Question of the Week: Who are the veterans in your family tree?

Question

November 11 is Veterans/Remembrance Day. Who in your family has served in the military?

Please tell us about their service with an answer below. You could also answer on Facebook or share the question image with your friends and family on social media to get them talking.

Also consider putting a "Profile Sticker" on your veteran ancestors' profiles. Here is how.

To honor more veterans, consider joining a Military and War project.

Comments

My grandfather, J.Ysidro Solér was an engineering student at The Ohio State University from Pinar del Rio, Cuba, west of Havana. In 1898 when the Spanish-American War broke out, he dropped out ofcollege and went to fight against the Spanish.

The war was short, maybe 6 mo. And he returned to OSU as a Captain in the army. Im not sure which army, the Rough Riders or the Cuban army. He finished his studies, married my grandma a college farm girl from Laurelville,OH, and they went to NYC for his Master's at NYU. He was named Chief Engineer of his part of Cuba and built roads and bridges at the turn of the century.

When WWII came along, his son, Joseph Soler, in Ohio, had flat feet and the army wouldnt take him, so he and my mother Margaret Soler took special classes at OSU to become Neighborhood War Captains and were in charge of various things in their Columbus neighborhood . I consider this also serving the country in the time of war.

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I come from quite a line of people who have served their country. There are more who are currently active duty. I am so very proud of all of them.

John England, Continental Line, US Revolutionary war

Harry Thomas Boslooper, US Army.  He is the only person to die in combat.  He was in WWI, died and is buried in Normandy, France.

Harry Stephen Boslooper, US Army

John Robert Boslooper (my father), US Air Force

David Bernard Boslooper (brother), US Air Force

Michael Boslooper (nephew), US Navy

Christine Miller Macklem (neice), US Air Force

John Bernard Chall (cousin), US Army

These are the one's I know about.

Answer 1

Signalman Robert Errol Norman, died August 23,1943 on a sub chaser off the coast of Italy.

Answer 2

I have 25 men with military service, but I'll stick to a few of the more recent direct line ancestors.

The one I'm thinking about most as Veterans' Day approaches is my father, Donald Brown (1924-2015). Like another recent post, he dropped out of The Ohio State University to enlist. He wore glasses because he was very nearsighted, and couldn't read the eye chart without them. The Army told him "no thanks". He tried a second time, same result. Both times, he studied the eye chart before he left. The third time he remembered enough to pass the test. He was at Normandy on D-Day, and was the first off his landing craft. Unfortunately it wasn't close enough to shore, and he went in up to his neck. He kept his gun high out of the water, but his backpack was soaked. When he got to the beach, he took a backpack off a dead soldier and continued on.

His older brother Victor (1922-1943) was a flight instructor in the Army Air Corps, stationed at Gunter Field in Alabama. He was killed in a plane crash during a night training session. My grandmother received the news on Thanksgiving, which made that holiday a somber one for her for the rest of her life.

Two of my gr-gr-grandfathers were in the Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War. John Brown Slack (1825-1900) on my mother's side, and Albert Newton Brown (1834-1868) on my father's. Also some collateral relatives in the Civil War, and a few direct line in the War of 1812 and the Revolutionary War.

Happy Veterans' Day to all!

Answer 3

My father, my youngest son, all of my uncles on my mother's side, and many cousins. Oh, and 2 of my ex-husbands.

Answer 4

The following are my service member ancestors beginning with my dad's Rambo side of the family,

1.William Otis Rambo, 101st Airborne, WWll, my dad

2. Jerry Rambo, 101st Airborne, my uncle

3. Jack Rambo, Army (with Patton), WWll, my uncle

4, Ray Rambo, Navy, WWll, my uncle

5, William Harvey Rambo, Army, WWl, my great uncle

6. Jim Rambo, USMC/Reserves

1, John Love, Army, WWl, my papa/grandfather

2, James Raiford Love, Army, WWll, KIA Philippines, WWll, my uncle and name sake

3. Hampton Love, Army (with Patton), WWll, my uncle

4. Bill Love, Army, WWll, my uncle

Answer 5

My 2x great grandfather was Cpl. Alfred Brunson Kephart (1842-1921). Alfred fought in the Civil War for Co. H, 21st IA Inf.

