52 Ancestors Week 47: Soldier

Question

Time for the next 52 Ancestors challenge!

Please share with us a profile of an ancestor or relative who matches this week's theme:

Soldier

From Amy Johnson Crow:

What discoveries have you made regarding ancestors who served in the military? What about an ancestor who tried to stay out of the military? You could also interpret it as someone who "soldiered on," always trying to reach a goal despite some hardships.

Share below!

Participants who share every week can earn badges. If this is your first time participating and you don't have the participation badge, or if you pass a milestone (13 in 13, 26 in 26, 52 in 52) let us know here. Click here for more about the challenge. 

Comments

My wife's grandfather travelled around the world during his time in the US Army Air Corps during WWII.  

https://edovt.blogspot.com/2019/11/joseph-william-davidson-around-world-in.html

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My late Father William Ellis, from England U.K, served in the Army in WW2. He was a desert rat, a driver on supplies truck. Unfortunately he became a prisoner of war, sent to Stalag 1 or 2.

He survived, and came home to my late Mother.

He lived in Banwell Somerset. He died in 1986 aged 77. I am trying to find out his regiment.

Hoping someone can help, please

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For all with Soldier relatives, PLEASE register them in the Soldier Registry of the National Museum of the US Army at www.armyhistory.org (->Registries->Soldier Registry->Register a Soldier).  You can also send a picture electronically.  Then print out the entry (or order a plaque or brick). No charge for the entry.  I added some already but won't have time to do all.

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Please register Soldier relatives on the Soldier Registry of the National Museum of the US Army at www.armyhistory.org.  If you have problems doing so, email customerservice@armyhistory.org  for help.  Can send picture in electronically too.  No charge.

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Is that only possible for Army?  (My dad and great uncle were Army).  But not Navy or other branches (another great uncle was Navy; cousins were Marines.)

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Please, tell me where I can see the list and other documents (combat path) of American soldiers participating in world war 1?

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I'm not aware of any single source for that.  To research individuals, try archives.gov.

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Is something like that available for Canadian or British soldiers? Those are the forces mine served with.

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Sorry, I'm not familiar with similar registries maintained by other US Services or allies, although I believe some do have them.  Try their respective museum websites.

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Hi, thanks for the replies,

My Dad served with the British Army, not American.

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Hi Margaret

On Forces war records there are a potential 76 profiles to review

If you have any other details can you post I will take another look at the forces war records

Middle Name

Rank

Regiment

Service number

Answer 1

James O Stamper who was born on 22 Feb 1919 in Carter Co, KY, died on 8 Aug 2007 in Xenia, Montgomery County, OH,

James was a World War II Veteran who received a Purple Heart, three Bronze Stars for bravery, and a good conduct medal.

General Notes: Obituary for James located at http://www.journal-times.com/obituaries/local_story_259160619.ht ml Published: September 16, 2007 04:06 pm

FAIRBORN, OH – James O. Stamper, 88, of Fairborn, Ohio,  was born February 22, 1919 in Olive Hill, KY, the son of the late Jesse and Gracie Stamper.He was also preceded in death by a sister, Arlie Stamper. He is survived by his wife of 61 years, ReJean Stamper of Fairborn, OH; two sons, James Ronnie Stamper of Boise, Idaho and Keith Stamper of Fairborn, OH; two brothers, Leonard Stamper of Charlotte, North Carolina and Marvin Stamper of Olive Hill, KY; two sisters, Ola Mae Warick of Indiana, and Dixie of California; also surviving are two grandchildren, Keith D. Stamper and Keri Stamper Zonkoski; four great-grandchildren, Bryce Stamper Zonkoski, Keith D. Stamper Jr., Brooke Stamper Zonkoski, and Patrick Stamper.

Answer 2

My great-grandfather, Emile Perron Colin, was a Corporal in Missouri’s 1st Light Artillery Battery G in the Civil War for the North.  He had just immigrated from France only four years before, had married, and left wife and two girls behind.  Fought in Perryville, KY, Stones River, TN, Chicamauga, GA, and Chattanooga, TN.  When discharged in 1864 he and his brother walked home to MO holding hands because Emile had night blindness (from privation during the Confederate siege of Chattanooga) and brother was deaf.  Sadly, like many soldiers in all wars, we think he suffered from PTSD since he became a very heavy drinker and worked very little after the war.  Had he been killed about 40 people would not have lived. My father gave me the original 1862 picture of him and two friends in uniform.  I’d post it if I could figure out how the little picture icon works in this dialogue box.  I don’t see a direct link to iPhone photos.

