Bill writes about: Researched Groups

Fresno Vets Memorial

“Fresno Marine Dies in Action in Pacific War” – Fresno Bee, Oct 21, 1944

Private First Class Huston R. Fannon, USMC This article is part of a series honoring the battle-dead of the city of Fresno, California. The memorial was dedicated on November 8, 2019, at the Fresno City Hall. The following article ran in the Fresno Bee on October 21, 1944. I researched the death of PFC Fannon in connection with the Fresno Veterans Memorial project. "Fresno Marine Dies in Action in Pacific War" Source: Fresno Bee, October 21, 1944 Mr. And Mrs. Raymond W. Fannon of 2304...
Fresno Vets Memorial

“Fresno Officer Dies in Action on German Front,” Fresno Bee, April 3, 1945

This article is part of a series honoring the battle-dead of the city of Fresno, California. The memorial was dedicated on November 8, 2019, at the Fresno City Hall. The following article ran in the Fresno Bee on April 3, 1945. I researched the death of 1st LT Howard in connection with the Fresno Veterans Memorial project. "Fresno Officer Dies in Action on German Front" Source: Fresno Bee, April 3, 1944 First Lieutenant Joseph W. Howard, 29 year old infantryman, was killed in action March...
Fresno Vets Memorial

The Pheley Brothers of Fresno, California

This article is part of a series honoring the battle-dead of the city of Fresno, California. The memorial was dedicated on November 8, 2019, at the Fresno City Hall. The following articles ran in the Fresno Bee on in November and December, 1944. I researched the Pheley brothers in connection with the Fresno Veterans Memorial project. "Second Son of Fresno Family Dies In Action" Source: Fresno Bee, November 29, 1944 Mr. and Mrs. L. C. Pheley, Route 11, Box 594, today were notified by the war...
Fresno Vets Memorial

“Army Names Base After Ex-Fresnan,” Fresno Bee, March 19, 1948

This article is part of a series honoring the battle-dead of the city of Fresno, California. The memorial was dedicated on November 8, 2019, at the Fresno City Hall. The following article ran in the Fresno Bee on March 19, 1948. I researched the death of Brig. Gen. Howard K. Ramey in connection with the Fresno Veterans Memorial project. Army Names Base After Ex Fresnan Source: Fresno Bee, March 19, 1948 The United States Army Air Force base at Punta Borinquen, near Aguadilla, on Puerto...
Fresno Vets Memorial Flag
Fresno Vets Memorial Flag
Fresno Vets Memorial Flag
Fresno Vets Memorial Flag
Fresno Vets Memorial Flag
Fresno Vets Memorial Flag
Fresno Vets Memorial Flag

Hometown Heroes – Fresno Unveils New Veterans Memorial

On Friday, November 8, 2019, the City of Fresno unveiled a brand-new memorial honoring 464 local heroes who died in battle in wars ranging from World War I to Afghanistan and Iraq. Earlier this year, the City of Fresno contacted me, seeking to confirm names of four Fresno citizens who had died in battle in World War II. Over the next weeks, I spent many hours searching for records to identify all of those who fell in battle in World War II or the Korean War, whose names would eventually...
2nd LT Robert L. Schanen

Lt. Robert L. Schanen, Navigator of “Ascend Charlie”

Yesterday, I received this email from the relative of the navigator on Ascend Charlie's final mission. Ascend Charlie was a B-17 Flying Fortress (tail #42-5903) from the 390th Bomb Group, 571st Bomb Squadron. You can read my full article on "Ascend Charlie's" last mission here.. Dear Mr. Beigel, I just want to thank you for the piece you wrote about the "Ascend Charlie'" crash. Lt. Schanen was my grandmother's cousin and she speaks so fondly of him. I had always known he was killed in...
Mount Olivet Cemetery, Ft. Worth, TX
Mount Olivet Cemetery, Ft. Worth, TX
Mount Olivet Cemetery, Ft. Worth, TX
Mount Olivet Cemetery, Ft. Worth, TX
Mount Olivet Cemetery, Ft. Worth, TX
Mount Olivet Cemetery, Ft. Worth, TX
Mount Olivet Cemetery, Ft. Worth, TX
Mount Olivet Cemetery, Ft. Worth, TX

WW2 Dead buried at Mount Olivet Cemetery in Texas

Mount Olivet Cemetery in Fort Worth, Texas, is named after the Jewish cemetery in Israel. “Mount Olivet” means “Mount of Olives”; the Jewish cemetery is of ancient origin, famous for its many biblical associations, and still in use today. More than 60,000 souls lay at rest at its central Texas namesake in Tarrant County. Among them are fifty-two men who gave their lives for our freedom in World War 2. In late 2010, a private citizen – a hospital administrator and local resident,...
PVT Perry Franklin-POW-Funeral-by-Germans

His last thoughts

The article in the Torrance Herald of Thursday, January 25, 1945, was brief: Next to his photo, it read: “MISSING IN ACTION…Sgt. Perry Franklin, 22, son of Mr. and Mrs. Victor Gossiaux, 1640 W. 219th Street, has been declared missing in action since December 24. With a tank destroyer company, he has been in action in France, Germany, and Belgium since ‘D’ day….” Private (not Sergeant) Franklin was serving with C Company, 807th Tank Destroyer Battalion, when his unit was...
Mi Seal 2 Lg

Bill Beigel Researches Michigan WWII Casualties, MIAs, and POWs

These summaries are posted to honor these selfless men from Michigan who served and lost their lives. This list includes Medal of Honor recipient 1st Lt. George H. Cannon ~ Bill Abel, Andrew W., TEC5, Camp McCoy, died of “poisoning acute, carbon tetra chloride, adema, pulmonary”, 12/21/44 at Station Hospital, Fort Sheridan, IL. TEC5 Abel was on temporary duty assisting the Postal Department as a truck driver. While at Antlers Hotel in Milwaukee fell asleep in bed; a fire occurred, and...
41 Basset Ave 1945 1
41 Basset Ave 1945 1
41 Basset Ave 1945 1
41 Basset Ave 1945 1
41 Basset Ave 1945 1
41 Basset Ave 1945 1

“How am I to know?”

"How am I to know?" is the ironic caption on William Hummer’s yearbook photo from Dover High School, class of 1941. William “Bill” Minton Hummer was killed in Operation Varsity in WWII at the age of 22. He was a stand-in for a regular crew member on an extremely dangerous mission, dropping supplies at tree-level to troops in heavy fighting in Germany just before the end of the war. According to the 44th Bomb Group historian, due to the risk of friendly-fire accidents, the B-24s on...
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