Answer 6

My Uncle - Albert Follett (b. 1923, d. 1943) was born in Newfoundland and did part of his training in the province of Quebec. He then deployed to England UK to help fight in World War II. While out on a mission - Air Gunner Sergeant Albert Follett, was killed after their Wellington plane was shot down by the Germans. It crashed in a field below and all the other crew members survived. He was only 20 years old and he is buried in Oxford Cemetery, in England Uk. He was named after his Uncle - his father's younger brother, who had served in World War I. I have never had the luxury of meeting him yet heard many wonderful stories of him from various family members.

My Great Uncle Albert Follett (b. 1896 d. 1917) was born in Newfoundland and he was a soldier of the Section 12, Platoon 11 "C" Reserve Company of the Third Batallon. He as a Private, and part of the 242 personnel leaving Canada for overseas to  England UK. His ship arrived in England UK. He was only 20 years old when he lost his life to the War I and was part of the Beaumont- Hamel Newfoundland Memorial in Somme France.

Answer 7

Store Keep 1st Class John Willard Shaver, my Grampa, served in WWII on the USS Whitley.

My Great Uncle Curly served in WWII and the Korean War both in the Navy and the Air Force as a Technical Staff Sergeant.

My Uncle Larry served in the Vietnam War with the Marines and with the National Guard.  My cousin, his son, also has served in the National Guard for over 20 years.

My 3rd Great Grandfather, Captain Samuel Turner Jones served in the Civil War in the 80th Illinois Infantry.  He was imprisoned twice in Macon, Georgia and Columbia, South Carolina.  His father, Colonel Gabriel Jones served with the 3rd Illinois Infantry during the Black Hawk Wars of 1932.

My 4th Great Grandfather, John Eli Strader, served with the 2nd Royal Dundas Militia for Canada in the War of 1812.  Records show him participating in the Battle at Crysler's Farm.

Another 4th Great Grandfather, John Philip Shaver served during the Revolutionary War as a Loyalist along with many of his other family, including his father, Philip Adam Shaver.

First Major Matthew Culley served in the American Revolution in the 8th Regiment of the New York Militia.  He was my 5th Great Grandfather

When I first began researching my family, I never imagined how many military men served their countries within our family.  I am so proud to share them with the world and thank them for their service!

Answer 8

My paternal grandfather, Russell Macklem (Macklem-77), served in WWI with the Corps of Engineers in the US even though he was Canadian (born in Windsor, Ont).

Answer 9

Both of my grandfathers, living 3 miles apart in their hometown were Veterans of WWII. One was Army, stationed in Florence, Italy and one was Navy, on a ship off the shores of Italy. I still have the cameo broach my grandfather brought back to my grandmother that he purchased in Italy. A beautiful, treasured keepsake.

Answer 10

Hi,

I have several vets in my tree, but one that I am especially proud of is my 2nd great grandfather (Bartlett-12865).William Lewis Bartlett.  He fought and was injured in the US Civil War.  He was in several battles before he was shot in the chest at the Battle of Chickamauga.  My grandfather remembers visiting him as a very small child and feeling that hole in his grandfather's chest, when William L was very old.

After the war, William wrote a memoir of his experience, which I have in my possession.  It is fascinating to read.  After watching one of the Wikitree Day presentations, about posting family letters to a FSP, I have decided to create a free space page of his memoir, which you can see here here.  I plan to add more this weekend, so I am just starting.

I am proud of his dedication to his cause and the sacrifices he made toward it.

Thank you for asking!

Answer 11

My dad served in WWII as an Army Ranger in an reconnaissance troop as a staff sergeant / communications chief / half track gunner (yes, all at the same time) in the Pacific; Guadalcanal, the Philippine Islands.

My maternal Great Grandfather served in the Union Army as a Lieutenant Colonel during the Civil War and his great grandfather was in the Revolutionary War first appointed ensign in Providence's First Company of Militia 13 September 1779 then from June of 1780 to May of 1785 was annually appointed a lieutenant in that unit.  I had other ancestors who were involved in the that insurrection including Thomas Wharton, Jr. who was the first president of Pennsylvania.

Answer 12

My Grandfather Andrew Anderson From Humble beginnings in the small Coal mining village of Donkin on Cape Breton Island  to a Humble end in the Veteran's ward in Glace Bay the "Big" Coal Town next door.  He beat the Italians and the Germans in Europe, victory over memories didn't come so easily, but through it all he remained hopelesly devoted to his family and fiercely proud of his country.  

