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."

Sunday's Obituary - An Odd Way to Die

1945 Green Bay Press-Gazette

It seems so trivial.  You pinch your finger in a car door on your wedding day but for it to result in a crippling injury that leaves you bed-ridden and ultimately results in your demise?  This happened to Norman Jadin.  He died back in 1945 and is buried in Holy Trinity Cemetery, Casco, Kewaunee, WI.  Transcribing this obituary just makes me say is thank goodness for modern medicine!

Norman married Eunice Dart around 1937.  Eunice was my husband's 1st cousin twice removed and if it hadn't been for this clipping I most likely never would have known about this marriage.  I knew from the obituary of Arthur A. Dart (her brother) that Eunice had married a man named Clarence Bathke.  From this article I know that not only did she marry Norman Jadin, but that they had a daughter, Patsy.  Great discovery.  More work to do!

"Pinched Finger on Wedding Day, Dies Eight Years Later

Special to Press-Gazette

CASCO, Wis. - An infection which he received when he pinched his finger in a car door on his wedding day nearly eight years ago resulted in the death of Norman Jadin, 27, in a Green Bay hospital at 6 o'clock Wednesday evening.

The infection brought on a serious illness, and Mr. Jadin was badly crippled.  For several years he had been bedridden.  He was born in the town of Brussels April 18, 1918, and since his marriage to the former Eunice Dart, Tonet, had lived in Casco.

Survivors are his wife; a daughter, Patsy, 7; five brothers, Rodery, at home; Tony, in the Army in Missouri; John, with the Army in France; Wallace, with the Army in Germany; and Jule Jr., in the Navy in the South Pacific; four sisters, Mrs. Marion Dart of Casco; Mrs. Grace Malcore of Green Bay; Mrs. Margaret Sticka of Almano, Calif., and Mrs. Joyce Worachek, Casco, and his parents, Mr. and Mrs. Jule Jadin Sr., Casco.

The body will be taken to the Richard Dart home on the Jim Sinklar farm from the Weisner-Massart Funeral home, and the rosary will be recited there tonight and Friday night.  Funeral services will be held at 9:30 Saturday morning at Holy Trinity Catholic church."

[Hand-dated 1945 from the Green Bay Press-Gazette]

Follow Friday on Saturday- The "I'm Always Catching Up" Edition

So Google Reader has been telling me for some time that I had 1000+ posts to read and I finally found time to catch up.  While there were many more posts I would have liked to share with you all, these were the ones that I just had to include.  I'm also posting this on Saturday, because I just couldn't pass up a post on Black Friday, so my followings were postponed until today.  Now to make sure that I keep up on my Reader on a daily  basis....

I'm actually starting out with a post that was not from another blog, but I felt it was significant to genealogists anyway.  As I was reading CNN this week an article on "Brown Babies" in Germany caught my eye.  Perhaps a part of history that we are unfamiliar with, but as genealogists could come across if our research for ourselves or others includes African American ancestors.  Ignoring the political incorrectness of the "Brown Babies" label, the article illustrates that a large number of children (in the thousands) that were given up.  These children were fathered between white women and African American Soldiers following WWII.  The women being encouraged to give up their children and the military moving the Soldier when a relationship was discovered.  Shameful.  Please check out the post, "'Brown Babies' Long Search For Family Identity".

I actually came across this as I was reading the news.  Save A Grave posted the same video.  Very sad that so many people's remains were washed away in Tropical Storm Irene, that only about 1/2 of them have been recovered, and then to top it all off some of the tombstones that had been recovered were stolen/vandalized.  Seriously?

Lorine McGinnis Schulze over at Olive Tree Genealogy has a challenge for us all!  Read about her request that you  give 15 minutes to photograph tombstone at local cemeteries in the "November's Genealogy Challenge" and then get out and photograph those stone and get back with Lorine!  I'll be heading out this weekend!

