Tomas Garza’s Daughter – “Now I Don’t Feel Empty”
Like most children of World War II veterans, Anna Bowen knew very little about her father’s experiences in the war. She knew that as Private First Class (PFC) Tomas Garza, her dad had been wounded in the leg – she had seen the scar where a bullet or shrapnel had gone through. But as with nearly every WWII soldier, Tomas never talked about the war.
Anna recalls:
She continues, “I am very grateful to Bill for helping me piece together my dad’s time in WWII, because it was always...
Parker Fondren’s Daughter
Clients come to me from many places and for many reasons. Some come from universities or towns, hoping to learn about the WW2 military service of their students or citizens.
Some are from overseas, hoping to find out the story of a particular American serviceman who died in the liberation of their nation.
Many are family historians, such as Donna King of Tennessee. In September of 2017, Donna wrote to me with a poignant inquiry about her uncle, Parker Fondren. As many clients who are...
A successful mission, but for the loss of a father
The weather was good, for Northwest Europe, on February 9, 1945. The only climate-related information that was reported was cloud cover at 12,000 to 14,000 feet. The P-51 Mustangs of the 20th Fighter Group left their base at Kingscliffe, England early that morning. Their mission was to escort B-17s of the 1st Air Division to an oil industry target at Lutzkendorf, Germany. As was the standard operating procedure, the fighters were under orders to attack any targets they could along the way,...
The final notes of Pfc. Max Poster
Max Poster’s personal effects were like those of most of his fellow infantrymen of the 86th Mountain Infantry Regiment. At the time of his death, his possessions included a tobacco pouch; a plastic box, contents not specified; two books, and one lot of miscellaneous papers. Not much to mention or remember.
But they also included an ocarina.
An ocarina is a wind instrument of ancient origin, perhaps first used 12,000 years ago in China and Mesoamerica. Typically, it is in the shape of a...
2nd Lt. William M. Hummer of Mine Hill, New Jersey
2nd LT William M. Hummer, born Nov. 3, 1923 in Dover, NJ, was the son of John W. and Beatrice V. Hummer, living at Basset Avenue in Mine Hill. He was a very active youth, as his Physical Examination for Flying medical report shows. In 1939, he broke his right clavicle playing football. In 1940, he broke his left leg playing baseball, and in 1941, he broke his jaw wrestling.
He entered the Air Corps July 22, 1944, and was assigned to the 67th Bomb Squadron, 44th Bomb Group, based in...
Five From the 464th Bomb Group
The 15th Army Air Force, based in...Wee Willie and the photo that started it all
Above is B-17 “Wee Willie”...From Panatella to Ploesti
The 15th Army Air Force, based in...Debut for Debach
It was the very first combat mission...Six B-24s From Baker Box Downed
The men – the boys, really...The World War II Dead of University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
More than 260 UCLA students, faculty ...
SSGT Morris Meyers: The Man My Dad Never Stopped Waiting For
SSGT Morris Meyers | The Man My Dad...TEC5 Genaro A. Caruso — What the Records Don’t Tell Us
(Troop C, 25th Cavalry Reconnaissance...Nicasio C. Sifuentes: One Week at the Front
(Company A, 10th Armored Infantry...PFC Oscar B. Oakman: The Last Man to Die in the 94th Armored Field Artillery Battalion
(PFC Oscar B. Oakman, 4th Armored...The 4th Armored Division: The Spearhead of Patton’s Third Army
Activated in April 1941 at Pine Camp,...Talk Radio One’s Steven Spierer Interviews WW2 Researcher Bill Beigel
Steven Spierer Talk Radio One Interview...
SSGT Morris Meyers: The Man My Dad Never Stopped Waiting For
So you know how I feel about my cousin, 2Lt A.D. (Alvis Deryl) Noble, I know that he was born on my grandfather's farm in Hopkins Co. Texas, where my father and his and 5 other brothers and 4 sisters were born, then the next information I have is the casualty report after his death as his records were lost in the St. Louis fire. I was born in 1956, 12 years after his death. But I want to thank you once again for your help with what I do know about 2Lt Noble. Sincerely A .D. ( Alan Dale ) NobleSSGT Morris Meyers: The Man My Dad Never Stopped Waiting For
WOW. Great job Something like that for the crew of the B2 nine Salvo Sally that bombed Masaki yes Japan on April 28, 1945. The flight engineer Fred MacDonald was my first cousin husband. The plane went in the ocean. Most likely the gunners are got out and got in parachutes, but only one survived and I found him in St. Louis Missouri Japan held a huge memorial for the crew on April 28, 2018. The survivor was Jack B Cannon. He died. I think he was 94.SSGT Morris Meyers: The Man My Dad Never Stopped Waiting For
Bill found the USMC records of my uncle who served as in the Pacific from 1942 through to the end of the war. Due to Covid it took some time as NARA was closed but Bill found the records and sent them along with a note. What he does is exemplary and his dedication is laudable. If you are in search of family military history I highly recommend Bill’s skills.Five From the 464th Bomb Group
Hi Bill, I am trying to locate information about my father who served in the Army Air Corps, 15 AF, 454th Bombardment Group, 736 Bomb Squadron. His ID # is 12147579. I would like to know his rank and where he served. I am trying to make a paver to honor him at the WWII museum. I would really appreciate any help you could give me. Thank you. Janice Maher (Al Maher’s daughter)Captain Norman L. Aigner: An Ordinary Guy
Thank you for your comment! Please tell us a little more about your inquiry at this link https://www.ww2research.com/contact/ and we'll be in touch. Best - Bill BeigelFrom Panatella to Ploesti
Great blog. My late father was a bombardier based out of Panatella. His plane was Jackpine Joe. Worked Ploesti and Germany. See Jackpinejoe.com
Bill’s WWII Almanac
