AJ good chance our families knew each other.My wife and I each had a ancestor at Kings mountain.After we found that out we joked we might be cousins.There wasn't that many different families in the mountains when the over mountain men went down to fight the British.We also both have family who fought in war of northern aggression.Mine from TN for the south.Hers from Ky for the north.
Family Gone For Their Cause
- Thread starter ameridaddy
- Start date
AJ
US Veteran
May have. I too, supposedly have folks on both sides of the famlies that fought to the North (NY) and South (Florida).
So, a bit of a story time.
My paternal grandmothers biological grandfather was a Scots/Irish dude named John Barr, of West Virginia.
When the ACW kicked off, he was in some trouble, because he was a drunk and a wife-beater and a degenerate…so much so that when he tried to enlist in the rebel army, he was politely but firmly asked to leave.
So, he tried to don Union Blue. Apparently they weren't having him either, because he started a fight with someone and they found out who he was and the other guys refused to serve with him.
Grandma said he eventually ended up in a "militia" of other men in similar straits who used the war as a pretense to lynch, rape, steal and drink. Luckily for her, he'd already spawned; apparently he died soon after.
My paternal grandmothers biological grandfather was a Scots/Irish dude named John Barr, of West Virginia.
When the ACW kicked off, he was in some trouble, because he was a drunk and a wife-beater and a degenerate…so much so that when he tried to enlist in the rebel army, he was politely but firmly asked to leave.
So, he tried to don Union Blue. Apparently they weren't having him either, because he started a fight with someone and they found out who he was and the other guys refused to serve with him.
Grandma said he eventually ended up in a "militia" of other men in similar straits who used the war as a pretense to lynch, rape, steal and drink. Luckily for her, he'd already spawned; apparently he died soon after.
A great great grandfather , a great uncle and 6 great great uncles wore the gray, (Tennessee 24th inf, Tn 20th inf, 18th Al inf). A great great great grandfather and one great great uncle wore the blue (5Th Tn cav,). Confederate grandpa captured at Missionary Ridge Tn 24 November '63 and shipped to Rock Island in early December. Was paroled 7 March 1865. No exchange was made as the end of the war was very near. Found a copy of his parole, but no evidence he ever took the loyalty oath
. My Dad was in China (Army Air Corps) from early 42 until Dec 45 (Aviation Ordnance) Mom (WAAC, later WAC) worked in Army Intelligence office at Cochran field GA for 3 years, discharged October 45. One Uncle landed in France on D+2, fought through France and into the Battle of the Bulge. Was in Germany when the war ended. Another Uncle (Mom's brother) was drafted in 1940 into the army. On the morning of Dec 7, 1941 he just got home the train for a week's leave. His widowed Mom and his sister were not at home, having went to visit family 60 miles away. He'd been home a little over an hour when a neighbor called to him and said the radio had just reported the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. He went over to listen to the radio. They made an announcement that "all American military personnel are to immediately report to their duty station by the first available transportation. Uncle Orville went back home, wrote a letter to his mother and left it on the kitchen table and walked 3 miles back to town to catch the next train. He wound up in Australia (and eventually married an Aussie girl). He was a beach master and made 5 amphibious landings, including Leyte. He made it back home next on 22 December 1945 (4years after he'd left that letter to his Mom). His wife and 3 year old son made it to the States in August of 1946.
. My Dad was in China (Army Air Corps) from early 42 until Dec 45 (Aviation Ordnance) Mom (WAAC, later WAC) worked in Army Intelligence office at Cochran field GA for 3 years, discharged October 45. One Uncle landed in France on D+2, fought through France and into the Battle of the Bulge. Was in Germany when the war ended. Another Uncle (Mom's brother) was drafted in 1940 into the army. On the morning of Dec 7, 1941 he just got home the train for a week's leave. His widowed Mom and his sister were not at home, having went to visit family 60 miles away. He'd been home a little over an hour when a neighbor called to him and said the radio had just reported the Japanese had attacked Pearl Harbor. He went over to listen to the radio. They made an announcement that "all American military personnel are to immediately report to their duty station by the first available transportation. Uncle Orville went back home, wrote a letter to his mother and left it on the kitchen table and walked 3 miles back to town to catch the next train. He wound up in Australia (and eventually married an Aussie girl). He was a beach master and made 5 amphibious landings, including Leyte. He made it back home next on 22 December 1945 (4years after he'd left that letter to his Mom). His wife and 3 year old son made it to the States in August of 1946.
I had a great great grandfather who served in the 105th Pennsylvania during the Civil War. He was 14 years old when he enlisted, but apparently nobody asked too many questions about his age. I grew up hearing the stories about how he served at Gettysburg and had his name on the Pennsylvania Monument. Now I live by Gettysburg. How cool is that?
Samuel Burgess was my mom's favorite uncle.
He was a rifleman for the 5th Battalion/East Lancashire Fusiliers. They landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. As part of Operation Charnwood, they were, with the Canadiens, ordered to take Caen.
Three weeks after landing, he took a sniper's bullet to the back. He died in the arms of one of his school chums who made it home to tell the tale to my grandmother (his sister)
When his personal effects were returned home there were locks of my mom's and her sister's hair in his wallet.
He was 22.
He was a rifleman for the 5th Battalion/East Lancashire Fusiliers. They landed at Sword Beach on D-Day. As part of Operation Charnwood, they were, with the Canadiens, ordered to take Caen.
Three weeks after landing, he took a sniper's bullet to the back. He died in the arms of one of his school chums who made it home to tell the tale to my grandmother (his sister)
When his personal effects were returned home there were locks of my mom's and her sister's hair in his wallet.
He was 22.
One thing many forget (or never knew to begin with) is that in The War Between the States and WW2 there WERE no "tours of duty". Your butt was there for "the duration". No six months or a year and you go home. Dad said December 42 in China brought nothing special for the guys. Cooks did the best they could but no "extras". In 43 they all got ONE can of (warm) American beer. In 44 the got a turkey dinner and all the trimmings, but by then things were going our way. Where he was at every single thing the got had to be flown over the Himalayan mountains in C46's, C47's. GU deuce and a half's were literally cut in Half in India, flown over the mountains and then repelled together in China-because the aircraft were to small to carry a complete truck over those mountains. # 1 priority was a gas, number 2 was ordnance/ammunition, aircraft maintenance stuff was #3. Goodies were WAY down on the priorities list
