Canadian Medal of  

          Honor.com
  • Sunday evening's blogs
  • graves, memorials and medals
  • About the Author
  • contact the Author
  • Home

As we express our gratitude, we must never forget that the highest appreciation is not to utter words, but to live by them!

9/25/2016

0 Comments

 
Wonderful words left to us by the great American..John F. Kennedy

Those of you who have often visited this site know of my passion for the Canadians, and also those connected to Canada in one way or another, who joined up with the US military and during their careers was awarded the Medal of Honor. 

The pride I take in bringing you these stories also requires I  constantly search for, and share news regarding any of these heroes in this space. Over the past year or more I have expanded to bring you also many a story about our Victoria Cross recipients. Updates for them have also been brought forth.

Not long ago I brought you some information about a Medal of Honor and other medals that were apparently stolen in Ontario and how the provincial police are investigating that matter. Press releases originally claimed the MOH was from WWll and earned for actions in France.

The story of course was of interest to me as very few MOH's from that war came to Canada. I was obviously most interested about the original recipient, his battle and connection to Canada.

This week, after a long wait, I learned that the medal of interest was in fact NOT a US Medal of Honor. What it actually was, was not shared though I have been told the owner of the medals has... or is being helped to get  replacements issued by the government. The best news, yet to come, is who stole the items and what is being done to help that person remember those who fought for him or her in a way more acceptable to society.

On another front, news has been shared with me, and much more is hopefully coming my way and will appear in this space about a true Medal of Honor recipient from Civil War days. A man also from Ontario. Stayed tuned as that unfolds.

On still another front, regular readers know that I am constantly pushing for more recognition of our brave heroes of days gone by. Them and also those who today choose to wear the dog tags... instead of the capes or yesteryear that told us of their hero status. Ever one of these men and women are heroes...always have... and always will be heroes.

Having said that, I cannot help but note the rampant use of news headlines telling us about 14 of the Medal of Honor men and their support of one of the presidential candidates. The press is gaga over the fact that these men have stepped forward to vote, and shown their flavor of politician.

But let's reflect for a moment that beyond the 14 supporters, we hear nothing of the other 63 recipients still alive today. Same goes for the 88 Generals and Admirals that have stepped up to the same podium, Sounds like a lot till you do some research and discover that there are over 4,800 serving and retired Generals and Admirals that are probably of voting age in the USA.

I am chagrined to not be able to find any in the MOH world that...like myself, have a concern when I read a headline about a MOH recipient giving his support. Not that he so votes, but that his name is not in the headline. Just the mention of the medal. The medal sells! Why doesn't the name? Is the use of the medal clearly the focus, and is that what a medal stands for today? Some need to give  serious thought about this, and come forward with their views.

I just did !

And finally today, each of you can honour  our MOH and VC men by googling the following names and reading the stories of these heroes. After you read them, please pass them on to others. Each was either born or died, was gazetted or awarded by General Order, or fought the action that resulted in their medal on the date in September beside each name. These dates just cover the later part of the month.

Medal of Honors... Philip Moore 21, Ken Kays 22, Douglas Munro 27, Austin Denham 29, and John Chapman 30.

Victoria Crosses... Charles Train 21, Fred Hobson and Arthur Richardson 23, James Tait and John Croak 24, Alexander Brereton, Jean Brillant, Fred Coppins, Sam Honey, George Kerr, Herman Good, Graham Lyall, Cy Peck and Raphel Zengel, 27, Milton Gregg, and Fred Hall 28, John McGregor and Michael O'Leary 29, and finally Sam Honey again on the 30th. 

This homework should keep you going till next Sunday.
Bart

Comments always welcome...

0 Comments

More on the Knight that truly became a Knight!

9/19/2016

0 Comments

 
Yesterday I left off with telling you about our professional carpenter turned soldier. I mentioned that he had tackled barbed wire twice and got slight wounds as a result. He also attacked far more than obstacles.

