Military Monday - Two Free WWII Databases

Wm Turnbach Jr WWII entry

I was researching summer activities for my youngest son's Cub Scout Pack when I came across two links to some databases on the Peterson Air & Space Museum's website.  The first was for a World War II U.S. Army Enlistment Archive.  As the website explains about this archive:

"This site is a searchable archive for World War II era Army enlistment records, generally spanning the years 1938 - 1946. We have records of 8,433,326 U.S. Army soldiers, reservists, and enlistees. Includes enlisted men and women, foreign scouts and nationals, etc. As a base resource for World War 2 U.S. Army Enlistment Archive we have relied on resources available through U.S. government archives and other public resources."

I don't know how they compiled the list of  "**possible alternate first names"  but since he was a cousin, and one I had actually communicated with before his passing, I'm fairly certain the William is correct.  Still, having alternates is certainly helpful if they come up when you search...they don't though. I went back and searched "Willy Turnbach" and got the response that there were no results to my search.  To perfect this search engine and database, I would suggest that the results would link back to anyone that has possible alternate names listed.  Still, if you're at all a veteran researcher with databases like this you'd simply leave out the first name entirely if you weren't getting any hits or just input a partial.

Wm Turnbach Jr WWII Expanded entry

There was also the World War II POW Archive that I checked out through the museum's site:

"This site features records of 143,374 U.S. servicemen/women and civilians who were held captive by Japan and Germany during World War Two. As a base resource for World War 2 POW Search we have relied on resources available through U.S. government archives and other public resources."

You can search both of these archives by first name, last name, alphabetically through links at the bottom of the page, or by partial name searches.  Both archives state that their records may not be complete due to record loss or loss during transfer to the archive due to corruption.  The archives are certainly worth checking out...and they're FREE.  Sure you may be able to find the same information on one of the paid genealogy sites out there, but here you don't have to pay.

A drawback to the whole "free" thing...there are ads that are on the page as well.  I suppose that's the price you pay for using a free site.  They have to pay for it somehow and ads don't really bother me, but it did get a tad annoying when there were 3 ads on the results page interrupting my flow.

I didn't know of any family members that were POWs during WWII so I threw the surname McCain into the POW search engine.  John McCain was a POW in Vietnam not WWII, but when I think of POWs his name pops into my head first (sorry Senator).  As it turns out there were 2 John McCains that were POWs during WWII.

The Personnel File Core Info can give you Name, Serial Number, Rank, Service, Arm (branch within the service), Organization, Parent Unit, and Unit Type.

As you can see from John A. McCain's record some of the information isn't there (no, it wasn't cropped out).  No reason is given as to why.  Perhaps there was no information in those blanks on the records that were entered into the database.  It would certainly be nice to have those last three bits of info, but I'm still impressed and quite frankly with the whole Name, Rank and Serial Number you can try to request information...and hope it wasn't lost in the records fire.

The Expanded Details give you the Detaining Power, Camp, First and Last Report, Area (Theatre), Source, Status.  Then below all of that information is a link where you can click to see the other POWs held at that camp.

The POW Camp that John K McCain was held at

Here we have two McCains each detained in a different theatre and each with a much different outcome.  Our European Theatre McCain was liberated/repatriated and the other died.  Now it says that he died in a ship sinking or shot trying to escape.  Remember to take a look at the first and last reports here.  He was held prisoner for almost 3 years before dying.  So unless they were putting him on a ship to transport him after he became a prisoner, it would be safer to say he was shot trying to escape.

Expanded Details for John K. McCain

Expanded Details for John A McCain

Lots of great info, but with some annoying adverts (yes, I cropped them out of the photos).  Still should be very worth a researcher's time!

Military Monday - Now THAT's a Military Family!

I'm sure we've all seen those families with tons of children serving during wartime.  They are always impressive/awe-inspiring to see and this one is along those lines.  Not only does Mrs. Alice Hare have a son serving during World War II, but has a brother and sister serving!  I find the sister to be particularly impressive considering the time period we're talking about!

I haven't made a connection between these heroes found in my family scrapbook, but I look forward to searching for that connection and adding them to my Veterans Day post!

"Mail Brings Good News of Sister, Son and Brother

Mrs. Alice Hare, 908 Harvey street, received double good news from the war front this week.  One letter bore notification that her son, Warren, 21, had been promoted from first lieutenant to captain int he Philippines, where he flies a C-47 transport plane.  He had flown over 300 combat missions, and 700 non-combat, and has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross and the Air medal.  He entered service shortly after his graduation from Central Catholic High school in 1942.  His sites, Eloise, is a yeoman 2/c in the Waves, and his brother, Eugene, is in the Merchant Marine.

The other good news was a letter announcing the meeting of Mrs. Hare's sister, Lt. Gladys Berken, and her brother, Lt. Roy Berken, in England, where Lt. Gladys is stationed as an Army nurse.  Lt. Roy is pilot of a C-47 transport, based in France and flew to England to visit his sister.  It was their first meeting since leaving the United States last August.