He married my Grandmother Charlotte  in Halifax on Aug 18, 1943 the night before shipping out to Europe for service in WWII
He served in World War II as an Anti-Aircraft Gunner as part of The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment.

"The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment was allied to the Imperial Black Watch (Royal Highlanders)... During World War II (1942), the Regiment was divided into two battalions. The 1st Battalion was mobilized for active service and was employed on home defence on the East and West coasts, until disbanded in October of 1943. Meanwhile, in July 1944, 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment in Italy was reorganized and became the 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Infantry Battalion. On 11 November 1944, it was announced that the Battalion would be re-designated The Lanark and Renfrew Scottish Regiment. The Regiment served in the Italian Campaign and landed in France on 5 Mar 1945. Shortly thereafter, it was re-designated 1st Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment (Lanark and Renfrew Scottish) 

I have made a few videos about him including this video on what would have been his 100th Birthday this past May 24.

And this video chronicling his part in Liberation of Rome and The Netherlands 

Answer 13

Lots of veterans in my family. Too many Revolutionary War vets to list, but a couple who are close to my heart are Johann Conrad Gilbert and Bernhardt Zimmerman. Five Civil War Vets: four great-great grandfathers - James Young, Frederick Hoy, John M. Brown, John Fenstermacher, and one great-great-great grandfather - Nathan Wagner. These are the direct ancestors who were vets. Lots of other vets on collateral lines more recently.

Answer 14

I did a deep dive on my Grandpa Frank for Veterans day and found out some amazing things about his World War II service. I think the coolest parts were reading about his various accomplishments as a part of the 505th Parachute Infantry Regiment, and I was able to get him added to a website with history about that unit: https://www.ww2-airborne.us/units/505/505_trp_4.html#srvc

He was in the Battle of Ardennes, Rhineland, Central Europe (also known as the Battle of the Bulge), and received a Belgian Fourragere for his participation in the battle on 2 Nov 1945 that pushed the Germans out of Belgium https://9thinfantrydivision.net/belgian-fourragere/

All of this information comes from his discharge paper (53-55 at the time, but now more commonly known as a DD-14), and is government record that you can get so much more from if you spend the time looking up what all the different things on that form actually mean.  

https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Mullenberg-6

Happy Veterans Day - I have many Veterans in my family, including myself and my husband, and I hope to continue to learn about the service of as many of my ancestors as I can.

Answer 15

Where to start? Me, I suppose: I Served in the Royal Air Force 1964-88, ended up Sgt. My older brother was also in the RAF, served 37 years as an Engineer Officer specialising in Air Weapons. He was a Squadron Leader (this is equivalent to Major in other services). Our father was made to join the Royal Signals just after WW2 started, because he was a trained technician for GPO Telephones. Our Aunt Edna served in the WAAF as a Driver in WW2, & she married Alf Stokes, who was in the RAF from the outbreak of WW2, but remustered to Aircrew as an Air Gunner with 158 Sqn at Lissett, in Yorkshire. They flew Halifax bombers. Alf's brother, Charlie, was a Flight Engineer in a Lancaster Pathfinder Squadron. Our aunt May was married to an airman - Bob Binns-Hill, & her sister Irene married Hal Glass, who was in the RCAF. My paternal grandfather served in the Royal Engineers in WW1, laying 'phone-lines around the trenches on the Western Front in France

   On Mum's side, you have to go back a way, to her Grandfather, Edward John Wild, who retired from the Bengal Army as a Major-General, having been in India during the Mutiny of 1857-8, where he was with the garrison inside the residence at Lucknow until a relief column arrived. His father had also served many years with the East India Co's Army, commanded a regiment of the Bengal Native Infantry, & was severely wounded in an unsuccessful attempt in about 1839 to force a column through the Khyber Pass to relieve the force at Kabul. This soldier, my Gt Gt Grandfather, was Swiss by birth, but had been naturalised British after joining the company's Army. His father was Franz Samuel Wild, who was an officer in the Army of Savoy, but who sold on his Commission - as was common in those times. There are others in the family, - some who served with the US forces in WW2, but one notable who is a distant relative was a German General named Adolph Wild-Von Hohenborn, who was German Minister of War 1915-16. That'll do for now!