I cannot yet find a citation about what he did to be awarded the Croix de Guerre by the King of Belgium. But I did locate a London Gazette notice containing Art's name and about 1700 other officers and enlisted men from Britain, Canada, New Zealand, Australia and Newfoundland, (still a British Colony at the time) who were also awarded the Crouix de Guerre, a medal usually issued for bravery in the field. And folks... that is just one issue of perhaps thousands of issues of the London Gazette.

One in ten of these medals i this issue went to a Canadian, though the units, dates involved and actions performed were not listed. Some internet sites say Art's medal came from actions 99 years ago at the famous battle of Passchendaele

In May of 1918 Art was promoted to Lance Sergeant and by August or September, he was again promoted to Acting Sergeant.
Picture
Regular readers of these blogs will have seen this map before and became aware of several of the Canadian Victoria Crosses that were earned along this line known as the Drocourt-Queant Line. It is named after the villages called Drocourt, at the top of the line and Queant at the bottom.

Battling the Germans along this very heavily protected line began the push of the enemy back out of France, into Belgium and back into Germany from whence they came so many years earlier.

The 100 day offensive would see a gain of some 130 Km's of territory, the taking of over 32,000 prisoners and the capture of  about 3,800 artillery pieces, machine guns and mortars.

But the price tag was not cheap. In those 100 days Canada lost almost 6,800 of her finest, and another 39,000 wounded.

And in those same 100 days 30 Canadians and Newfoundlanders would come home with a Victoria Cross. Actually, if truth be known, in many cases only the medal came home.

Sadly, Art was one of the later heroes. Here is what the London Gazette had to say about Art... but they called him Acting Sergeant Arthur George Knight.

And you guessed it... the "Knight" with shinning armor. The "Knight" who was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Picture
Sgt Knight was struck in the head by a piece of shrapnel in mid afternoon on September 3 1918, was sent to a field hospital but died the next day. He was only 32 years old when he gave his life for his country. The battle that took his life was fought very close to the bottom of the defensive line shown above.

The King of England was so saddened when he heard of the tragedy that he wrote Art's parents to tell of his heroism and the awarding of the VC, and did so in his own handwriting.

A few months later... on 19 December... exactly  4 years to the day when he enlisted back in Regina, his parents and sisters attended a formal presentation at London and received the actual medal. It is believed to have  changed hands a few times in the intervening years but now is believed to be among the great collection of VC's at Calgary's Glenbow Museum.
Picture
Sergeant Arthur George Knight, VC rests today at the Dominion Cemetery just a few miles away from where he was killed. Some 200 or more of his Canadian comrades in arms join him there and no doubt, since he is the only Victoria Cross recipient there, he probably gets to talk first at their gatherings in heaven. Note the towering Cross of Sacrifice at the cemetery. (The largest one of its kind in the world is located at Halifax Nova Scotia, and a smaller version is mounted at Arlington in DC)
Picture
I found the above picture on the net. It shows a likeness I presume of the medals that Art was entitled to. I say likeness because the Croix de Guerre above shown appears to be a WWll version and not one slightly different and in use in the Great War.
Picture
At left is a plaque mounted in the town hall back in England where he was born, and his school also mounted an honour roll plaque and included him, at above right. His name is also engraved on a number of VC monuments in Canada, a plaque has been mounted outside his old home in Regina, and his regiment... the old 10th... now the Calgary Highlanders... have raised a monument in Europe in remembrance of his heroism.

But each of us should take some time to recognize Art, and over 100 other Canadian VC recipients, or those with connections to Canada, and with their brothers who earned the Medal of Honor.

There is little that has be done on many of these Canadian heroes. Their stories in these blogs should only be a first.

What can you do? Better yet..what WILL YOU DO?  Start a movement in your part of the country to recognize one of these heroes, and tell me about it, and I will give it some coverage in this very space.

cheers till Sunday.

Bart
0 Comments

We have all heard of the " knight in shining armor!" But did you know that before his days of glory he was just a carpenter!

9/18/2016

0 Comments

 
Well, let me tell you about him.  I'll call him Art. 

Later it will all become clear!

