It's all about the sharing: Veteran's day 2014

Writing about the living is harder than writing about the dead.  You know it's true! I worry about writing articles on my living family members.  What if I get it wrong, they will never let me live it down.  What if they don't like it, well then they really won't let me live it down!  It makes me all queasy inside and I break out into cold sweats.  Now, imagine having to give a speech about your mom.

Last Wednesday my local DAR chapter hosted a luncheon for veterans.  My mother was supposed to speak at it but due to circumstances beyond her control she was unable to make it.  I was asked to take her place because who knows her better than her daughter, right?

Drawing by F. Dadd; red cross soldiers and wounded, 
1916 Wellcome L0009179. From Wikimedia

In 2 days I wrote a 40 minute speech, without the use of slides or a power point presentation.  This was a new experience for me and I never realized how much I relied on the slides before.  I tend to know my presentations well enough to not read from a script and use the slides as a visual clue to what information comes next.  Well, there was no way I was going to memorize 16 pages in that amount of time!

My speech was on my mother's experience as a woman combat doctor in Iraqi and how she got there. I got some laughs (even though no one cracked a smile at my Tim Gunn "make it work" comment), there were even a few tears, but most of all I was humbled by the women who came up to me afterwards.  There was a line and I talked for 40 minutes after the event was over to anyone who wanted to speak with me.  I wished my mom was there the whole time.

Each one had a story. Some cried. Some told funny stores. Some just wanted to tell me about their sons who had died and how they hoped they were cared for by someone like my mom.  Others told me to tell her how she is a resilient and strong woman.  It was hard not to tear up myself.

Then the last one was pure genealogical serendipity.  A small elegantly dressed elderly woman leaning on her cane walked out the door I was holding for the attendees.  She looked up at me, put her hand on my arm and told me how these types of presentations always make her cry.  "They remind me of my Uncle, he never made it home from Corregidor."  My jaw hit the ground.

As soon as I regained my composure I told her that my grandfather was also there and was taken as a POW.  She was 8 when WWII began and her mother's youngest brother was just 18 when he went to war.  He was captured as a POW at the same battle my grandfather was but unfortunately he died in a camp.

I wanted to know more as I escorted her to the car which was waiting for her.  As I assisted her into it I asked if she new anything about his unit.  She clearly didn't want to talk any more and I was not going to press it.  Then, before I could shut the door, she looked at me with a single tear and said "60th Coast Artillery."  She closed the door and left me standing there in shock again.  My grandfather and her uncle served together.

I don't know who she was and I have no way to contact her.  Maybe this was a way our soldier ancestors could speak to us, connecting us, in this one moment.  I don't know, but it sure was a "small world" situation.

On this Veteran's Day my thoughts are with not only my family, living and dead, who served but to all of those who never made it home.  Not all of them made it to a medical unit, but if they did I know someone like my mom did their best to give them another day in this world.

Book of me written by you: Military service

If you have read my blog for any length of time you should have noticed that every generation had a service member.  Duty, patriotism, and service to the nation has always run through the veins of of my family.  While we may never agree with what the party in power states, or have decided to run for public office ourselves to help make changes, the sense of duty to homeland has never wavered. 

In my research I have found a member of the family involved in every major conflict this nation has participated in.  From the founding of the country (and before) to the current conflicts the Arvin, Combs, and associated families were there.  When I look at my husband’s family, while I don’t know as many of the stories, I do know there were heroes among them as well.

Several generations were too young, or too old to participate, however they served on the home front.  Many of my father's family were considered essential personal here at home during WWI and WWII as they worked for the B&O Railroad.  I did find their draft cards, even though they never left home.  

Today I wanted to present a listing of the ancestors, to date, which I confirmed performed military service to the United States during a major conflict.  Included are persons from my husband’s family line as well.  I did not include the names of living people, which is why I stopped at Korea.

I know this is not a complete list, and it I will continue to add to it as my research continues.  Today, however, I remember those who fought, and many died, for the cause they believed in.  It is because of them I enjoy as many of the freedoms I do.

Revolutionary War

James Cannon, headstone
Daviess Co., Indiana
(photo taken by me)

John Foote (Irishman pressed into service by British)

Edward Arvin

Rodolphus Norris

James Cannon

James Drake

Noah Hayden

William Hayden

John Hayden

Stephen Hayden

Enoch Hayden

Solomon Trower

Samuel Givens

John Wilson

Joseph Cody

Charles Combs's war of 1812
Discharge certificate
(document located at NARA)

Benjamin Chamberlain

Amos Hubbell

Salathiel Nickerson

War of 1812

Charles Combs

Henry Arvin

John Foote (Irishman from above who stayed)

Mexican American War

Harry Coad / Henry Thompson
(photo located at NARA)

David Cody

Button Cody

Civil War

Aaron Combs

Byrd Combs

John Joseph Combs

Silas Combs

Pleasant Combs

Charles Combs Jr.