Greta's Genealogy Bog tells how she is having fun creating a webpage for her family's genealogy in her post, "Fun Stuff You Can Do With Weebly."  I love Weebly.  Thomas MacEntee first introduced me to Weebly in one of his many awesome webinars and I use it almost daily for my PTA's website.  It's so easy, you just drag and drop.  Did I mention FREE too?  Who doesn't love free stuff.  There is a "pro" version with more bells and whistles that you pay for, but I haven't needed it yet.  Greta has reminded me with this great post that I need to do the same and get to creating a page for my family's genealogy.  Check out Greta's experience with Weebly.  Everyone I know that uses it absolutely loves it!

At Faces of My Family, Lisa Swanson Ellam reminds us that sometimes it takes awhile to get the answers we need.  It took 11 months in her case, and a slight surname spelling variation!  Don't you love successes!?!

Jennifer Shoer at the Scrappy Genealogist is, well...scrapping!  Join Jennifer for Scrapbook Sundays.  They've been going on for about a month, but it's never to late to start!  Something I've often wanted to do, but never seemed to find the time.  I'm starting to grab pictures and information and I hope to be joining Jennifer and her fellow participants!  What better way to remember our ancestors and to pass something beautiful on about them!

A great post by Deb Ruth at Adventures in Genealogy where she details some great finds and connections she made through Find-A-Grave.  I'm always a big fan of Find-A-Grave and have had much success there as well.  Don't miss out.  Read her post, "Connecting on Find-A-Grave".

Lots of great stuff out there and I'm going to do everything I can to not get so far behind again!

Happy Black Friday

Is that a contradiction?  I don't think so.  I hear so many people grumpy about Christmas music and items being in stores before Thanksgiving.  I'm an early shopper.  I like to get it all done preferably before Thanksgiving. Once Thanksgiving hits you've got a month to get everything done, and I'd prefer to spend that time decorating the house and baking cookies.  I want my children to have the wonderful holiday experiences that I did when I was younger.  Far too many people rush into the over-crowded stores to do holiday shopping and are in anything but a holiday spirit.  It makes me wonder how it was for my parents.  For their parents...and so on.  I'll have to talk to my mother and mother-in-law about that one.  What was it like?

I like to think of snowy, peaceful streets and shoppers strolling through stores.  Parents baking cookies for excited children.  I do tend to romanticize things though.  I know my mother and her siblings have long commented on how exact "A Christmas Story" was to their reality!

Today, for most people, marks the beginning to the Christmas season.  I know that my sisters-in-law and mother-in-law will most likely be heading out to Bath and Body Works (and various stores throughout the Green Bay area) in search of some great bargains.  I have fond memories of going with them (venturing out on Black Friday was something I never would have considered before becoming a part of the Cayemberg family!).  There are enough grumpy people out there today, but my Green Bay family are simply shining lights on a knock-down, drag-out shopping day.

I clearly recall sharking through the parking lot for a space at the mall and my SIL Lori rolls down the window in the bitter Wisconsin winter.  Hanging half out the passenger window she shouts with an enormous smile and a cheer that I hadn't felt on a Black Friday...ever, "Are you heading back to your car?"  The lady smiles back and points to a spot directly in front of us and near the front doors to the department store.  Who says the Irish are lucky!  Luck of the Belgian/Germans here!  On the way out of the department store, Lori flags down the nearest person and tells them where we're pulling out. They bring smiles to people's faces wherever they go.

My father-in-law was always up early and would head out at 3:30 or 4:00am on Black Friday over some deal he saw in the newspaper on Thanksgiving day.  He seldom got the item, but he loved the adventure of it.  He had the excitement of the holidays.

Whether deals were found or missed, a nice breakfast was had and stories were told.  Truthfully I've only been in Green Bay a handful of times on Black Friday, but every time I've been there (well, and any time I'm with my in-laws) shopping is involved.  I don't think I've ever caught a truly great deal when I've gone out on Black Friday, but I'm definitely in the Christmas spirit after being out!  Could you imagine if everyone could be so kind and cheerful at the beginning of what's supposed to mark such a season?