Art came from a small place about 60 miles south of London, England. Like most, he went to school and like many also joined the local Church Lad's Brigade. He then carried on as his father and grandfather before, in the building trades. When about 15 he found work as an "Odd Boy" at a local builder's yard. Soon he'd be an apprenticed and still later a fully qualified carpenter. At some point Art also served in India with the 12th Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery.

But times back as a carpenter in England were  tough for Art and his profession, so, like so many others he left for better prospects. When his feet hit the ground he found himself in Regina Saskatchewan in 1911. This after a long sail on the SS Albania, Southampton to Quebec. He was no doubt delighted to hear that in Regina they needed carpenters. For the next three years he plied his trade. At the same time he probably missed some of the comradery back in the Lad's Brigade and possibly with that in mind, did a short term with the Territorial Army (possibly the Salvation Army of today) in the Regina area.
Picture
It is said that this picture is of Art whilst with the Lad's Brigade, but it may be after he arrived in Canada in 1911.

Three years into his carpentry career Art heard the calls for men to sign up for the Great War in Europe.
Picture
In mid December 1914 he answered the call  and enlisted with the E Company of the 46th Battalion, CEF. (The regimental cap badge is shown to right,) No doubt some training took place in Western Canada and then he was shipped off to Montreal where he would board the carrier Elele (possibly Edele) for England on 5 July 1915, arriving on the 18th.
Picture
Art was part of the first shipment of reinforcements called for and upon arrival in England he was dispatched to the 32nd Reserve Battalion,  but in less than a month then relocated to the 10th Battalion of the CEF (Canadian Expeditionary force)  By the end of the month Art was with the 10th in France. (Cap badges above)

In the Fall of 1915 Art received at least one if not two minor wounds, possibly to the lower leg and foot areas.  One may have been through entanglements with barbed wire obstacles. Medical care was received both in France and back in England. At one point one of the issues had his feet and one ankle swollen up so bad that he could not even walk.
Picture
In 1917 Art was obviously impressing his bosses. He rose in rank from Pte to Acting Lance Corporal, appointed Acting Corporal, and then to full Corporal by mid November.

Less than a year later the London Gazette would tell the world that the King of the Belgiums had even awarded our carpenter  the Croix de Guerre, though I have yet to find a citation telling us why..

Art was doing so well finding his footing, if you will, that he was earning enough money to send back to his mother and three younger sisters in England $15 a month.

In the above picture he is proudly wearing his stripes. The collar dogs have the number 10 displayed though difficult to see.

The year 1917 would come to an end with yet another wound. This was not inflicted by the enemy... but by accident. Whilst moving some boxes about, his heavy military coat caught on some barbed wire and he ended up twisting his ankle and breaking his foot in a fall that saw him again under medical care.

1918 would be a whole end a lot different for Art, the Knight with shining armor.

And I'll bring you that tomorrow!
Bart
0 Comments

Pressing issues did not allow time to complete today's blog.

9/11/2016

0 Comments

 
It will be a two part blog with the first probably next Saturday and 2nd the following day. I had hoped to bring the first today, but complications on other fronts are resulting in them being put off till next weekend.

Sorry for the delay folks.
Bart
0 Comments

No matter how many times you tell the story, it seems you have to keep telling it!

9/4/2016

0 Comments

 
It was about 6 years ago that a serving US General walked up to me and asked how he could help me with my very long (and continuing) journey of story telling.

I was in Los Angeles at the time and had just had the thrill of yet again visiting the inspiring Medal of Honor Memorial at Riverside. Here are inscribed about 3,500 names of Medal of Honor men... and one woman. Each had been awarded a medal by the US president for their heroism. Of about 39 panels with these names inscribed, about 31, if memory serves correct, had a name on it of a Canadian or service member with connections to Canada.

With me that day were about a dozen fellow Canadians, mostly descendants, who traveled also to LA to participate at the unveiling of a new marker for their Ontario born relative Benjamin Franklin Young, a Civil War recipient. It was with incredible honour that I took my fellow Canadians over to the wall with Benjamin's name inscribed and most ran their fingers along its edge... with not a few tears in their eyes and chests swollen with pride.