Lt. Gladys was on the nursing staff of St. Vincent hospital here for a time, then entered private nursing in Milwaukee.  Lt. Roy was a partner in the Berken and Paque trucking service before becoming an Army flier.

Lts Berken and Mrs. Hare are children of Mrs. Mary Berken, route 7."

Military Monday - A Harrowing Escape During WWII

Published in the Green Bay Press-Gazette (date unknown)

I don't know if Edward Duquaine is related to my family at all.  The clipping was taken from a family scrapbook handed down to me.  I haven't made a connection yet, but it's possible that my husband's grandmother clipped the article because it was a heroic tale about a local boy.  We'll see what my research finds in the future!

Edward was born on March 6, 1921 to George and Mabel Duquaine nee Lhose.  He was released from the Army Air Corps on June 5, 1945.  He died of natural causes on August 25, 1998.  He is buried in Allouez Catholic Cemetery, Green Bay, Wisconsin.

"Bombardier Describes Flight Of Disabled Bomber to Safety

By Ed Arndorfer

The story of a crippled B-24 Liberator's nerve-wracking flight from Brux, Germany, to safety behind the Allied lines in Italy is told in a letter received recently by the wife of Lt. Edward J. Duquaine, bombardier on the disabled bomber.

Found Going Rough


'We were unable to keep up with the formation and found the going very rough, with the dead engine vibrating the ship tremendously,' Lt. Duquaine wrote. 'I salvoed the bombs after finding it impossible to follow the rest of the way into the target.  We flew off to the side, hoping and praying that enemy fighters would not find us.'

In the distance the crew could see the other bombers blasting away despite the hornet-like resistance of German pursuit planes.  Meanwhile, the pilot maneuvered far enough away from the objective and yet close enough to be in position to drop in on the formation when it headed for home.

However, that was not the case according to Lt. Duquaine. 'When the formation did return, we were unable to follow and found our plane straggling some 100 miles from Berlin.  I was really sweating over my map keeping track of our position, as I was bombardier and navigator on this trip.

At the half-way mark, a second engine lost all oil pressure and the wing began to shake so that the crew thought it would drop off.

'The pilot gave orders to prepare to bale out,' he related. 'Being over enemy territory, we waited a while longer. Then the propeller froze and once more the plane was in level flight.  The other two engines really had a load and we were flying over water and continually losing altitude.'

Now everything that was loose was tossed overboard, including flak suits and ammunition waist and top turret guns. 'In the excitement,' he recalls, 'one man accidentally threw away part of the radio equipment, and another the flares.'

All the while the Liberator was dropping slowly on two engines and oil pressure was beginning to oscillate on the third. They were winging along the coast, with low clouds making visibility poor.  A field was spotted, but it was decided not to land because Lt. Duquaine was certain it was a German base. Finally the Alp mountains were passed and Pilot Dennis Blackwell, Lyme, Colo., set the bomber down at an advance Allied fighter base without the aid of the radio and flora signals that had been heaved over the side in the confusion.  Lt. Duquaine said that previously he had noticed a fire and by the smoke was able to distinguish the direction of the surface wind.

'That base looked good to us, and if it was not for the advance of our Allied armies in north Italy, we would now be prisoners,' he averred.

Late at night the crew members returned to their base on a bomber which had landed to refuel.

Lt. Duquaine entered the service Oct. 16, 1942, and received his commission last Dec. 4 and Midland, Tex. He arrived overseas on May 1 of this year and since then has flown 40 missions. Recently decorated with the Air Medal with an oak leaf cluster, he is the husband of the former Arivilla Challe, 700 St. George street, and the son of Mr. and Mrs. George Duquaine, route 6."

Military Monday - SGT Van Pee Dies in Italy

"Sgt. Van Pee Dies in Italy

Soldier [sic] Suffered Skull Fracture in Motorcycle Accident, Parents Told

Staff Sgt. Clifford C. Van Pee, 25, died Jan. 17 in Italy as the result of a skull fracture received in a motorcycle crash, according to a wire from the War department to his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Henry (Shorty) Van Pee, route 1.

In V-mail letters written Jan. 14 and 15 to his parents and sister, he said he hoped to come home in two months as his name was in for rotation, and 12 of the boys were leaving for the States that day.

18 Months Overseas

Sgt. Van Pee used a motorcycle often as his work on the civilian and military payrolls necessitated his traveling between various offices and bases.

He celebrated his 25th birthday and his anniversary of 18 months overseas service on the same day, Jan. 13, when his officers gave him a free day and he observed the occasion at a party given by Italian friends.

Before he went into Army service April 17, 1941, Sgt. Van Pee worked on the silver fox farm and in the tavern which his parents operate.  He was a graduate of Holy Cross school, Bay Settlement, and East High school.

