Dad's service papers, and promised
to start again at the crack of dawn today. [She's 78 herself, so such
a search is not as easy as it sounds.] I have just sent her yet
another email and will let you know as soon as I know more.
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
11 Feb 2004 18:33 PST
Looking forward to it. When you have it we'll begin again. In the
meantime I'll continue to rely on what little I have.
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
11 Feb 2004 18:59 PST
QUESTION: Is your father African-American by chance?
QUESTION: Was your father in the "Army Corps of Engineers" for certain
or was he in the "Aviation Engineers of the Army Air Corps" (a
precursor to the US Air Force)
tutuzdad-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
11 Feb 2004 19:56 PST
I thought your father might be interested in this and take comfort in
knowing that Staunton Brown apparently made quite a successful career
of the Corps of Engineers. I have no proof that this is the same man,
but the date (1956) would be about right for him to have made the rank
- PLUS the fact that there are very few men named Staunton Brown in
the world AND the fact that this man was in the Corps of Engineers
means that the probability that this is not him is EXTREMELY low.
Therefore, logically I do believe this is the same man.
This document refers to a 1956 meeting between COLONEL STAUNTON BROWN
of the US Army Corps of Engineers and local school leaders:
"Ltr, Col Staunton Brown, USA, District Engineer, Little Rock
District, to Division Engineer, Southwestern Div. 8 Jun 56, sub:
Meeting With Representatives of White Hall School District, Pine Bluff
Arsenal"
http://rds.yahoo.com/S=2766679/K=%22staunton+brown%22/v=2/TID=i021_20/SID=e/l=WS1/R=9/H=0/*-http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/integration/IAF-19.htm
It is apparent that Col. Brown achieved an honorable rank during his
career and his dedication to the Corps and his love of service
continued well beyond World War II.
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
11 Feb 2004 19:57 PST
Use this link instead to view the above mentioned document:
http://www.army.mil/cmh-pg/books/integration/IAF-19.htm
tutuzdad=ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
12 Feb 2004 14:38 PST
I found one good solid reference to the 835th Engineering Aviation
Battalion and oddly enough it revealed a bit of information that might
help our search some. It came in the form of a vintage wartime
envelope that was being sold on the internet which indicates that the
835th was located (at one pint in time) in Foggia, Italy:
The address reads:
?U.S. Army Postal Service A.P.O. 538 4-8-1945 Foggia, Italy 835th
Aviation Engineering Battalion?
http://216.239.53.104/search?q=cache:pYRkvre_wS0J:www.postalhistory.com/xq/asp.results/task./y1./y2./searchtype./dt./cc./cd./ct./cs.it-cn/ts./group.20/pagenum.10/Postal%2BHistory.htm+835th+Foggia,+Italy+&hl=en&ie=UTF-8
Searching for the 835th in Foggia, Italy revealed that the battalion
was part of the larger 486th Bombardment Group (assigned to both North
Africa and Sicily during the war), which was inactivated in November
7, 1945, much like your father remembers:
486TH BOMBARDMENT SQUADRON
http://home.earthlink.net/~mwlaney/57BW/340thBG/486BS.htm
This doesn?t get us much closer to finding actual members, but I
thought you might like to know this new revelation.
Regards;
Tutuzdad-ga
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Clarification of Question by
query007-ga
on
13 Feb 2004 23:36 PST
Thank you for the additional information.
My Mom [by cross-examining my Dad] has come up with the following additional info:
He was drafted December 4, 1941.
Basic training was at Ft. Leonardwood -- I would guess that lasted
about three months ( at least that is what he says).
Then he went to Belvoir for OCS, and I am sure that lasted three months.
Then he says he was assigned to 835th Engineer Battallion -- Company
C. (And it was the 835th.)*
Then he went to Camp Young for what he thinks was about six months.
Camp Young is in the California desert.
He shipped overseas from Camp Stoneman, which is not far from San Francisco.
He first went to Libya, North Africa, for perhaps eightteen months,
and then went to Italy and was there when the European peace treaty
was signed.