The next day, at the unveiling ceremony, the general approached me after the unveiling to talk about my remarks, complimented me and then asked if there was anything he could do to help me with my work.

I immediately said yes! 

When I said that I suspected he had thousands under his command, he agreed. But when I asked how many of them were born in Canada, he could not answer. When I suggested it could well be several dozen, if not even more than 100, he agreed.

Then the kicker came. I said that when ever he talks about the Medal of Honor, whenever his President, the Secretary of War, the secretaries of the army and navy and air force and the press and a zillion others talk about the medal, they are usually bragging about these brave Americans. And so they should.

But then I said that every single time he refers to the medal and AMERICANS ONLY he has just insulted those under his command that come from many other parts of the world, including Canada. He lookout puzzled for a moment. I then quickly added that while surely no disrespect was meant, but at the same time, failing to note that over 700 Medals of Honor (that's one in 5 in the medal's history) were awarded to those from  OUTSIDE the US, he and the rest were still insulting these foreign born service men and women.

I asked that from now on he try to convey this thought    whenever the subject comes up.

He thanked me and said he would.

Now lets jump forward a few years to the fall of 2013. I was again in the US to attend the Medal of Honor annual convention at Gettysburg and do some research at Washington DC.

I brought you daily blogs of that trip on this site and all are still available by using the search engine link above.

One of my first events on that trip was attending an unveiling of a special marker memorial with names inscribed of all the living recipients at that time. Sadly several had passed away after the markers were made, but their bricks were still included. I donated the brick for Toronto born Peter Lemon, a recipient for bravery in Vietnam. That marker was the only one of about 80 donated by a  Canadian.

Another of the events was a brief meet and greet of about 45 medaled men and the gathering of autographs and pictures and a most brief comment or two between the hero and the guests.

Another event was a public forum where three of the recipients were interviewed live on a stage by a national news anchor, and then a brief Q and A from the public.

I again took to the podium with a comment that I thought would get me booed out of the gathering of several hundred guests. It actually got a very respectful applause. I again raised the issue noted above and many times over the past 400 or more stories here.

I mentioned noted that I had traveled some 3,000 miles to attend the convention events and conduct other research. I also said that I was somewhat set back by the anchor's repeated comments about the BRAVE AMERICANS and added that they were not the only ones. I informed those on stage and off that one in four medals in CW days went to a non-American... and one in five in the overall history of the medal. I then asked that the moderator might better reflect on the bravery of ALL recipients. Including the more than 700 above mentioned.

He took the note quite graciously and promised at the podium  that he would do so. As the three MOH recipients on stage had already met me prior to this event they smiled down at me at the microphone and seemed to agree with my comments.

Jumping ahead yet again to just a few months ago, back at Washington DC. The ceremony to unveil a new marker for Nova Scotia born Joseph Noil was well covered in this space over several days. I and others sought out the representation of many agencies at the service. Most attended and many participated.

A request was made of  many of the agencies that they acknowledge not only sailor and Medal of Honor recipient Noil's citizenship, but also the incredible number of foreign born recipients going back as far as Civil War days. Many did, including the Medal of Honor Society's own foundation.

Now jumping forward to the current news of days and weeks past.

In a month the Medal of Honor Society's annual convention will be held for several days at the Twin cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul. Several websites talk about the events and links also direct you to the wonderful MOH Museum at Charleston on-board the USS Yorktown.

But these sites continue to give little or no mention to the non-American born recipients. One site tells us that the 77 remaining heroes stand from 5 ft. 2" and is aged between 26 and 94. Could this be more important than their heritage?

One says that the above mentioned museum is the best visited tourism attraction of the area, and talks about the fame of men like Audie Murphy,  Alvin York and Jimmy Doolittle. All indeed famous. And all American!

Perhaps if this museum, other sites and the press across North America gave a little more attention to the forgotten heroes like James Allen and his ruse to capture so many enemy, and of his building President Lincoln's funeral car, or Thomas McMahon who was not only a medaled man but an Ambassador to Uruguay and had a stamp issued in his honor, then maybe they would be a little more better known.