For those who think Christmas has become too commercialized.  You need to remember that Christmas and the holidays aren't what retailers make it.  It's what you make of it.  And frankly, there is usually something to be purchased because we do something special for the season.  Whether it's extra baked goods, a fresh pine tree or presents.  What you purchase is up to you.  You decide.  Not the retailers.  

This is a very traditional time of year.  Whether you "believe" in Santa visiting all the good boys and girls in a celebration of the birth of Jesus, or whether you prefer to leave Santa out of it.  If you celebrate Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the Winter Solstice or any other winter holiday, it's a time steeped in tradition.  Have you started your own traditions or are you doing something you learned from your parents?  And if you learned it from your parents were they passing it on?  Find out.  Find out before you can no longer ask.

Maybe people need to look at the Holiday merchandise in the stores in October and the seasonal music playing early as a ramp up for their good attitudes?  Get in the Christmas spirit early.  After all shouldn't we  keep Christmas throughout the year?...before we are visited by three spirits reminding us to ditch the Humbug!

[This was originally posted on "Black Friday" in 2010.  I think it's appropriate every year.]

Thankful Thursday - Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!  I hope everyone's day is filled with as little stress as possible.  Make sure to take time to reflect on how much easier we have it compared to our ancestors and that the "Good Ol' Days" weren't always so good!

I read a wonderful post on Wednesday from a blog I follow called, "Living on a Dime," and it's a post well worth reading.  It reminds us all to be thankful for the things we've got even if they aren't quite perfect or what we want.  Give it a read and share your thanks.

In the spirit of giving thanks, these are a few of the things that I'm grateful for:

-My husband.  For being able to tolerate my moodiness and late nights.  Who always supports my dreams and keeps me grounded and focused on what is really important in life and for giving me two beautiful boys (for Christmas I would like a third).

-My boys.  They may drive me absolutely nuts sometimes, but I'm a tough woman to please.  They are incredibly smart and well behaved.  They don't get into trouble in school and only pick on each other.  They are extremely empathetic and strive to do what's right.

-My family.  We're talking everyone not living in my house now.  I've got a great mother and step-father, three incredible sisters, awesome cousins, aunt and uncles, and a gorgeous niece.  And that's only on my side of the family.  I've also been blessed to have just about the best in-laws in the world.  In fact, I don't really look at them as in-laws.  They are family, mother, father, sisters, brothers, aunts, uncles, cousins and 5 of the handsomest nephews and cutest niece (and grand-niece) I could have ever asked for.

-You.  Without you reading all the silliness I post, I'd be talking to myself and on my way to being committed!  Your encouragement, advice and support mean more than I could ever say.

-My government.  Yes, people complain about those folks in power, and they aren't getting much done right now, but it's the best in the world regardless of it's drawbacks.

-Health.  My family (apart from some cooties here and there) are fairly healthy.

-Health insurance.  For having insurance so that when we aren't healthy we can get better and for check ups and immunizations that keep us from getting sick.  To exist without it would be devastating and unimaginable.

-Water.  The severe drought in Texas reminds me how lucky we are to still have water when some communities are beginning to run out.

-My house.  It's not my dream home, but it's beautiful, sturdy, and clean.  It shelters us from the excessive summer heat, the crazy Killeen winds, and the cold (if you can believe that it gets cold, here...it does!).

-Food.  We are lucky to have food when there are many people that will be going without not just on Thanksgiving, but go hungry each day.  Remember them and not just during the holidays.

-My church.  I don't go as frequently as I should, but it does lift me up and remind me of the person I want to be.  It reminds me of my heritage and ancestors each time I go.  It is something we have in common.

-A good school for my children.  To have a school that has teachers that care for and educate my children, that challenge my children and encourage my children.  To know that they are safe at school and that they are in the best learning environment we could give them, inspires me to tolerate the PTA nonsense that has been holding up my business and career goals.