Answer 3

My ancestor, Christopher Stillwell, II, (Stillwell-1176) served in  the war of 1812 along with his son, Jacob Stillwell. He served as a private in Units 84 and 93 of the Consolidated Regiment of the New York Militia. His service ended in 1814. The interesting thing about this is his age at enlistment of 62, proving that you are never "too old" to serve.

Answer 4

Well, let's see.  I guess first there was the 9th and 8th great-grandfathers who were killed in the late 1600s during the Second Indian War (King William's War) as a result of actions taken during the first one (King Philip's War), and there was a grandcestor involved with the taking of some island, Ft. Louisburg or something like that.  Then there was a passal of 'em during the AmRev, all grunts.

One of the last in service was a great great grandpa, Frank Smith, Company I, 55th Alabama Vol. Inf.,  KIA 17 July 1863 in a rear guard action during the siege of Jackson, Mississippi.  He was about 37 when all of a sudden he and a group of buddies joined up in Bellefonte, Alabama.  He left his wife and two little girls to go off and fight in a war he probably didn't really know much about (last chance for adventure I reckon). Don't know why I remember his data so well, probably because he was the only ancestor killed in that war and it took a lot of research over the years to find out what happened to him.  Maybe it's because my kids were two little girls also.

A bunch of others in different family branches also served (all CSA).    One branch was in the classic "Brothers on both Sides" situation.  One of whom, my grandma's uncle, was captured with his unit (from Texas) at Arkansas Post.  Spent time in Union POW camps in Illinois and Ohio IIRC. Never was the same afterwards, as were so many on both sides.

Grandma's daddy and grandpa served in the Texas State Troops, Cap. Dix's Company during that war.  They were in one of several companies of rangers which were formed by the state leg. after Federal troops pulled out of Texas at the beginning of the war.  They manned several of the abandoned forts and several temp camps along a line in western Texas to serve as a deterrent to Indian raids..

Lots of farmers, no one famous, but they all stood to the line.

Answer 5

I have discovered a (tenuous) relationship, still to be properly proven, to Ulysses S. Grant. He certainly had an eventful military career, starting at West Point College as a young man where he was commended for mathematics and horsemanship. He made extremely rapid progress through the ranks during the US Civil War, joining as a Colonel in 1861 after his previous military campaigns and rising to General in Chief of all United States Armies by the end of the Civil War.

My relationship, which I need to fully investigate, comes through my maternal Simpson line. The “S” in Uly's name was from his mother Hannah Simpson. I have a note on one of my earlier Simpson ancestors, based on a memory of a deceased family member, to say that when she married, it was reputed that she was related to Ulysses S Grant. As far as I can tell his family came from a different part of Ireland, but it's not impossible it's the same family. He was achieving his worldwide fame in the late 1800s and my ancestor lived from circa 1820 to 1911, so perhaps there was some contemporary information proving the link. I'm certainly going to try to investigate it a bit further to see if the link is really there!

Answer 6

Both my grandfathers fought in WWI. Eugene Gariepy (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Gariepy-12) did a year with the U.S. Army in France.

Answer 7

D'Arcy Jerome Prendergast (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Prendergast-493) fought with both the Canadian Artillery in WWI and the British Artillery, attached to the Royal Flying Corps as a balloon observer directing the guns below.  In WWII he served with the British Royal Navy as the oldest doctor on the destroyers. 

D'Arcy's brother, William Killoran Prendergast is pictured with him.  He was a Navy pilot, later with the Royal Flying Corps, WWI. Both survived and returned to Toronto, Canada to raise families of their own.  D'Arcy became a cardiologist and Bill became a dentist.