Or what about Thomas Higgins who was so brave the enemy were the ones nominating him for a Medal of Honor, of Douglas Munro who saved about 500 marines and is revered to this very day by the US Coast Guard and the US Marine Corps. His EIGHTH ship named in his honour is being built as you read this blog.

Three of these four were Canadian, while the 4th had connections to Canada... as did the first man ever, by date of deed... and he was born in a place called Ireland, where well over 100 more recipients came from.

In preserving the story of the Medal of Honor for generations to come, these web sites, these organizations and more need to better reflect ALL recipients instead of the chosen ones.

All are heroes and deserve the same accolades!

Bart


0 Comments

A couple of kids, two wives (at the same time) a few name changes, a life of denying true heritage, a hero and Medal of Honor man to boot!

8/28/2016

0 Comments

 
The last two blogs in this space have introduced you to yet another John. But each of the others seems so ordinary  when you look closely at our current man. Much is yet to be still learned but we do know he'd claimed birth in three states and two countries, given at least three dates of birth, close but not the same, and as many given names. But he managed throughout his life to always keep the first and last name less problematic. These were JOHN and SIEGEL. (We think!)

After serving in the US navy, in two different enlistments totaling about 3 1/2 years, his 2nd tour came to a rather uncomplimentary release under unfavorable terms, shall we say. But that aside, after the United States entered the Great War he again returned, somehow managed to get back in the navy and went on to earn a Medal of Honor after risking his life to save two mariners from a burning cargo ship near the Norfolk navy yard. On a third return to the engulfed ship, to rescue a third mariner, he was knocked unconscious and almost became a victim, till others rescued him.  For this bravery the president awarding him the Medal of Honor.

Picture
You can draw a triangle with the points at Norfolk, shown above with the red icon, New York above and over to the left at Wisconsin. Slightly off the map to the right, or perhaps a little farther is a place called Germany. And John's files claim he was born at all four places. Turns out it was the later.

While enlisted and not away at military duties, John called Milwaukee Wisconsin his home from about 1911 till 1920, The years might be extended on either end. In 1912 he married a woman from New Jersey and brought her to Wisconsin. They soon had a child. 

Soon after receiving his Medal of Honor John decided that he had enough of military life, and without permission, went his own way.  About that time he is believed to have been  an iron worker on the Brooklyn Bridge. By 1930 he decided to move on and possibly headed for the oil fields of Oklahoma. He also tried his hand at a new wife, forgetting to tell her that he had one of them already, back in Wisconsin. Soon he'd be a father again.  

Picture
Times were tough in the early 30's and his next job was yet again as a laborer at a worksite near a camp called Ragtown. Above are some of its nicer condo's. Families had to join their husbands often... wherever they worked. And here you see the shanties they lived in. This job was a big one, and it employed thousands. Many having  no where to live except in makeshifts like these.

Here's a few more...
Picture
In 1934 a terrible fire broke out in one of the many camps and many of the workers lost everything they owned. Clothes, foodstuffs, keepsake, tools... everything. John was one of these poor workers. Among the things he lost was his Medal of Honor.

In 1936 he went to the Red Cross to ask for help in getting it replaced. The images in the last blog were of that replaced medal. It was said that when he also tried to get the ribbon and a lapel pin of the medal, these were  refused. Apparently they discovered that he was not only a deserter from years earlier, but that the replaced medal should never have been issued. They were not impressed I guess with his several months of jail time served and continued refusing to give him the items sought.

An adventurous treasure hunter today with a very powerful medal detector might be able to find that lost rare Medal of Honor. But he or she would need a long pole. And a long rope. Actually a very long one. REALLY long... and here is why. This is an image of the worksite today. You might recognize it!
Picture
This is of course the Boulder Dam, which later had its name changed in honour of  President Hoover.

It took the efforts of 20,000 working at a number of sites to create this monstrous International famous dam and destination of choice for visitors numbering over ten million annually.