Answer 16

The following are my veteran ancestors beginning with myself:

1. Alice Stephens Thomsen, US Army Nurse, Lebanon and Cold War, myself

2. Ernest Stephens, father Naval Reserves, WWII

3. Lee Stephens, brother, Marines, Pacific, WWII

4. Wayne Stephens, brother, Army,WW II

5. Wesley Stephens, brother, Marines, Berlin Guard, WWII

6. Robert Thomsen, stepson, Marines, Iraq

7. Thomas B. Thomsen, stepson, Army, Turkey

8. Robert Ronald Thomsen, FIL, Navy, Pearl Harbor, WWII

many grandfathers, gr grandfathers, gr great grandfather,

Answer 17

Happy Veterans Day to all the veterans.  I have a few people in my tree I'd like to acknowledge :

John Sheldon Wright (my father) Korean War, Air Force

John Stearns Wright (gf) WWII, navy

P.O. Nichols (gf) WWI, army

James Conaway Carr (2nd gf), Civil War, army infantry

Philander Race (2nd great uncle), Civil War, army

Ephraim Sprague (4th gf), Revolutionary War

Oliver Sprague (5th gf), Revolutionary War

Alexander White (5th gf), Revolutionary War

Ephraim Sprague (6th gf), French & Indian War

Ebenezer Sheldon (6th gf), French & Indian War

Answer 18

When my British gr gr great grandfather, Joseph Ward Pimlott, was 19 he was walking to work one foggy morning when he passed an alley and was knocked unconscious. When he came to he'd been recruited to the British Navy and assigned the role of gunners mate. His job was to bring powder from the powder room on the ship to the gunners. He was sent to America to fight in the War of 1812 and particpated in the famous battle of "Perry on Lake Erie" on the 10th day of September, 1813. One of the Americans he fought against would later become his father-in-law, my gr gr gr great grandfather, David Bunnell. I happened to find an account of the battle from David's perspective in a book at Costco, of all places. David described how a canon ball hit their ship, split a barrel of peas and tore the hind legs off a pig on the deck. Even though the pig had just lost his legs he was in hog heaven eating the peas! Joseph Pimlott's ship was captured and he was taken prisoner of war, but was never exchanged due to the vessel, which came to Cleveland for that purpose, being driven off by a storm.  Joseph, with all the British prisoners, were held under guard at Cleveland by General Harrison's troops. They were confined to close quarters, but within limits had freedom of the city. By hiding in a hogshead (a large barrel), Joseph managed to escape his captors. Joseph later married Joanna Bunnell, the eldest daughter of David Bunnell. Joseph never returned to England, became a naturalized citizen of America and sent three of his sons, including my gr great grandfather, to fight the Civil War. His eldest son died at Camp Nelson, Kentucky, and the youngest was severely wounded during The Battle of Shiloh.

Answer 19

While entering veterans from Northern Nevada Veterans Memorial Cemetery, I came across this Veteran.  Although it's a little late for Veterans Day, it's never too late to honor military service https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Adams-68120.

James entered the United States Navy on 15 Jun 1944 and was discharged on 11 Mar 1952, having served in WWII and the Korean War.

Based on an article from Nevada Department of Veterans Services, James died alone and was buried with his remains unclaimed. A formal burial with military honors was provided on 22 Sep 2017.

News Release: Unclaimed remains of 27 veterans to receive a military funeral in Fernley. James Richard Adams finally receives burial and military honors promised through his service. Fri, 22 Sep 2017, James Adams, Unclaimed Remains, Page 2, https://veterans.nv.gov/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/09-20-17-Military-Burial-for-27-Veterans.pdf

May James RIP

Answer 20

My Grandfather was in WW1 he went with the first fleet from Albany, Western Australia, Australia on the Ascania. Alfred Gibbons Carson. 1882-1922..

His son Albert Gibbon Carson was a prisoner of War in  WW2 of the Japanese, in Chanji Prison my mother was his next of kin, and i have the letter from the prison.

My Uncle Jack Howard was killed in Gona, in New Guinea, and is know buried in Bomana War Cemetery, Pt Moresby.

My Stepfather war stationed in India in WW2 he was in the Airforce and used to load bombs on planes. William Charles Bradford 1921-2001. He was in the British Airforce.