-The PTA.  Ironic isn't it, but it's true.  Parent involvement, regardless of how pathetically low it is nowadays, is essential for our children.  The PTA is a great resource for families, schools, teachers and the community.  Being their president has helped me learn to be a bit more diplomatic and less drill-sergeant-like when dealing with less than nice people (but the drill sergeant does come out when needed).

-Cub Scouts.  I cannot say how important scouting is to our family.  I wasn't an active parent in scouting when I first started and pushed it off as a father-son activity.  It is not.  It has helped me work with my oldest son to prepare him for independence better than I could have done alone.  It has forced me to let go and let him be the wonderful young man that he is and that he will be.  It has taught him so many life lessons.  My Pack is exceptional as are it's leaders and boys.

I could go on all night.  I realize now, and need to every day, that no matter how hard things are, they are not too bad.  Sure someone has it better than I do.  I'm the 99%...but you know, many people have it worse than I do.  I will be thinking and praying for those struggling during the holidays and throughout the year and hoping that our nation can eventually be one, where kids don't go to bed hungry or in a car (or worse).

So this season when you hear that bell ringing, or see that giving tree, or the box for the local food drive, give thanks for what you have and then give...even a little...to help someone else that isn't as fortunate.

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone and pass the cranberry sauce!

Wedding Wednesday - Mr and Mrs Wilbert Dart's Golden Anniversary

"Golden Wedding - Mr. and Mrs. Wilbert Dart, rt. 3, Luxemburg, recently observed their 50th wedding anniversary.  They have one daughter, one granddaughter and one great-grandson."

Wilbert is my husband's great great uncle.  He was born on February 18, 1897 in Wisconsin and is the son of Eugene and Josephine Dart nee Hermans and was the youngest of 12 known children.    Wilbert married Alice Delveaux at the end of December 1919 or the beginning of January 1920 (I found a website which noted a license issued on 02JAN1920, so I need to check into this some more), and had one daughter, Bertha.

Wilbert served in the Army during WWI.  He enlisted/was drafted on August 8, 1918 and was discharged on September 2, 1919.  Just over a year of service.  He died on June 11, 1984 in Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.

Alice Delveaux was born on Jun 4, 1893 (parents unknown) in Wisconsin.  She died on December 15, 1976 in Luxemburg, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.  Alice and Wilbert are buried in the Shrine of the Good Shepherd Mausoleum in Green Bay, Wisconsin.

[Hand-dated December 28, 1969.  This was most likely the anniversary date rather than the publication date and was most likely published in the Green Bay Press-Gazette]

Tombstone Tuesday - Eugene and Josephine Dart

Eugene and Josephine's tombstone (why did I not clean it when I was there!)

Eugene Dart

Eugene and Josephine Dart nee Hermans are my husband's 2nd great grandparents.  Eugene was born on September 18, 1845 in  Grand-Leez, Namur, Belgium to Jean Baptiste Sr and Marie Josephe Dart nee Podor.  He was the fourth of six known children: Jean Baptiste Jr, Marie Julienne, Jules Joseph, Eugene (of course), Antoinette, and Desira.

He married Josephine Hermans in 1871 in Wisconsin and they had twelve known children:

Louisa
Charles
Jean Baptiste
Odile (also spelled Odele)
Adolphe
Jule
Desirea
Mary (my husband's great grandmother)
August Joseph
William
Eli
Wilbert

Josephine Dart nee Hermans

Josephine was born in Belgium (location unknown) on March 23, 1851 to Charles and Josephe Hermans nee Landeck.  While I haven't been able to confirm any siblings enough to warrant putting them in my tree (I've found some, but my research hasn't convinced me yet!), I was able to find another tid-bit while searching for this blog post...Her parents' marriage in Belgium!  Very nice...different blog post though!

Eugene died in 1924 and Josephine died on October 25, 1930 in Wisconsin.  They are buried in Saint Martin's Cememtery, Kewaunee County, Wisconsin.


[Thank you Cheryl (no not me) for sharing the Dart pictures with me!]