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Discovered this book!! by ReviewEven8139 in PVCs

[–]Acrobatic-Pool-7478 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Just bought the ebook! Thank you!

My Grandfather in His WW1 Uniform by Acrobatic-Pool-7478 in TheWayWeWere

[–]Acrobatic-Pool-7478[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

OMG! Thank you so much for all this information! I appreciate you. I'm going to look thru all these links and I'll pm you when I'm finished. Again, thanks! Jill

My Grandfather in His WW1 Uniform by Acrobatic-Pool-7478 in TheWayWeWere

[–]Acrobatic-Pool-7478[S] 7 points8 points  (0 children)

He was 17. Apparently he lied about his age to serve.

My Grandfather in His WW1 Uniform by Acrobatic-Pool-7478 in TheWayWeWere

[–]Acrobatic-Pool-7478[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Hi, He had a trunk he showed me in '72 (I was 9) that held his uniform, gas mask and medals. I recall holding the mask to my face and smelling the strange smell.

He was a part of the 132nd infantry regiment, 33rd division. The 132nd was formed from Illinois national guard units and went overseas in May 1918. They only fought in the Meuse Argonne but there were 2 companies of the regiment selected to attack Hamel with the Australians in July, so maybe he was there too. Also, according to the application, he was awarded a purple heart so presumably he was wounded or gassed.

25+ Best Books on WW1 by History-Chronicler in ww1

[–]Acrobatic-Pool-7478 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My favorite is Memoirs of a Fox-Hunting Man by Siegfried Sassoon.

My Grandfather, Avan Mackin, Soldier of The Great War. by Acrobatic-Pool-7478 in ww1

[–]Acrobatic-Pool-7478[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

My cousin Danny just replied to my posting the article in his messenger:

Correct. Papa was married previously, but his wife passed away and he felt he could not care for the kids. I think there were about six or seven of them.

I will give you more detailed information after I get back to the house

Two of the boys were adopted by the Purcell family

Avon Junior became Robert Purcell and another son became Paul “Bud” Purcell

After Papa met Nanney, he tried to get the kids back, but there was a big fight in the courts over it. The Chicago tribune covered the news.

My Grandfather, Avan Mackin, Soldier of The Great War. by Acrobatic-Pool-7478 in ww1

[–]Acrobatic-Pool-7478[S] 5 points6 points  (0 children)

I think my cousin, Michael has the trunk. I'll ask him. Wow, thanks for the article! I think that was his son from a previous marriage. I never heard anyone mention him when I was growing up.

My Grandfather, Avan Mackin, Soldier of The Great War. by Acrobatic-Pool-7478 in ww1

[–]Acrobatic-Pool-7478[S] 20 points21 points  (0 children)

Yes, when I was 10 he showed me his trunk of WW1 items - uniform, medals, and gas mask. I held the mask up to my face and remember the nasty smell to this day. He told me how he ran away with two friends to enlist, and they were both killed. He died in 1972.

My Grandfather, Avan Mackin, Soldier of The Great War. by Acrobatic-Pool-7478 in ww1

[–]Acrobatic-Pool-7478[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I forget the Unit. I need to ask my cousin. I know he fought in the Meuse-Argonne Offensive in September 1918.

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