He went to England in July, 1942, and was sent to North Africa with the first invasion in November, 1942.  He was later sent to Sicily and then to Italy for payroll and personnel duties.

Requiem Mass Monday

Survivors in addition to his parents include two sisters, Mrs. Clarence Gerlikowski and Mrs. Harold Spielbauer; his grandmother, Mrs. Emily Van Pee, who celebrates her 80th birthday today, and Miss Shirley Corsten, his fiancee, all of Green Bay.

A requiem mass will be said at 9 o'clock Monday morning in Holy Cross church, Bay Settlement, by the Rev. J. W. De Vries.

Sunday's Obituary - All Gave Some, Some Gave All

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SGT Lester Bader was a handsome young man whose life was cut short while serving in World War II.  His obituary is extremely interesting.  He was apparently a very brave and intelligent young man that had quite the military career.  I'd love to know more about those "secret duties"!

Rest in peace, SGT Bader.  You died while defending a monastery.  I'm sure you scored lots of points with the Big Guy for that one!  Your memory will always live on.

"SGT Lester Bader

Sgt. Bader's Body Arriving Wednesday

The body of Sgt. Lester Bader, 25, Luxemburg, route 2, son of Mrs. Mary Bader, Luxemburg, who was killed in action on Christmas day, 1943, in Italy, will arrive on the Milwaukee road at 9:45 Wednesday evening, and will be met by the Ralph Kline American Legion post, Luxemburg, who will escort it to the Dupont-Malcore Funeral home.

Sgt. Bader was killed while defending a monastery on Mount Defoncha, Casino, Italy.  He was born in Red River and before his enlistment the day after Pearl Harbor, he operated a farm with his brothers, and served as auction clerk in company with a brother's auctioneering business.  He attended East High school in Green Bay.

After training at Fort Riley, Kan., and El Paso, Tex., the soldier entered the secret service and took special training at Norfolk, W. Va.  He was on secret duty in Attu, Alaska, and in Africa before being transferred to the European theater of war.

Besides his mother, he is survived by three brothers, Mose and Ralph, on the home farm, and Edward, Green Bay; and three sisters, Mrs. Martin Williams, New Franken, Mrs. Joseph Coel, Edgewater Beach, and Mrs. Jerry Baier, Green Bay.

The Holy Name society of St. Louis church, Dyckesville, of which he was a member, will say the rosary at 8 o'clock Wednesday evening at the funeral home, with the Rev. Ludolph Jacobs, O. Praem.

Funeral services will be held at 10 o'clock Friday morning in St. Louis church, Dyckesville, with Father Jacobs offering the requiem mass.  Burial will be in the church cemetery. The Ralph Kline American Legion post will conduct the military rites."

No publication information was written with the newspaper clipping I have.  It would most likely be from one of the local Wisconsin newspapers, perhaps the Green Bay Press-Gazette since he attended high school in Green Bay.

Sunday's Obituary - SGT Lester J. Uelmen

"New Fane Soldier Dead, Barton B-24 Gunner Missing

A telegram from the war department conveyed the sad news to Mrs. Betty Uelmen of New Fane Monday morning that her husband, Sgt. lester J. Uelmen, 25, was killed in action Jan. 13, near Strasbourg, Germany.  The dead sergeant is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Edward Uelmen of New Fane.

Sgt. Uelmen entered the army Dec. 4, 1942, and had basic training at Camp Chaffee, Ark.  From there he went to Camp Campbell, Ky., and then to a port of embarkation on the east coast.  He arrived at a port in France on Oct. 27, 1944.  Moving through France with an infantry division of the seventh army, he was killed in his first combat.  his last letter, written to his wife, was dated Jan. 9, in Germany.

Sgt. Uelmen worked at the Kewaskum creamery prior to entering the army.  He was married to the former Betty Krueger of New Fane on Oct. 12, 1940.  his wife resides with her parents, the William Kruegers, at New Fane.  He is further survived by his parents and two brothers, Pvt. Elmer, with the third army in France and Lawrence of New Fane."

There was no publication information with the clipping which was passed on to me.  The newspaper was almost certainly from Wisconsin and the story would have been published after January 13, 1945. 

Military Monday - Lester Kuehl

Lester Kuehl was the son of John Kuehl and Dora Hermann. He was killed in action in France in 1944 and was originally interred in the military cemetery at LeChene-Guerin, France. Lester was finally brought home to Kewaskum, WI more than 4 years after his death in 1948. He is my mother-in-law's uncle. She vividly remembers being at the funeral in 1948 and the honor guard at the funeral firing their volleys in honor of her Uncle Lester. It was a sad day and the gun shots frightened her. She was 9 years old at the time of the funeral.

Rest in peace and thank you for serving our country, Uncle Lester. You should have been with us much longer than you were. All gave some, some gave all.