Answer 8

Medal of Honor In the Civil War
Walker, Mary Edwards (POW)

Assistant Surgeon - Civilian, U.S. Civilian

Medical Services, U.S. Army (Attached)

Date of Action: July 21 & Oct, 1861; Sept, 1863 & Sept, 1864

Citation:

The Medal of Honor is presented to Mary Edwards Walker, Assistant Surgeon (Civilian), for extraordinary heroism as a Contract Surgeon to the Union Forces. Whereas it appears from official reports that Dr. Mary E. Walker, a graduate of medicine, "has rendered valuable service to the Government, and her efforts have been earnest and untiring in a variety of ways," and that she was assigned to duty and served as an assistant surgeon in charge of female prisoners at Louisville, Kentucky, upon the recommendation of Major Generals Sherman and Thomas, and faithfully served as contract surgeon in the service of the United States, and has devoted herself with much patriotic zeal to the sick and wounded soldiers, both in the field and hospitals, to the detriment of her own health, and has also endured hardships as a prisoner of war four months in a Southern prison while acting as contract surgeon; and Whereas by reason of her not being a commissioned officer in the military service, a brevet or honorary rank cannot, under existing laws, be conferred upon her; and Whereas in the opinion of the President an honorable recognition of her services and sufferings should be made: It is ordered, That a testimonial thereof shall be hereby made and given to the said Dr. Mary E. Walker, and that the usual medal of honor for meritorious services be given her. Given under my hand in the city of Washington, D.C., this 11th day of November, A.D. 1865. Andrew Johnson, President
Born: 11/26/1832 at Oswego, New York Home Town: Louisville, Kentucky 
Notes: Dr. Mary Walker is the ONLY WOMAN ever awarded the Medal of Honor. She is one of eight civilians to receive the award.

Answer 9

Father and all 6 sons take up arms for the Confederacy!

Although many Rowland families fought in the Civil War, [[Rowland-1659|William Rowland]] of Oconee County, South Carolina deserves special attention.  Sergeant William Rowland served in Co. G, 5th Regiment, South Carolina.  Additionally six of his sons served -- seven men from a single family, truly dedicated to a cause.

Answer 10

Since starting this genealogy kick I can say that my appreciation for veterans and soldiers have grown, especially those from earlier wars.  So the person that I'll note is Roscoe Creed (https://www.wikitree.com/wiki/Creed-890).  I didn't know that he had served during WWI in the Navy in California.  No one had mentioned it previously so it came as a bit of a surprise.  But again, learning more about these earlier wars and the troubles they had to live through has been enlightening as to the blessings we have today.

Answer 11

From my own profile, you can see the Veterans in my Tree.  I have found and documented quite a few of them including 3 Civil War Vets, 5 War of 1812 Vets, and 13 in the Revolutionary War.  But, I found one even before, my 6x great-grandfather Henry Bray (abt. 1742 - 1812) is a veteran of the War of the Regulation.  Prior to researching his profile, I'd never even heard of this war before.  It was fought in 1771 and the British crushed it severly causing a lot of resentment.  Some historians credit the War of the Regulation as the catalyst for the American Revolutionary War.  Henry's brother was also in the War of the Regulation and later Henry fought in the Revolutionary War and his son fought in the War of 1812.

Comments

SJ, I bet your ancestors served with my ancestors during the Revolution!

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SJ, you have done such a great job of honoring your family veterans on your profile. I feel that I should try to put something on my profile. Thank you for being such a wonderful example.

Answer 12

Even the service roles in wartime prove to be very dangerous. Andrew George Short was in a transport company of the Army Service Corps. He was attending heavy artillery when he died of wounds in Belgium, another poppy in Flanders fields.

Answer 13

Although this Rosenberger line turned out not to be mine, so they don't qualify as ancestors, I put up a profile this morning for James Rosenberger, who, according to his brother’s (John W. Rosenberger) obituary, “was killed in action during World War II at the Battle of the Bulge”.

Also, according to the same obituary, John "was awarded the Silver Star for valor".

(I think I'm supposed to say this is my first time participating in this challenge)

Comments

Silver Star is the 3rd highest award for Valor behind the Distinguished Service Cross and the Medal of Honor.  

Welcome to the challenge.

Answer 14

I have several members who have served in several wars. I mostly have seen relatives from the civil war and thus have developed a soft spot in that area.