Button Cody

Harry Coad / Henry Thompson

William Hall

Charles Combs Jr (image given to
me by D. Daniel)

Francis Marion Bline

John Kelley

William Kelley

Lemuel Kelley

James Kelley

Armistead Wildman

William Armstrong

James Armstrong

Robert Armstrong

James Taylor

Phillip Greeley

William Bartlett

John Jeremiah Crabb
(photo owned by N. Garrett)

Spanish American War 

John Jeremiah Crabb

William Crabb

World War I

Valentine Bline

World war II

Charles R. Arvin

Gordon Armstrong
George Bennett

Korea

Charles "Charlie" Arvin

  

Charles Arvin
(photo owned by J. Combs)

My Mother

Making discoveries with a family journal

 Persian Column, Perspolis, Iran
Grandpa visited this site

The last few days have seen a whirlwind visit by my h­­usband’s father and step-mother.  They of course came to see the boys, we totally understand grandparents don’t come to see us anymore, but we all had a great time.  There were driving tours of the countryside, way too much food, talking about all manner of subjects, and of course a bit of family history.

I did corner my father-in-law and ask him to go through my grandfather’s journal with me.  He is a metallurgist and rocket scientist (no jokes) and is familiar with what my grandfather did while in the military.  We spent two days going page by page reading and deciphering the journal entries.  I pulled up Google maps and traced his routes through the mountains of Iran.  When we found the entry that simply stated “killed a cinnamon bear. It’s a beauty, about 600 pounds.” I cheered, couldn't help myself. That entry dates the picture I have of him and the bear to 7 April 1957.

It was nice to have someone familiar with military abbreviations and designations sitting there with me.  He helped me figure out key phrases to search the internet with.  This was a fantastic because I gained a lot more information on the operation he was involved with than I ever would have before.

­­My grandfather was involved with the Military Assistance Advisory Group (MAAG) Iran.  These men were military advisers who assisted the native military in the country they were sent to.  From his journal I saw that he oversaw training of several different areas of military function and wrote reports for his superiors and the corresponding Iranian officers on how the troops were progressing.  It was entertaining at times, and down right disheartening at others.

In searching for explanations and information I came across several interesting declassified documents from that time frame.  Included in those findings was this report from the US Government Accountability Office (GAO) on the review of the Military Assistance Program for Iran.  The review was conducted in November 1957, the month my grandfather left.  You can read the full report here. 

The real shocker was discovering an episode of The Big Picture.  It was a documentary style TV series that ran in the 1950s and early 1960s.  Essentially this was the way the Army kept the American people informed about historic events around the world.  It prided itself on current events and moments that made the Army proud.  In one episode titled “Military Assistance Advisory Group: Iran” Mike Wallace takes the American people to Iran and shows them about this important operation.  If you watch it, notice how the American’s on the ground are decidedly downplayed.

This has been a real adventure the last couple days and I have to admit fascinating too.  Sometime in the near future I will go back through the journal again.  This time cataloging all the names, places, and tid-bits that I can.  These may lead me to further clues about who my grandfather was working with and what he was doing. I love it when I can find family links with historical contexts.  Now I am off to share all this with my history loving oldest child.

Honoring the unknown: who was Claudius Herbert Chamberlin

I am an army brat; proud of my mama in combat boots, and proud of all my family who have served this country through military service.  When Veteran’s day comes around each year I wear my poppy and reflect on the stories that I have been told about my family and their service.  This year I found myself wondering about a mysterious man in my mother-in-law’s picture file.  A man that we know nothing about but is quite dashing in his army uniform.

This photograph was given to me last December with the request to find out all I can on him.  I am sorry to say that I have failed to find out much, and I do not know where else to look or who to turn to for help.  On the back of this postcard is the following information: 

Claudius Herbert Chamberlin

Company F. 20^th Infantry.
Ft. Douglas
Utah
Age 20

The theory is he may be the son of her grandfather’s older brother, Frank Herbert Chamberlin.  Unfortunately I have no record of Frank from the last time I found him in up-state New York in 1878, at about 15 years old, until his death in San Antonio, Texas in 1934.  Could Claudius be his son?  Yes, but I have no proof one way or the other.

From the style of the uniform I have deduced that he served in the army between the Spanish American War and World War I.  I did a bit of research on the 20^th Infantry division at Ft. Douglas.  I know they patrolled the Mexico and US border at El Paso, Texas in 1914 because of the Mexican War.  They ceased to exist in May 1917 when they were reorganized as the 42^nd Infantry Regiment.  I even read an interesting article about life at the Fort.  However, still no answers on my mysterious solider. 

