Thankful Thursday: Coming Home from Over There

Just yesterday, we were talking about my wounded World War I grandpa and his friend.  As an update, I am still trying to confirm if the other guy in the 1919 photo taken at US Hospital at Parkview is who I think it is.  I did hear from one of his distant kin who shared the picture from his obituary.  It's still hard to confirm or deny since the picture used in the obituary is one of later life.  Although, looking at the ears and eye slant still have me leaning towards the identity.

In reading the military information I found on both men, I became curious as to why they had different return dates from Europe in early 1919.  More sleuthing was needed to uncover if memories were failing or if there was more to the story.

Search, search, search.  Bingo!  The answer was in the US Army Transport Service, 1910-1939, which can be accessed through Ancestry.com.   The two buddies came home on separate ships!

John D KERFOOT left Brest, France on Jan 11, 1919, and arrived in Hoboken, NJ on Jan 21, 1919, on the USS George Washington.  He is also listed as a "walking patient requiring dressing."

Grandpa, on the other hand, left Brest, France on Jan 26, 1919, and arrived in Hoboken, NJ on Feb. 3, 1919, on the USS Agamemnon.  He is also listed as a "sick and wounded, litter class."

Another note of interest is both of these troop transport ships began their lives as German liners and were taken over by the Americans in April 1917 when America entered the war.

USS George Washington on the left with the USS Agamemnon on the right
Photo found on www.nav.source.com

Ahh, genealogy.  Thankful these two wounded World War I veterans from southwest Pennsylvania made it home from "over there".


Sources:
Ancestry.com. U.S., Army Transport Service, Passenger Lists, 1910-1939 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2016.
http://www.navsource.org/archives/12/173004.htm

©2019  AS Eldredge

Military Monday: Sailing the Ocean Blue with the Merchant Marines

During the early days of World War II, my own special veteran papa, was part of the Merchant Marines.  I never really thought much about it.  I knew he had his first mate's papers and I knew he thoroughly enjoyed being on the water.

The Merchant Marines.  Well, this is quite interesting.  It wasn't until after my dad's death that the military decided these brave men who sailed the seas for our country during a time of war could be considered veterans.  As the Merchant Marines lost a greater per capita number of men than the US Armed Forces did during World War II, I found it astonishing that they weren't acknowledged as veterans until 1988.

Atlantic Trader, States Marine Co, WWII

The Atlantic Trader of the States Marine Co was just one of the boats on which he served. The captain during his trip to the French North Africa was a Captain S. Glenn.  Of interest in my reading is finding that the SS Keystone was torpedoed on a trip to North Africa at the same time my dad was on the Atlantic Trader.  Were they part of the same mission which had 45 merchant ships and 7 escorts?  I think I have more research to do.

I remember him talking about how they were gunrunners during the early war, but they weren't allowed to defend themselves.  Instead, they had Navy escorts when they trudged over the sea.  Although he told one of his cousins (who later told me) that it was really a cushy little job, he apparently tired of comments by those for whom he was running merchandize and men around.  So, after one trip ended, he tried to join the Navy.  They wouldn't take him.  Why?  I don't know.

He ended up talking with the Army who told them that they, the Army, also had boats.  That did it for him.  He joined up and spent the next twenty some odd years walking everywhere since he ended up in the Infantry.  Isn't that a kicker? Now, to be honest, he did spend some time in the Phillipines ferrying some men and some generals around.

Back to now---  I have been watching the World War II stories on my local PBS station and been amazed and horrified at the conditions these brave men fought.  One of them said that they weren't heroes.  Only the ones under the white crosses at Normandy qualified for that honor.  No, they were just survivors.

I think my dad felt that way as he told a sibling of mine that we should never forget all those brave fallen men.  My dad couldn't forget them.  And I can't forget my dad.

Ahh, genealogy.  A great big hug and thanks to all who served our country.  Papa was right.  We can't forget.

Sources:

http://www.statesmarinelines.com/index.htm

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_Merchant_Marine

Military Monday: Dave? Is That You? You, PA 149th You

Part 3 in the series You, PA 149th You

Can you imagine the scene after a soldier is left for dead on the battlefield during the Civil War?  It couldn't have been a pleasant experience for either side.  In this case, the soldier was found alive later and sent to the hospital.

David PHILIPS, born May 6, 1835, in Scott Twp, Allegheny, PA, was the son of Henry Hultz PHILIPS and Adeline LONG.  In the Federal Census for 1860, he is living next to Henry and Adeline, and next to Thomas PHILIPS.  The census tells us his wife is Elizabeth and they were married in 1860.

David enlists during the frenzy of local boys joining Captain James GLENN on August 22, 1862.  These boys become the men of Co. D, PA 149th who walked to hell and back during the course of their three year enlistment.  David received a gunshot wound to the head at Laurel Hill, VA.  Left for dead!  For three days!

He did recover and returned to fight with his unit.

From Nesbit's book on the History of the Regiment

After the war, he returned to Allegheny Co, PA, and settled in Wilkinsburg as a machinist.  His wife passed.  Around 1892, he married Anna. He lived his life and passed away Feb. 9, 1913, and was buried at Southside Cemetery.

Why am I looking at him?  The 1863 letter of cousin Frank states he had a picture made with him and four others. Frank's words:     " No 1 Ustic ROTHROCK, our bugler, No 2 Dave PHILLIPS, No 3 Boy MAY, 4 I.B. MOMYER, 5 Sam PHILLIPS, No 6 your humble servant."

Is this the picture?  Look at the man standing behind who I have identified as Ustick ROTHROCK in the first bugle position.  Dave?  I think so.

I located his obit in the Pittsburgh Press dated February 10, 1913.  I thought his survival and success after the war needs a shout out.

Pittsburgh Press February 10, 1913

 Ahh, genealogy.  How many men have survived? How many men have we lost?  Take a moment and remember them all.   Thank you for your service American veterans.

Part 1 of the series:  Frank?  Is That You? You 149th Bucktail You
Part 2 of the series:  Ustick?  Is That You?  You, PA 149th You




Sources:
http://genitalesga.blogspot.com/2011/04/1863-civil-war-letter-from-member-of-pa.html
http://www.pa-roots.com/pacw/infantry/149th/149thcod.html
http://civilwartalk.com/threads/149th-pa-at-gettysburg.90596/
http://digital.library.pitt.edu/cgi-bin/t/text/pageviewer-idx?type=simple;c=pitttext;cc=pitttext;idno=00hc08553m;q1=philips;submit=Go;didno=00hc08553m;rgn=full%20text;view=image;seq=0165
http://interactive.ancestry.com/5164/41381_620305176_0822-02254/356353?backurl=http://person.ancestry.com/tree/6687227/person/6980841523/facts/citation/107690121404/edit/record
Historical Data Systems, comp.. American Civil War Soldiers [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 1999.     
1860 Federal Census, Chartier, Allegheny, PA   

©2016 ASEldredge