Hi , I'm looking for any information on my father-in law ( SGT. William Jones ). He was a T-Patcher Texas 36th, company A , 111th combat engineer during
WW2. He has been to Africa, Italy and southern France. He was wounded during the war a couple of times. He was taken prisoner near Bonjeiu , France . I read a
article about Leon"Jack"Leura who was also a T-Patcher. I showed my father in law a picture of Mr. Leura and asked if he had known him. After about
15 seconds he replied " he was shot in the shoulder------ I was with him when we got captured ".My buddy could not believe it, grabbed the article
form my hand and started reading it. " Yup" he said , it says right here he was shot in the shoulder. Me - I was shocked and my father in law, well I
think he was amazed at seeing this picture after so many years. He is 87, going on 88 years old. He is fighting another war now. One with cancer. So any info
on living 111th combat engineers or anything or related links would welcomed. Thank You, Earl
0 Kudo
texas 36th
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 earl375 |
texas 36th |
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Posts: 1 (02/29/08 01:53:43) |
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chowhndjr |
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Posts: 103 (02/29/08 10:56:05) |
http://kwanah.com/36division/ps/ps938365.htm Here is the Link to Jack Leura's account on the
36th Association's pages. I think the C.O. of the 111th comabat engineers, Oran Stovall, wrote a book on his experiences, but haven't seen a copy.
Regards, Bob K, son of a T-Patcher p.s. also search the forum for the screen name kurtdold, his father served in A Co. 111th Eng. He has quite a few posts.
Last Edited By: chowhndjr
02/29/08 12:39:40.
Edited 1 times.
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Gerome vosges moutains |
Texas 36th | ||
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Posts: 58 (02/29/08 11:48:43) |
Hello Earl,
Please tell thank you to your brave father, from the Vosges mountains - France, for all sacrifice, for our liberty ! Gerome |
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pearcecoach |
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Posts: 1 (03/01/08 12:47:14) |
I have written a manuscript on the 111th Engineers that I hope will become a book. My Dad was in Company C of the 111th. He kept a day to day diary of his
war years (1943-45). His company was over run at Bonlieu (Von Lou as the men called it then) and he detailed his experiences. I would like to hear from you
concerning this time period. Company A really took a hit here.
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earl375 |
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Posts: 2 (03/11/08 00:12:16) |
Thank you for the info about my father-in-law(Sgt. William Jones). I did get in touch with Kurt Dold. I showed my father-in-law a picture of Kurts dad on his
tribute website. He said that he remembered him and thought that Kurts dad was with him when he got shot through the wrist. I will keep trying to find Leon
Leura. Thanks again and I'm sorry it took so long to get back to you. Earl son-in-law of a T-Patcher
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earl375 |
You are Welcome | ||
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Posts: 3 (03/11/08 00:53:10) |
I will tell my father-in-law ( Sgt. William Jones) today when I see him. He was captured in Bonlieu, France and spent the rest of the war in a prison camp. I
too will thank him for our Freedom. I think he will be amazed as to where your thank you is coming from. Thank You, Earl
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earl375 |
Bonlieu,France | ||
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Posts: 4 (03/11/08 12:46:59) |
Hi. My father-in law( Sgt. William Jones) said that they were under heavy German artillery and tank fire when they sought shelter in a barn . That's when
Mr. Leura was shot in the shoulder and they were over run and taken prisoner. He eventually ended up in Stalag 3c prison camp. That is all I know at this time.
He does not talk to much about it and I try not to pry any info out of him. Good luck on your book and keep me posted on it please. Thank You,
Earl
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Kwanah |
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Posts: 158 (03/11/08 13:48:43) TWC Member |
"He does not talk to much about it and I try not to pry any info out of him."
Pry. I'm sure you've scanned through the messages posted here. I can confirm via personal contact and private email that this is a common refrain describing WWII veterans, and an even more common refrain from relatives is this: "I wish I had asked." Contact your local historical society. Ask about assistance in recording your father's-in-law story. If they don't provide assistance, ask who does provide it. Once you've set up all the logistics of how to record the oral history, approach your father-in-law. But, also be prepared. Even after all these decades, a lot of emotion you've never seen before or may have ever imagined may spill out. K. |
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pearcecoach |
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Posts: 2 (03/12/08 12:15:37) |
Your father in law's name is in my manuscript on the 111th. He was listed as one of the missing in action. Company A really had it bad there. My
Dad's Company C got over run but all managed to escape. My manuscript includes a lot of pictures of the men in the 111th. Company A is one that I have
had a hard time getting pictures of. I would like to have one of your father in law from that time period if possible. All the pictures may not make it to
book form, but they will be on the CD of it. I have worked on it for 4 years and just when I think it is done, another picture or piece of information comes
forward. There is no time limit, but I do want the names and pictures of these kids (they were kids in the 1940s that became men) remembered.
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earl375 |
Why did'nt I ask? | ||
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Posts: 5 (03/12/08 23:44:02) |
Hi. I know exactly what you mean. My dad passed away in 1997. I think that he was in the 10th mountain division. I had asked him one time about his purple
heart from ww2. He told me they were taking on fire(was wounded in the arm) and that he jumped into a foxhole. His buddy jumped in on top of him which left his
body exposed above the foxhole and his buddy died there. Then he cried. My dad never cried and I never asked him about the war again and yes, I 've always
wished that I would have. I will research him later. In the meantime I will work with my father-in-law and try to get organized and get a oral history from
him. I know last year a lady wanted to interview him and he refused. I told him that there were kids of guys like you that were seeking info about their dads
or mothers in the war, and like myself I will have to do the same because my dad is not here to ask. That is why I ask you questions and I really dont think
your kids know what you have been through . This is for them and I in the process of asking you these questions are starting to realize how much our freedom
really cost. I told him that he has made history and that many books and shows have been out about the 36th. I will try what you suggested and see what
happens. Thank You, Earl
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earl375 |
pictures | ||
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Posts: 6 (03/13/08 00:38:16) |
Hi. I will talk to my father-in-law and if it is ok with him, I will send you a copy of an old newspaper article from 1945 about two liberated soldiers on
their way home. Someone had given it to my wife a few years back. It has a picture of a young Sgt. Jones and Cpl. Maior , both in uniform . It is from the
shoulders up if that's ok. Cpl. Phillip Maior was part of the 111th(HQ and service co.) also and was captured at the same time as my father-in-law. He too
is listed as MIA in the back of The Fighting 36TH. Mr. Maior has been a good friend of my father-in-laws for a long time. He passed away a couple of years
ago. I will see what I can do. It might cost you one of those CDs though---LoL Earl
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