Answer 15

The soldiers I want to focus on are two brothers, Nelson and Charles Allard, distant cousins of mine from Fair Haven VT.  Nelson was mustered into the Civil War at the age of 18, on August 25, 1861. Fair Haven is on the border of NY, and he served for F 2 NY Cav.  He died almost one year to the day later at 2nd Bull Run, 28 Aug 62.   His body was never recovered.  His brother Charles, two years younger, joined at age 18 from West Haven VT in August 1864, and died of typhoid fever in the hospital in Martinsburg VA a few months later in November.  In 1873, their mother, Camilla Allard, applied for a pension on Nelson's service.  I have not found that she received it.         

I used to say I had nobody in my family who served in the Civil War.  While it is true I had no lineal ancestor who served, I have learned I had many many collaterals who served, and like the Allard boys, died at tender ages, leaving their parents bereft.   The Civil War took a huge toll on both sides, but Vermonters know it took a particular toll on Vermonters.  "Put the Vermonters ahead" was the order, because they were such good shots, they would save other lives.  But more died per capita from Vermont than from other states, in part because of that order.  You can go through the cemeteries is most of the towns of Vermont, and see multiple family graves from the Civil War.  In the case of Nelson, there is no grave anywhere.   So I no longer say I had noone in the Civil War.  I had many.  Charles and Nelson Allard, are but two.  My project this week will be to add them to wikitree.

Answer 16

52 Ancestors Week 47: Soldier

My ancestor for this week is Robert Cornelius Sutherland Jr. who was born Apr 22, 1885 in Decatur, Illinois. He enlisted in the Army on Nov 16, 1908 and served through Nov 15, 1911. His service record states that his character was excellent, his service was honest and faithful, there were no unauthorized absences and no time lost.

This is a picture of Robert, with his grandmother and father. 

This is the Army Transport Ship - The Sumner, where Robert had on-board training while with the Hospital Corp.

Robert re-enlisted on February 6, 1912 and served in the Hospital Corp. as a Nurse. On February 15, 1915 he received his Honorable discharge. He was discharged as a Sgt. and was shown as 5' 4/12" tall, with brown eyes and a fair complexion. 

Sounds normal, but Robert was the 9th child of 12 children. All but Robert and his two sisters died in infancy. Both of his parents suffered from ill-health. His mother died in 1897.  In 1900, Robert was sent to stay with a maiden Aunt. He was not promoted out of 5th grade. He boarded with a family in Morris, Illinois until he was 15 then convinced his father that he could live on his own. He did find work, but eventually met up with his sister, Icey. Occasionally he would run into his father. In 1908 he fell in love with his cousin Minerva Sutherland, the daughter of his uncle, Daniel. She died suddenly from a heart defect on November 2, 1908. His occupation at that time was a glass blower. Two weeks after that was when he enlisted in the U.S. Army. He originally signed up for the Cavalry, but was transferred to the Hospital Corp. He served at the Presidio and Angel Island in California.When he re-enlisted he served at Fort Benjamin, in Harrison, Indiana and was transferred in 1913 to hr 23rd Infantry Hospital Detachment in the Second at Texas City, Texas.

He married Flora Catherine Brown and they had 8 children. They moved to Colorado where he was a mail carrier for 25 years because of deteriorating health.

He died while visiting his daughter from a fatal heart attack. He was 65 years, 7 months and 17 days old.

Answer 17

Soldiers in the tree?  Too many, so which to choose?

My Grandad and his next older brother signed up for the Great War after their brother had been on Gallipoli Peninsula in 1915 (I have wondered if my folk knew Simpson, or if they were all just too out of time from each other). 

Granddad (who was only ever Turner, never "Claude") had been a clerk prior to the war and resumed that occupation afterwards.

He met and married my veddy, veddy, proper English Grandma (who was NOT Irish! and who probably would have been horrified if she had known what I know about her parents!) before taking her with him to Australia on his return.  They didn't always get along and there were times he "removed" himself from their home — either by taking work on coastal shipping up and down the east coast (of Australia), or by renting a different place of abode for a while (there has never been any indication, or evidence, that he was unfaithful to his marriage vows, unlike his own father .. and maybe that's why).

I have always been proud that Granddad and his brothers and cousin did what they believed was the "right thing", even when it meant one brother and the cousin paid the ultimate price.

