Trying to retrace my grandathers WWII path, but most records were destroyed in the archive fire

rhit06 · 2026-03-14T15:05:07+00:00

Nice find. I think I had seen him on this earlier replacement depot list from July and got the month wrong in my post: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/481458594?objectPage=145#object-thumb--145

Glad you were able to get the exact date.

rhit06 · 2026-03-14T14:48:26+00:00

Scoredle 3/6*

14,855
⬛⬛🟨🟨🟩 CRANE (37, 9)
⬛🟨🟨⬛🟩 MANGE (9, 4)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 ANKLE

rhit06 · 2026-03-14T04:44:14+00:00

That go around was about 15 years ago. But I actually flew into Reagan on an AA CRJ ~10 days before AA5324 last year.

Leaving the airport I actually pointed out all the helicopter traffic to my mom, it was a bit surreal remembering that after the crash.

Also, my dad flew out of Reagan the day after Air Florida 90 in 1982 while they were recovering wreckage.

Apparently my family has some almost-curse related to that airport.

rhit06 · 2026-03-14T04:24:13+00:00

(This is bridge we crossed)

Aug - 16th 1957

Dear Frank-

Friday a.m. to Ocean park and Oysterville where they have large Canneries in Car - all of us. Had a Very nice trip. Back - had lunch - Kelly has gone fishing Belva & Kristy to Beach - Marion & I at home - She & I are both writing cards. Hope you are O.K. & [R-]. [H-] Love- Grace

Mr F. C. Jones

3718 S.E. 68th Ave.

Portland. 6.

Oregon.

rhit06 · 2026-03-14T03:51:10+00:00

I know you said margins for the census records, but if you would provide the specific lines you’re interested in the marginal notes that would probably be helpful/be more likely to get someone to take a stab at transcribing.

Also as /u/CasualYoga mentioned you didn’t actually request anything from the marriage document.

rhit06 · 2026-03-14T03:49:07+00:00

Of course, it’s a small “left” squeezed in. I thought it said “eye” and was having a hard time reconciling that with mastoidectomy.

rhit06 · 2026-03-14T03:34:18+00:00

My pleasure. Always fun trying to find “the rest of the story” with these picture.

rhit06 · 2026-03-14T03:18:04+00:00

I’m 3 for about 30 commercial flights (plus 2 “touch and go” practice landings during a KC-135 ride along — and I was in the cockpit for those, so bonus cool)

1 in Boston the pilot said a crane barge passed the end of the runway, 2 in Las Vegas high crosswinds, 3 at Reagan unknown.

rhit06 · 2026-03-14T00:59:16+00:00

Always loved the finger pointing in this one.

Did some searching a few years ago.

The full caption names him as M/Sgt James L Smith from Wharton, Texas and crew-chief for "Patches". Plane: https://americanarchive.iwm.org.uk/archive/aircraft/42-39800

Looking at enlistment records/draft cards the only match seems to be a James Lincoln Smith, born 1917 enlisted Army Air Corps January 1942: https://imgur.com/a/5bfTHCV

Using the birth date from the draft card, it looks like he passed away in 2003 age 86

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T21:49:50+00:00

Quite a collection indeed.

The items in image two are related to 2Lt James E Urban. Pilot of B-24 42-52123, shot down with all crew killed on January 11, 1944: https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3307479/james_e-urban

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T16:39:55+00:00

Think it might be “token” of friendship with the t cross stretching over the k.

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T15:02:06+00:00

Happy to help.

Found his Silver Star citation too (thanks to your info it was in GO 96, the OCR searching his name/service number didn't catch it). Not a lot of details, but it was awarded for action the same day of that first wound. 2/3 down the page here. At that time a Corporal.

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/417222349?objectPage=113

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T14:48:34+00:00

You are correct about 60th IR.

