beer 30
Footballguy
Worm, we started a thread on this a while ago. Be a good place to sift through https://forums.footballguys.com/forum/topic/592433-ww2-military-records/
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My grandfather passed and we found a box of WWII items, one of which is pretty amazing (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter Worm
- Start date
Worm
slimy ninja
Interesting, I can't find him for some reason.
Did find my other grandfather easy enough.
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GroveDiesel
Footballguy
That's pretty awesome. Unfortunately, it doesn't look like that covers those in the Navy. I'll have to talk to my dad and see what info we can dig up.BroncoFreak_2K3 said:
Worm
slimy ninja
TheAristocrat
Footballguy
Good stuff, Worm. Keep us posted.
El Floppo
Footballguy
I think it's telling that your grandpa kept these in a box and the family knew nothing.
I'd guess if he wanted to display these- he would have. but he kept them private, either to look at when the mood struck or just to hide away and forget. either way, taking war spoils you didn't even now existed and then proudly displaying them on the wall or wherever... seems weird and somewhat disrespectful to me. disrespectful to gramps who chose not to display them all these years, and to the japanese family of the previous owner who was killed with them.
I think it's an honorable and amazing thing you're doing to try to return these. too bad about that organization- but seems like the right choice to keep pushing on without them.
I'd guess if he wanted to display these- he would have. but he kept them private, either to look at when the mood struck or just to hide away and forget. either way, taking war spoils you didn't even now existed and then proudly displaying them on the wall or wherever... seems weird and somewhat disrespectful to me. disrespectful to gramps who chose not to display them all these years, and to the japanese family of the previous owner who was killed with them.
I think it's an honorable and amazing thing you're doing to try to return these. too bad about that organization- but seems like the right choice to keep pushing on without them.
BroncoFreak_2K3
sucker for Orange
yea, that search was just for Army... my bad...here is the main site..from there you can access all braches of th military:
https://www.archives.gov/veterans
couple other ones:
http://www.militaryindexes.com/worldwartwo/
http://search.ancestry.com/search/db.aspx?dbid=1089
I'd definitely try this route ..
https://www.archives.gov/st-louis/military-personnel
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DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
GroveDiesel
Footballguy
This is very cool. I'm going to have to take some time and dig into this.
I got excited and called my dad at lunch and it turns out my grandma does have some records. My dad is going to make a request to NARA to see what else is out there. I'm going to try to get him to scan and email me the stuff my grandma has to see what else I can find out by Googling and using some of these resources.
beer 30
Footballguy
For any of you embarking on this journey...NARA moves at the speed of snail. I'm sure it's improved since when i was messing with it but it's still gonna be slow. Be patient though, they will get back to you.
boots11234
Footballguy
Not sure if still interested however I had my Japanese coworkers look at the stuff. The overview is the post cards have a name and address of the person on the front of the card (that's a guess). The people are/may be movie stars. The flag has names of people all over it. The big Chinese characters on the top say something along the lines of rulers of the four seas. If you want anything in specific translated let me know. I'm here all week.
Worm
slimy ninja
I am primarily interested in the flag and any information that can be taken from it. Names/family information in particular. I may try to do some legwork on this myself if I can get solid starting information.
sublimeone
Footballguy
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
have you found anyone to translate it yet?Worm said:
Worm
slimy ninja
Not yet. The person on reddit gave some info that was posted in this thread, but really not much on the flag.
DA RAIDERS
Footballguy
i wish you were out here, we could easily have someone look at it.
boots11234
Footballguy
Worm,
Do you have a link to the flag alone? it takes forever to load all the photos. My coworker said the flag has japanese names on it. Do you want me to ask if he can translate all the names? Not sure he will (he's my upper level manager.) but I will ask.
