Help me find WW2 stories that deserve to be researched for free
2014 marks the 70th anniversary of the invasion of Normandy. By some estimates, we’re currently losing about 1,000 WWII veterans per day – not to mention the non-military survivors of the second Great War.
I want to find somebody who really needs some research done and deserves to have it done for free.
For the next 30 days, I’m inviting anyone to tell me about a member of the U.S. military who died in active service during World War II, whose story you need to know – and why. At the end of February, I will choose one person’s story to research for free.
Include this information in the Comments section below this post (or as much of it as you know):
- Name
- Rank
- Branch of service
- Date of death
- Details about their service and/or how they died or disappeared
- Relationship to you
- Interesting info: What’s interesting about their service, what finding them means to you, why you’re having difficulty finding their records, etc.
- Your contact information, including a valid email address.
If you’re researching a group (such as a flight crew or all the people from your hometown who died in WWII), you are also invited to participate. If you’re chosen, I will research the first member of your group at no charge.
Write to me in the comments below, tell me your story, and why I should choose your veteran to research for free. Be sure that I have your email address (it doesn’t have to be displayed publicly) so that I can contact you.
Best wishes, Bill
Ask Bill or comment on this story
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My father was Paul D Jessop, he spoke of your Grandfather a lot. My father passed away in 2011 .The World War II Dead of University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA)
Hi Bill, Thanks for putting this together. My grand uncle, 2nd Lt. Robert L. Woolfolk attended UCLA and I believe he graduated in 1936. He was on the waterpolo team. He was a bombardier in the 571st Bomb Squadron, 390th Bomb Group and his aircraft "Decatur Deb" was shot down on May 28, 1944. He and six others perished while three were able bail out and became POWs. This is written up the in the book "Bloody Skies: U.S. Eighth Air Force Battle Damage in World War II." There is a B-17G tail gunner's compartment on display at the 390th Bomb Group Memorial Museum, which is dedicated to this crew. Regards, Nick VeronicoBill’s WW2 Almanac for January 21: Featuring Col. Randy’s Flying Circus
Hi! Randall Col Randy is actually my great grandfather and I was wandering if you ever new him? I am curious to know more about him.Women in WWII: Cornelia Clark Fort
Interesting....very hard to know the 'who hit who'.....Fort had enough flying time to be a instructor, I know nothing about the other pilot. If Pastor Jeff had information on her being talked into a situation, I would love to know if reliable. Regardless, so many losses in so many ways.... My take is the WAFS/WASPS deserve a bit more of history's 'time in the books'. Many thanks for the commentary, StarrRemembering the Fallen: WWII Veterans of UCLA, Major Robert C. Maze
Bill, Are you still working on this blog? Rosemarie is my mother in law. She passed away 10 years ago. Her (and Roberts') son Robert Maze Jr is alive and well. I was googling Admiral Radford and ended up googling links... Thank you for your efforts here. Kim WoodsFrom Panatella to Ploesti
I’m looking for information on My Great great GRANDFATHER WAS ON A B-24 LIBERATOR CALLED: Diamond li
Bill’s WWII Almanac
Hi Bill,
In 1944 my beautiful and heart broken Aunt, was returning to her home in Pennsylvania via train, after finding her husband with another woman in their home in California. En route, she met a soldier who trained pilots at Santa Ana Air Base. During this trip, a snow storm kept them stuck in Colorado and in that time, she became pregnant. My cousin was born nine months later. Before she died, my Aunt asked her son’s daughter, to please find John Vincent Smith, so, she would know something about her biological Grandfather. All we know is that he was from Kansas and was a pilot trainer stationed at Santa Ana. His Granddaughter is now an Emmy winning director and I have come to a dead end in researching for her.
Thank you for your consideration,
Mary Holmes