Lake Meade shown above, along the Colorado River dividing the states of Nevada and Arizona, is said to be almost 550 feet deep, and thus that long pole. And at is base along the original shore line, was where some of the little shanty villages were once located. The site is the 2nd largest reservoir of water in North America, the first being in a place called Canada. Her surface area covers some 250 Square miles and her shore line is 550 MILES long.

Of the ten million that visit each year, one must wonder how many know that when they look out at this massive  lake with a volume of over 26 million acre feet, that below that there lies a Medal of Honor. And that the  hero that lost it in the fire was working along side other labourers who made between  50 cents and a buck and a quarter after a hard day's sweat.

Nearbye about 2 million Canadians drop their bucks in the pockets of the 129 casinos at Vegas, just a few miles away. Hopefully some get to see the Dam first. Imagine how proud they would be to learn that the chief engineer of this project came from a place called Quebec. And that same man ran the consortium of 6 companies that built it as well.

And  as the millions from both sides of the border look out at this marvel or marvels, wouldn't it have been nice that they also knew that John Otto Siegel came to the US from Germany in  the early 1900's. And before that that he lived with his parents in a place called Winnipeg Manitoba.

And that is why you are reading about him today.

Cheers till next week.

Bart
0 Comments

More of John's Curious Record 

8/21/2016

0 Comments

 
Last week I started to bring the story of John Siegel, a man said to be born in  Germany, New York City and Milwaukee Wisconsin. A man with 2 different given names and a few spellings of one. A man of 2 marriages. And a man with at least three terms of service to the United States Navy, and a less then stellar conclusion to two. But on the plus side, he managed to come away with a Medal of Honor... sort of.

If you think this is confusing...try researching and writing about him!

When I introduced John last week I noted that he had two terms of service with the US Navy from around 1909 till about 1912. Years later, on filling out a daft card for WWI service he would claim having already served 3 1/2 years. 

In  that later year he would marry for the first time in New Jersey. Yet at the time he was as living in Milwaulkee Wisconsin. Military records for unknown reasons credit his later Medal of Honor to New Jersey. This may be where he started his naval career, or joined a 2nd or 3rd time. Regardless, It would be on one of the first 2 terms that he apparently decided to leave the navy without the navy's approval.

In December of 1917, whilst with the above record standing, he somehow managed to sign up for a 3rd term with the US Navy.
Picture
Less than a year later John, now a Boatswain's Mate 2nd Class, and serving on  the USS Mohawk, shown above, would show the world his better side. While working the waters near the naval yard at Norfolk Virginia, he and shipmates were dispatched on a rescue mission nearbye.

The US built but Norwegian owned cargo carrying auxiliary schooner Hjeltenaes was afire near a railway bridge close to the naval yard. On arrival he climbed aboard and rescued one of the crew from his quarters and brought him to safety. He then returned a second time and rescued another crewman. On his 3rd  trip into the blaze, a steam pipe broke and trapped him inside. He passed out and needed rescue himself. Finally hauled to safety, they thought he was dead but performed first aid all night and  luckily he recovered.
Picture
John Siegel's bravery on 1 November 1918 resulted in the President of the United States awarding him with the Medal of Honor. The navy version at that time as previously mentioned, was the Tiffany Cross version. This image is of his medal and it was presented to him at the Norfolk Naval Yard.

Picture
This image may have been taken by the folks at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, where the medal was, and perhaps still remains. The hand written notes are probably acquisition numbers and the date  coming to the museum.

Last week I gave a little of the history of this version of the medal and stated that it was not very popular with the military and ultimately was replaced with the original version, with minor alterations. The records are not very good on the issuing of this medal and some say there may only be less than 30 ever issues. Since only three of these went to men who earned the medal for actions NOT in the face of the enemy... like in John's case, this medal is one of the 3 and thus very rare.

I should also mentioned that this medal of Honor is NOT the original awarded to John. It is a duplicate or replacement medal.

The orginal needs a medal detector to locate. With a very long arm.. even longer than the  famous "Canadarm Arm"  A lot longer...    hehe.