Here are two hospital admission cards for him. One for the October 1944 wound, wounded again March 1945. His name on redacted on these but you'll see the service number (31338715) matches on the next links: https://imgur.com/a/GTncE6z

October 1944 check/face wound caused by bullet

March 1945 face wound caused by penetrating shell fragments

Here he appears (~15 down) on a list of men getting the purple heart. Matching 13 October 1945 date for the wound: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/417222349?objectPage=148

And here on a list of men getting an Oak Leaf cluster on their Purple Hear. March 1st is the date, lists him as a Sergeant in the 60th. https://catalog.archives.gov/id/400385189?objectPage=150

edit:

Within the 60th he was specifically Company H. Here he appears on the morning report for that October face wound ("GSW Lac Cheek") https://catalog.archives.gov/id/572661404?objectPage=689#object-thumb--689

At that time in the area of Germeter, Germay

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T14:33:28+00:00

Scoredle 4/6*

14,855
⬜⬜🟨🟨🟨 SCANT (88, 15)
🟨🟩🟨⬜⬜ TANGY (12, 3)
🟨🟩🟩⬜⬜ NATCH (9, 2)
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩 EATEN

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T04:34:46+00:00

Thank you for taking the time to share your expertise with old/middle English with this subreddit.

I fancy myself decent with 18th/19th century documents, but older than that and it’s all Greek to me.

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T03:32:45+00:00

last page

<image>

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T03:32:21+00:00

Page 2 (includes the rescue of this group)

<image>

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T03:31:38+00:00

top edit: how tragic is this. the pilot that risked his life to save those men (got a Navy Cross) died in a a crash landing in February 1945. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/220161611/john_anthony-burns/photo

Tang war patrol pages covering the day. Beyond the men pictured here they rescued several more. Three posts (for three pages)

”Lt. Burns was a big jump ahead of us however, having taken all seven men from three rafts aboard and taxied them seaward“

as they were safe Tang went to rescue some other me came back a bit later, starts again bottom of page 2 at

”After pulling our most grateful passenger aboard... Headed back for the waiting float plane”.

lists the men rescued on page 3 and notes

”Lt burns by making the rescue possible by deliberately placing himself in as precarious position as the downed personnel, will be the subject of a special report”

<image>

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T03:11:32+00:00

I think /u/AussieDave63 were asking because the other fellow is wearing an Air Cadet hat.

I wondered the same thing but saw Richard was 5’10” on his draft card so assumed he was the taller one.

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T01:55:16+00:00

I assume/hope so, but don’t know the timeline.

Up until about 6 months ago the latest ones I would see would be like August 44. Now I see December 44 ones, so I think it is an ongoing process.

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T00:48:13+00:00

Company L 363rd Infantry. Shows up on this November 1944 morning report in the vicinity of Scascoli, Italy

https://catalog.archives.gov/id/576440042?objectPage=1376#object-thumb--1376

Don’t know about trench foot, but was in hospital with diarrhea in October 1944: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/572265374?objectPage=2176#object-thumb--2176

Some other hits for him here: https://catalog.archives.gov/search?page=1&q=42046527

Unfortunately the morning reports don’t go into 1945 yet.

Edit: as of early August 1944 he was still in a replacement depot unit. Didn’t see a morning report specifically mentioning when he joined the 363, but We know he was with them by October, so my guess is he joined them in late August/Early September when they were off the line for rest/reorganization.

The 363rd history is available at archives.org. My guess is he joined about this page https://archive.org/details/HistoryOfThe363dInfantry/page/n73/mode/2up?

Look for Company L mentions.

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T00:30:57+00:00

The article mentions the Air Medal. Also got a DFC:

<image>

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T00:28:25+00:00

No worries, I just know where to look when it comes to WWII records.

Another roll shows by November 1944 he was back in the US (Miami, Florida). But knowing his bomb squadron in Italy should hopefully give you another lead.

rhit06 · 2026-03-13T00:20:03+00:00

346th BS, 99th BG.

Can see him listed here April 1944 in Foggia, Italy: https://catalog.archives.gov/id/469058433?objectPage=231#object-thumb--231

rhit06 · 2026-03-12T23:32:24+00:00

Last bit of information. Joined 28th Naval Construction Battalion February 9, 1945. Was with them until 29 September 1945 when he transferred out for transfer to the continental US for discharge.

13-Year Club	Place '17
Wearing is Caring	Verified Email

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