Bill’s blog archive: Daily Posts

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 Soldier is Killed in French Fighting,” Fresno Bee, September 26,1944

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 September 26, 1944. I researched the death of PFC Potter in connection with the Fresno Veterans Memorial project. "Fresno Soldier is Killed in French Fighting" Source: Fresno Bee, September 26, 1944 Mrs. Ida Potter, of Route 10, Box 121, today was notified by the war department...
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...
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...
Paul.j.stach .02
Paul.j.stach .02
Paul.j.stach .02

A Matter of Seconds

The target for June 6, 1944 was a road junction at Caen, France. The B-26 “Marauders” of the 323rd Bomb Group were on their way to Normandy. The plan called for bombing from 12,000 feet, but poor weather caused the Marauders to come down lower: much lower. The tail gunner of the crew of B-26 tail # 41-31961, Staff Sergeant George W. Fobes, described what happened next: “…as we came over the French coast we were shot at by 40mm guns. The gun fire lasted about 1 minute and as we...
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...
American Legion Badge1
American Legion Badge1
American Legion Badge1
American Legion Badge1

Brooklyn honors immigrant son, SGT John Sardiello

SGT John Sardiello was born on August 17, 1918.  Like many of the men who served in World War 2, he was the descendant of immigrants. His parents, Joseph and Mildred (Millie), came to the United States in 1913.  Joseph Sardiello established a mattress-making business in Brooklyn. On January 24, 1941, Sardiello entered the Army, and was assigned I Company of the 119th Infantry Regiment, part of the 30th Infantry Division He was killed in the ferocious post D-Day fighting in the...
Francis Brown Wai, Medal of Honor Winner
Francis Brown Wai, Medal of Honor Winner
Francis Brown Wai, Medal of Honor Winner
Francis Brown Wai, Medal of Honor Winner
Francis Brown Wai, Medal of Honor Winner
Francis Brown Wai, Medal of Honor Winner
Francis Brown Wai, Medal of Honor Winner
Francis Brown Wai, Medal of Honor Winner

Medal of Honor Recipient Capt. Francis Wai

Francis Brown Wai was born on April 14, 1917, in Hawaii. Francis was the son of Kim Wai and Rosina Wai. Kim Wai had immigrated to Hawaii from China; in Hawaii, where he established himself as a successful banker and was both well-known and well-regarded. Francis, Kim's eldest child, had three brothers and one sister. Francis was an avid athlete and graduated from Hawaii's elite Punahou High School in 1935. He attended Sacramento Junior College from 1936 - 1937, where he played quarterback in...
333rd FS, 318th FG, 7th Army Air Force
333rd FS, 318th FG, 7th Army Air Force
333rd FS, 318th FG, 7th Army Air Force
333rd FS, 318th FG, 7th Army Air Force
333rd FS, 318th FG, 7th Army Air Force

Memorial Day: 1945

Memorial Day, May 30, 1945.  The War in Europe is over, but the bloody struggle in the Pacific continues on, with no end in sight. P-47 "Jugs" of the 318th Fighter Group were raiding targets on the southern Japanese island of Kyushu.  This mission was a so-called “Heckler” mission. These raids had no specific target; the intent was to harass and attack whatever target they might come across. The weather was bad; it was listed as “completely closed in” at the base of the 318th on the...
Just Plain Lonesome Nichols Crew
Just Plain Lonesome Nichols Crew
Just Plain Lonesome Nichols Crew
Just Plain Lonesome Nichols Crew
Just Plain Lonesome Nichols Crew

“Presumed Deceased, Remains Not Recovered”

It was Tuesday, May 30, 1944.  Memorial Day. 83 B-17’s of the 1st Bombardment Division were in the air. Their target was the aircraft industry factories at Dessau, Germany, where the Elbe and Mulde rivers converge in Saxony. According to Squadron records, the crew of B-17 tail # 42-39975, nicknamed “Just Plain Lonesome”, of the 1st Bombardment Division’s 91st Bomb Group, had averaged 16 missions flown each.  A tested, veteran crew. But at about 11:15 AM, the ‘Flying Fort’...
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