Do you have a link to the flag alone? it takes forever to load all the photos. My coworker said the flag has japanese names on it. Do you want me to ask if he can translate all the names? Not sure he will (he's my upper level manager.) but I will ask.
glvsav37
Footballguy
Very cool stuff
I don't know how I missed this thread when it started. I'm a big WW2 buff...don't exactly know why, my dad was a marine in Vietnam, and i'm not military at all, but for some reason I find the whole WW2 period fascinating.
I have a similar story from the other front. Not nearly as personal as yours but, my uncle was in the Army on the European battles. And just before he passed, he gave me a piece of memorabilia that I have safely tucked away. Its amazingly cool, but as you can understand, given the subject matter I, don't bring it out often.
Story goes, my uncle's group stormed a large auditorium where either Hitler or someone high up was speaking. After a gun fight inside, my uncle ripped one of those very tall Nazi flags off the wall. You've seen them, the ones that are draped on both sides of Hitler whenever he spoke. He tore it off the wall and carried it in his backpack throughout the remained of his service. It is amazingly genuine, real thick canvas, painted solid red with bullet holes and singe marks on it from the battle and being carried through Europe. It is tall...prob about 15-20 feet long.
I really don't even want to know what it is worth, but much like your grandfather's items, there is a whole tactile component of these things that you just cant find today. Everything is so manufactured and imported and fake that in addition to these being actual parts of history, you know they are very few of its kind, if any. They come from a much different time then where we are today...and will never be again.
And as much as I appreciate and hold on to it form myself, I am waiting till the right time to show my children who are even further removed from those generations.
I don't know how I missed this thread when it started. I'm a big WW2 buff...don't exactly know why, my dad was a marine in Vietnam, and i'm not military at all, but for some reason I find the whole WW2 period fascinating.
I have a similar story from the other front. Not nearly as personal as yours but, my uncle was in the Army on the European battles. And just before he passed, he gave me a piece of memorabilia that I have safely tucked away. Its amazingly cool, but as you can understand, given the subject matter I, don't bring it out often.
Story goes, my uncle's group stormed a large auditorium where either Hitler or someone high up was speaking. After a gun fight inside, my uncle ripped one of those very tall Nazi flags off the wall. You've seen them, the ones that are draped on both sides of Hitler whenever he spoke. He tore it off the wall and carried it in his backpack throughout the remained of his service. It is amazingly genuine, real thick canvas, painted solid red with bullet holes and singe marks on it from the battle and being carried through Europe. It is tall...prob about 15-20 feet long.
I really don't even want to know what it is worth, but much like your grandfather's items, there is a whole tactile component of these things that you just cant find today. Everything is so manufactured and imported and fake that in addition to these being actual parts of history, you know they are very few of its kind, if any. They come from a much different time then where we are today...and will never be again.
And as much as I appreciate and hold on to it form myself, I am waiting till the right time to show my children who are even further removed from those generations.
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Worm
slimy ninja
Any help is appreciated, but don't get in trouble at work for it or anything.
Here is a link to the flag itself, should be able to zoom in for a close up of certain parts: http://i.imgur.com/4dJtntM.jpg?1
MarvinTScamper
Footballguy
great post - I have a box of pictures my grandfather took during his time in India during WWII. Working for the railroad as a Tech Sargeant, he never saw combat, so it can't compare to the valor by the OPs grandfather, but these mementos, these treasures, are a window back in time through a hero's eyes (one of MY heroes anyway.)
If you don't treasure them, I would try to find the family of the soldier who most certainly would. The Japanese certainly treasure mementos like this more than most Americans anyway. If you want the flag as a framed item, consider having a replica made. The Japanese treasure the "life" in the item, whereas you likely want a keepsake, like I did.
MTS
If you don't treasure them, I would try to find the family of the soldier who most certainly would. The Japanese certainly treasure mementos like this more than most Americans anyway. If you want the flag as a framed item, consider having a replica made. The Japanese treasure the "life" in the item, whereas you likely want a keepsake, like I did.
MTS
boots11234
Footballguy
I won't get in trouble. Just worried about sensitivities with them. I mean this stuff was likely taken off dead soldiers. Just don't want to offend.
