Genealogical Gems

Ancestry is always adding new content. One of their recent additions is "US: WWII Hospital Admission Card Files 1942-1954. Knowing my Uncle Paulie - Paul Kurenda - died in the War, I searched for him.  I searched only by his surname. The only entry matching his name, is most definitely him. There were a couple other similar last names, but only one Kurenda. Race: White Rank: Enlisted  Admission Age: 22  Born: abt 1922 Admission Date: Mar 1922 Discharge: Aug 1922 Military Branch: Infantry, general, or unspecified Diagnosis: Tuberculosis, generalized military Type of injury: Disease Injured in line of duty: Injured in line of duty Type of Discharge: Died Length of Service: 1 Year 3 months Service number:  33478954 The original database is:  Hospital Admission Card Files, ca. 1970 - ca. 1970 . NAI:  570973 . Records of the Office of the Surgeon General (Army), 1775 - 1994. Record Group 12. The National Archives at College Park, MD. USA....

Public Domain Photo: (l-r) USS West Virginia (sunk); USS Tennessee (damaged);  and the USS Arizona (sunk). Every year, on 7 December, the United States observes Pearl Harbor Day. The "Day of Infamy" remembers and honors the 2,403 citizens who were killed in the Japanese surprise  attack on Pearl Harbor  in Hawaii on Sunday, 7 December 1941. That Sunday, by all reports, began as a beautiful, tranquil morning. The morning was soon devastated. The Japanese bombed the ships that were in port. Explosions. Fires. Sirens. Sounds and smells no one ever expected. Our Navy bore the brunt of the attack, obviously. The US National Park Service has compiled a list of those killed in action that day. They are: Navy , Marines , Army , and Air Force . In addition, 68 civilians lost their lives that day as well. Vichnaya Pamyat. Sources: "Military Casualties," National Park Service.  https://www.nps.gov/valr/learn/historyculture/military-casualties.htm Wortman,...

Memorial Day is is a day set aside in the United States for remembering the people who died while serving in the country's armed forces. While I am appreciative of everyone who has served - both in war and in peace - this weekend is for those who died while serving ... like my Uncle Paul. Paul Kurenda - Paulie as Baba always called him - died while serving in World War II. He had been serving in Europe and came down ill so the Army sent him stateside, first to South Carolina then to West Virginia then finally home to die. He passed away 11 August 1944 at the Valley Forge Army Hospital in Phoenixville, Chester County, PA. His official cause of death was "tuberculosis, pulmonary, acute, military, bilateral." He was just 22 years old when he died. His obituary was published in the now-defunct Coatesville Record. Coatesville Record August 12, 1944 PFC. Paul Kurenda, aged twenty-two years, of 1047 Rock Run, died last night in Valley Forge General hospital aft...

Last week I mentioned the Honor Roll at my church – the Holy Ghost Ukrainian Orthodox Church in Coatesville. Our Honor Roll plaque is in the back of the church and was originally created for those who served in World War II but has added the wars and our soldiers since then. Today, I’d like to introduce you to our World War II veterans. The three marked with an * are the three who were Killed In Action (KIA).  They are: Babel, Harry Bilinski, Michael Bodnar, Stephen Bodnar, Michael Bodnar, Paul Branson, Lewis Jr Buckle, Andrew * Buckle, John Buckle, Michael Daniels, George R Jr Donkewicz, George Donkewicz, John Euler, Frank Gbur, John Grycky, William A * Hachak, John Handoe, John Hanna, William H Hasiey, Joseph Hewczuk, Michael Hruszczak, Nicholas ß my Uncle Nick (Gigi’s brother) Hruszczak, Paul ß my Uncle Paul (Gigi’s brother) Jacoby, John Jacoby, Steve Jacoby, William Kasuba, B Myron Katherina, Michael Keshuta,...

Nicholas Hruszczak (my grandfather’s brother) was just 20 years old when the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor . The next year, in August 1942, he enlisted in the US Army. His Veteran Compensation Application shows he served domestically from enlistment to 30 December 1942 and then again from 2 November 1945 until he was honorably discharged on 9 November 1945 at Fort Indiantown Gap. Photo from the Coatesville Record 28 August 1944 In between – specifically, 31 December 1942 to 1 November 1945 – he served in foreign service. On 20 July 1943, according to the National Archives World War II Diaries, he came aboard the USS Rigel. He boarded, along with many other men, at Pontoon Landing, Laulan Island , Milne Bay , New Guinea . At that time his rank was PFC. These “war diaries” are daily operational journals created by naval command throughout the Navy during the Second World War. They were decommissioned on 31 December 2012. The original source is the National Archives. T...

I am embarrassed to say I do not recall my Uncle Paul and therefore I know little of him. He is one of my paternal grandfather’s brother. It was today, 21 years ago in 1995, that he died. Uncle Paul (on left) with Uncle Nick and my grandfather (Joseph) Born Paul Hruszczak, he is one of the sons of Panko Hruszczak and Bessie Matys. Like his nine siblings, he was born in Rock Run, just outside Coatesville, Chester County . Some of his records state his birthdate as on 18 September 1922. Others state he was born 1 October. All agree he was born in 1922. Hence, I believe the difference is simply the Old/New Calendar difference. I have found this on several other family records as well from that generation and their parents. His name change from Hruszczak to Ruczhak most likely happened – like my grandfather’s did – when he went to school. The teacher at Rock Run either could not pronounce Slavic names or refused to try. My grandfather had a few opinions about that but tha...