After that, he was sent on his way aboard a ship with the Company's
heavy equipment and was accompanied by two enlisted men.
While enroute to Okinawa, the Japanese peace treaty was signed, so the
ship was diverted to Boston.
He is sure he was sent to Fort MacArthur In San Pedro, California for discharge.
As for names: Charles Spero was assigned to the 835th - Company B.
Capt, Spero was Company Commander of Company C.
Keith Little was the adjutant to the 835th -
Headquarters Co.
Kingsley (does not remember the first name) was
the doctor assigned to the 835th Battallion.
Todd Hendershodt was the Supply Officer,
attached to Headquarters Co. He was a 1st Lt.
Capt. Sunderland was Commander of Headquarters
Co.
Deshner (sp?) was a 1st Lt. in Company C.
Harry Taylor (1st Lt.) was in Company C.
Ward, (first name your Dad doesn't
remember) was First Sergeant in Company C.
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
14 Feb 2004 15:45 PST
I know it's been a lot of years, but ask your dad if this looks like
the Charles Spero he once knew:
http://www.floridalighttacklecharters.com/images/gallery_0305033.bmp
tutuzdad-ga
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Clarification of Question by
query007-ga
on
15 Feb 2004 15:28 PST
Clarification for tutuzdad-ga:
My Dad says the picture you sent is not the Charles Spero who was in
the Army with him -- the guy in the picture is too young [and Spero
was not quite that good looking]!
Possibilities:
1-Spero has held up better than he had any right to and/or has
improved with age; or
2-MAYBE the guy in the picture is his son.
By the way, I bought the envelope with the 835th return address. Don't
have it yet. Will let you know if it produces anything of interest.
Thanks for your continuing help.
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
15 Feb 2004 16:45 PST
I didn?t meet anyone new, but I did find out quite a bit about your
father?s unit that you may not have known previously (I know I sure
learned a lot):
Here is your father?s unit crest:
http://images.military.com/UserImages/53847
The unit?s motto was ?WORK TO WIN?
http://i9.ebayimg.com/03/i/01/54/12/38_1_b.JPG
HISTORY:
?835th ENGINEER AVIATION BATTALION Pending receipt of a Lineage and
Honors Statement:
The 835th Engineer Aviation Battalion was activated at Langley Field,
Virginia 16 April 1942. Departed the San Francisco Port of Embarkation
on 16 February 1943 and arrived at Egypt, Africa 29 March 1943.
Transferred to Libya 1 July 1943 then Algeria 15 October 1943.
Committed to combat in Italy on 8 December 1943. The unit was at
Termoli, Italy less Co A at Ramistelli, Co B at Pomigliano, and Co C
at Lesina, Italy. Returned to the United States via the Hampton Roads
Port of Embarkation 9 September 1945 and inactivated at Geiger Field,
Washington 7 November 1945.?
835th ENGINEER AVIATION BATTALION
http://www.military.com/HomePage/UnitPageFullText/1,13476,714062,00.html
There is more here of course, but this encompasses the WWII lineage
and history of your father?s unit. Just to be certain, ask your father
if the town named ?Lesina? rings a bell.
As for actual members, I?m not having much luck here and I may be
reaching the bottom of my bag of tricks soon.
Tutuzdad-ga
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Request for Question Clarification by
tutuzdad-ga
on
21 Feb 2004 20:18 PST
Dear query007-ga;
It looks like I've exhausted every search I can imagine. Your question
closes in about a week so I wanted to go ahead and post this in case
you wanted to get back to me with more details before time runs out.
I sincerely wish I could have done more, and goodness knows I gave it
one heck of a shot, but after two weeks working daily on your question
I've just hit a brick wall. Let me know if you have anything new to go
on or if there's anything else I can do. Maybe someone else can come
up with something more valuable to you than the unit's history I
provided and the few deceased members of the old unit that I told you
about.
Regards;
tutuzdad-ga
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Clarification of Question by
query007-ga
on
22 Feb 2004 11:36 PST
Dear tutuzdad-ga:
Please indicate that the question is "Answered" so you can get paid.
I greatly appreciate your efforts.
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