One day I will have the answers.  Even if it means I have to spend an hour every time I go to NARA looking through the rolls from Fort Douglas on that darn microfilm machine.  I have made it through the first roll and I think there are about 15 to go.

Crabb Family

This is my husband’s maternal grandmother’s line.  They start in Indiana and end up in Washington State. 

Lineage:

My husband
His Mom
Elsie Crabb married Howard Mills
John Jeremiah Crabb and Frances Maude Greely
Stephen Crabb and Margaret Brundage
John Crabb and Jane Swan

Stephan Crabb was born in Indiana in 1838 and Margaret Brundage was born in Illinois in 1852.

As of the 1880 census their family and Stephen’s mother Jane were all living in Vancouver City, Clark County, Washington.  According to the census, Jane was born in 1804 in Pennsylvania, her mother was from Virginia and her father was from Maryland.  In the handwritten family history I was given it says that Jane Swan Crabb was born in Cole County Illinois.  However, on every census record she lists her place of birth as Pennsylvania and that her parents are from Virginia and Maryland.

Jane's Husband, according to family history, floated rafts down the Mississipi from Indiana to New Orleans with his brother.  He died from a fall on the docks in New Orleans the same day thier last child was born 27 December 1835.  I would love to be able to prove this...

Margaret was Stephan’s 2^nd wife.  In the 1870 census he is listed living with his mother Jane and Frances Crabb who was 6.  According to the 1880 census the next child was born when she was 9.

The 1860 census has Stephan (aged 22) and Jane living in Ashmore Township, Coles County Illinois.
The 1850 census has Jane (aged 46) living in Clinton Township, Vermillion County, Indiana with 2 daughters. Mary aged 19 and Zantippe aged 14. 

Found John Jeremiah’s Spanish American war enlistment records:

From the Register of Enlistments US Army
Crabb, John J
Enlisted: Aug 12, 1896; Vancouver; by Lt. McCain; for 3 years
Born: Pioneer Washington
Age: 21
Occupation: Barber
Eyes: Brown
Hair: D. Brown
Complexion: dark
Height: 5'10"
Regiment: 14 Inf Company E
Discharged: Aug 11, 1899

Also found his WWI draft card.  It states he was tall with a medium build, brown eyes and hair.  Occupation Farmer, and Married To Maude F Crabb. (Just love how people changed their names on a whim back then.  First to middle, middle to first, spellings….argh).

Bit of family trivia for you:  John Jeremiah’s older brother William enlisted in the army the same time he did.  They both were stationed in Manila together and unfortunately while they were there William died from an illness.  William was originally to marry Frances Maude, but John Jeremiah did instead upon his return.

Charles Robert Arvin

My grandfather was stationed at Corregidor in the Philippians.  On this day in 1941 my grandmother told me he was on a ship crossing the Pacific to come home from his tour of duty.  When the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, the ship turned around and she did not see him until after the war was over.   All I have are stories of my grandfather as he died from cancer before I was born.

He was captured after the Battle of Corregidor Bay and spent the rest of the war in a Japanese Prisoner of war camp.  At the time of his rescue he was listed among the men on the rolls as Rokuroshi Camp along with 356 other men.  Among the most treasured possession my grandmother kept from his time at the camp was a large dictionary.  In it were the signatures of men at the camp, as well as sketches of daily life.  My mother let the Historian from the ADA at Ft. Bliss see this a few years ago, and because of this several men who were previously known as MIA were found as being with my grandfather as POW’s.

For his actions in battle Charles R Arvin was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

SYNOPSIS: First Lieutenant (Coast Artillery Corps) Charles Robert Arvin (ASN: 0-351611), United States Army, was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross for extraordinary heroism in connection with military operations against an armed enemy while serving with Battery A, 60th Coast Artillery Regiment (Anti-Aircraft), in action against enemy forces on 4 and 6 May 1942, at Corregidor, Philippine Islands. First Lieutenant Arvin's intrepid actions, personal bravery and zealous devotion to duty exemplify the highest traditions of the military forces of the United States and reflect great credit upon himself, his unit, and the United States Army.

General Orders: Headquarters, U.S. Forces-Pacific, General Orders No. 223 (1945)

Action Date: May 4 & 6, 1942

Service: Army

Rank: First Lieutenant

Company: Battery A

Regiment: 60th Coast Artillery Regiment (AA)

As we take time to remember all of those who gave their lives and fought for our freedoms in WWII, I want to take a moment to remember a man I never knew, but heard so much about.

 * Image for award is from the Military Times Hall of Valor