But more on that next Sunday.
0 Comments

A curious record of birth dates and name, 2 wives at the same time, sort of, and who's buried where all make my day.  NOT !

8/14/2016

0 Comments

 
It's like going to the flea market and buying a used puzzle. None of the pieces seem to match for a while and then the image slowly appears. But after considerable efforts, you discovered some of the pieces are still missing.

So also for today's hero. Just another John you might say. But this John's heroism resulted in his being awarded a form of the Medal of Honor not often mentioned in this space.

It was made by an outfit that started out using the family name Tiffany and concentrating in the stationery and goods business in New York.  Years later it would gain a world reputation after  morphing into a silver-smithing empire.

Just before the Great War started for the US, it was asked to produce a new version of the Medal of Honor, one clearly of a different design. It would become known as the Tiffany Cross version, but still very much an equal to all other Medals of Honor covered in this space. It was awarded for actions after the US entered the Great War and remained in use till about 1942.

This new model was designed for use just for the navy and marines and soon proved to be rather unpopular in military circles. Perhaps one of the reasons that record keeping for these awards were scattered. Nevertheless some say that between 22 and 28 may have been actually presented, most for bravery. 

But only three apparently for actions not involving the enemy. Because John's was one of these, it clearly is one of the rarest of all Medals of Honor.

He was born in Germany on 21 April 1890, or 91, or 92 depending on who you wish to believe. Though at least one site on the web claims a birth at Milwaukee Wisconsin. It is unknown what happened to his parents, but by 1899 he was adopted into the Siegel family and brought to North America.
Picture
From 1905 till 1920 various census reports have John living in Milwaukee Wisconsin. During this period, records are scarce to show their heads but it is believed that John served in the navy from about 1909 till maybe 1911. A city listing in 1911 claims he was an "agent" of some sort but the following year he is apparently back in the sailoring business. During some of this period he served on the USS Virginia shown above and below as evidenced by a 1910 census of the ship while at Hampton Roads, Virginia. He held the rank of an Ordinary Seaman.
Picture
You can imagine the power of these guns when a fellow sailor can relax..DOWN its barrel.

The above census is a perfect example of some of the numerous riddles in John's story. It claims he was 18 years old when the census was taken between May and June. If only 18, his year of birth would have been 1892, yet, as earlier noted a web site says birth was in 1890. Further still, the very form claiming age 18,  notes that he immigrated into the US in 1899 and took out naturalization that year as well. Later evidence suggests these happened a few years later.

Just a few of the details that make the telling of John's story, like many others, difficult at best.

In late 1912 John and Teresa Rose (Mary-Lou???) Nealis got married at Newark New Jersey. They would later have a daughter... Margaret Jean Virginia... perhaps named after the ship.
Picture
Here is John's draft card from mid 1917. Notice he claims a Wisconsin birth again and that he was a natural born American, though this is incorrect. His days with the Wells Fargo may have also been a great story to capture. Here he also claims a past service of 3 1/2 years with the US Navy.

His life is about to get much more interesting. I will bring you this next week and also hope that some more pieces of this puzzle come my way before Sunday,
Cheers till then
Bart
0 Comments

The next blog has  some convaluted twists!

8/7/2016

0 Comments

 
And it needs so many questions still answered before I can bring it to you. I had hoped to have these by today, but like several others, I too am troubled by some of the gaps. If they continue to elude me by next Sunday, I will bring you what I have at that point. Hope you will agree that it is worth the wait.

cheers till then
Bart
0 Comments

the long weekend approaches

7/28/2016

0 Comments

 
It is time I enjoyed some R&R and a  long weekend...

I shall return to the blog on Sunday August 7th

Hope to see you then,
Bart
0 Comments
<<Previous

    Author;
     
    Bart Armstrong

    Archives

    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    August 2015
    July 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    March 2015
    February 2015
    January 2015
    December 2014
    November 2014
    October 2014
    September 2014
    August 2014
    July 2014
    June 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    February 2014
    January 2014
    December 2013
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    July 2013
    June 2013
    May 2013
    April 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    December 2012

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Proudly powered by Weebly
✕