Comments

Melanie,

very nice story of your granddad. Proud he stayed devoted to his family and you have me curious about his father.

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The Doctor — according to his daughter-in-law (my Grandma) "had an affair with his housekeeper, while his wife was sick and dying".  I neither know nor care, if she was their housekeeper (or perhaps a nurse for my Gr-Grand), or just someone he knew (her family and my family were both from the same part of Queensland .. and both were notables of their day) .. and exactly how ill my Gr-Grand was 5 years prior to her death is not something we will ever know. 

The Doctor did have a relationship, outside his marriage to my Great-Grandmother, which resulted in a child.  The woman became his second wife after my Gr-Grandmother died.  There were two subsequent children.  I have living cousins from the eldest of the three children, and living cousins from the second-eldest (born after they married .. and who was my Godmother).  The third child died the day after he was born.

The Doctor's older brother, also a doctor, also had a relationship outside the "bounds of matrimony" that resulted in two children.  That he later married the woman a couple of years before he died doesn't answer why he did not do that prior to the birth of their eldest child, or between the birth of the eldest and the birth of the second.

I cannot but wonder if that's why Turner simply removed himself every so often, but never had any relationships with females not my Grandma.  (He DID love to play cards .. and did so often.)

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Very interesting story, Melanie. You didn't have to tell me, but I am glad you did. I am hoping that you great-grandmother did not know of his indiscretions. That alone would have probably killed her. How very sad.

And his brother had the same problem.  hmmm

Thanks, my friend. 

Answer 18

My great grandfather, Michael Huber, after he immigrated from Samara, Russia to Fresno, California, raised two son that both served in WWII:  

William Huber

Albert Huber

On the other side of the pond, my maternal grandfather's line of Pinckney includes my 6th GGF, Gilbert Pinckney, who fought in the Revolutionary War.

Taking that line back a little further, and we discover our 26th GGF, William the Conquerer, who fought for Normandy in his conquest of England.  Along side William the Conquerer came two of the original Pinckney's, Ghilo (23rd GGF) and Ansculf (23rd great uncle), who became barons of Weedon after the conquest.

Answer 19

Many in my family were Union soldiers during the United States Civil War. By 1860, all the generation of my 2x great-grandparents' family lines were living in Michigan.  Although I have no direct ancestors who were among the soldiers, all the families were touched by the war's effects.  Siblings, uncles, nephews, first cousins, sons-in-law, brothers-in-law all were among those who were in various Michigan Regiments.  Some relatives also served in Pennsylvania and New York Regiments and United States units.  The only line (Young) where I haven't found a close relative who was a soldier is missing information before that generation and, their only identified child was female and didn't marry a Civil War veteran.

It was interesting to take a close look at this group and discover how many closely related relatives were soldiers.  Of my eight 2x great-grandfathers:
 
one had died prior to the war (Thorpe), but three of his sons were soldiers;

five were older, the youngest being 42 in 1861: born in 1809 (Young) - missing information; born 1814 (Hart) a son served and died; born 1815 (Perry) - daughter married soldiers twice, widowed once; born 1816 (Wilkinson) - son served and born 1819 (Yerkes) - male children too young, several nephews served and a brother-in-law some of whom did not survive.
 
The remaining two were younger: (Arthur) - three brothers served and one died, (Wright) - several nephews served and at least one died.  These two were already married with children at the war's start.

In the next generation, of the four male children I descend from, one was born during the war (Wright), one was only 8 in 1861 (Wilkinson), one 15 (Perry) and the last 19 (Hart) and a logical one to have been a soldier.  However, he was the oldest child left after his parents died and his older brother was killed in battle. He then became responsible for his younger siblings.

Ephraim Wright  who is my first cousin three times removed was one of the young soldiers who survived the war, was an early settler in northern Michigan with his family.









 

  

Answer 20

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I haven’t found any indication that he served in the Civil War but my great grandfather Wilbur Haines served in the Illinois Guard.  In 1886 he was Captain of Company D when they were ordered to East St. Louis due to a railroad strike.  They successfully prevented loss of property and maintained order.  The rest of his career must have also been successful because I have a ceremonial sword awarded to him for outstanding performance.