The “Old Man’s Draft”, known formally at the Fourth Registration registered men who born on or between 28 April 1877 and 16 February 1897 and who were not already in the military. It was conducted on 27 April 1942. These men were between 45 and 64 years old. The registration cards offer a wealth of information. The registrar asked the name of the registrant, his age, birth date and place, current residence, employer information (not just simply occupation), the name and address of someone who would always know where he   would be, and a physical description of the registrant. In the example of my great grandfather, Panko Hruszczak, this document confirms this spelling of his name and his address as being 274 New St . , Coatesville, Chester County . His mailing address was given as “Box 266 or above street address.”   He had no telephone. He gives his age as 48 and his birth date as 6 August 1893. His birth place is listed as Galicia , Europe . He give...

It was On This Day in 1941, at 7:55 a.m. Hawaii time, that the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor, destroying a large portion of the US Pacific fleet and bringing the United States into World War II. It was, as President Franklin D Roosevelt declared, truly a day that would live in infamy. Being a Sunday morning, most of the ships anchored at Pearl Harbor were only lightly manned. In the end, 18 US ships were destroyed, sunk or capsized. Over 3,000 Americans were among the casualties and another 2,400 killed. That morning the Harrisburg Telegraph ran a three lone, all capitals bolded headline announcing the bombing. The paper ran various articles about the bombing, the war, and Pennsylvania ’s involvement. One noted that PA Governor James instructed State Police to be “in readiness for immediate action.” Congress quickly declared war on Japan . The Senate voted unanimously 82 to 0. In the House however there was but one lone single dissenting vote. Jeanette Rank...

Today - 71 years ago in 1944 - my Uncle Paul passed away. Born 16 July 1922, Paul Kurenda, he grew up on a farm in Sadsburyville, Chester County . He was the youngest child of John Kurenda and Frances Skrabalak. At left here, that is him with my grandmother. Like many Coatesville area boys of that era, he went to work in the steel mill after school. Paulie (as my grandmother always referred to him) was a welder.   On 1 January 1943, he enlisted – like so many of our nation’s young men – in the US Army. I know nothing of his service time. The only thing my grandparents ever said was that he served in Europe and his letters home were mostly about the weather. It evidently was always raining there. He got sick there and was sent stateside. As his condition worsened, he was sent to Valley Forge Hospital in Phoenixville, Chester County , to be nearer to family. He died there on 11 August 1944 at 5:20 p.m.   His official cause of death was “tuberculosis, pulmonary, ...

The Germans invaded and occupied Lvov On This Day in 1941. Lvov is located in eastern Galicia, in Ukraine. Source: This Day in History.   History.com. 29 June 1941.      On This Day is a prompt to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

It’s Military Monday but I was lost as to who to write about so I searched Stills and found nine Stills listed on a World War II POW site . Two were held by Japan and the rest by Germany . Of the nine, one was a woman!   The nine listed were: Albert T. Still Sr Dorothy Still Edward F Still Eugene H Still Homer E Still Jr Joe T Still John Howard Still Omer G Still Rupert H Still Albert Thomas Still Sr Albert (ser # 34831946) was a Private from Georgia, the son of Thomas Acree and Ella A. Still. He served in the Army, Infantry in the European Theatre France . He was detained by Germany in Stalag 2a Neubrandenburg Mecklenberg 53. Social Security records indicate he was born 2 February 1918. According to U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, Albert enlisted on 18 November 1943 in Fort Mcpherson Atlanta. He was married at the time he enlisted and stated his civil occupation was unskilled oilers of machinery. He ...

Memorial Day is a day we – in the United States (other countries have similar holidays) – set aside to remember our dead. We remember and honor those soldiers who have laid down their lives in service to America . While I have many family members who have served - some willing and some not so much -   in every branch of the Armed Services, there is only one who died in service … my Uncle Paul Kurenda.   Paulie – as my grandmother/his sister always referred to him – died in service during World War II. He was just 22 years old.  He is pictured here with my grandmother, Anna Kurenda Ruczhak. He did not die taking out one of Hitler’s goons. He did not die rescuing cousins he probably never even knew from the horrific concentration camps. He did not on the field in an actual battle. No, he died of tuberculosis.        His death certificate lists his immediate cause of death as being, “Tuberculosis, pulmonary, acute, military, bilateral....

American soldier Pvt. Edward Donald “Eddie” Slovik was executed On This Day in 1945 for desertion. He was the only American soldier to receive this punishment during WWII and the first since the Civil War.   Slovik was drafted, beginning as an 4-F. He had a prison record which lowered his rank automatically until, due to personnel needs, those standards were lowered. Then he was reclassified as an 1-A. In August 1944 he was sent as a replacement to France to fight with the 28 th Infantry Division. He got lost on the way to the Front and ended up with a Canadian until 5 October when the Canadians turned him over to the military police. Men got lost all the time so that incident was accepted as is, so to speak. Once back though, Slovik told his commanders he did not want to fight and would not. His commanding officers did not accept this and Slovik deserted the next day. He returned, admitted to running away and was sent to the stockade.   He was offered a deal which re...

Auschwitz Death Camp was liberated On This Day in 1945. The Soviet army entered liberated approximately 7,000 people in Auschwitz , Birkenau, and Monowitz. The majority of those 7,000 - mostly European Jews - were too old, too young or too ill to survive the Death March to another camp. These 7,000 were essentially left to die. The exact number of people sent to Auschwitz may never be known. It is estimated that approximately 1.2 million people were sent there and that 1.1 million of those died in the camp. Photo: Public domain image of child survivors liberated in January 1945. Source: Wikipedia. On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events.                  © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015

It is a given and it seems obvious that during times of war that some luxuries may not be available on the home front. However, one does not normally consider food to be a luxury. During World War II, it evidently was, at least in Britain . Food rationing was introduced On This Day in Britain in 1940. I have to admit, being in my mid 40’s, I cannot imagine food rationing by the government. So how does it work? It kind of sounds similar to our old WIC (Women, Infants and Children) system here in the States. A family was given ration books and registered at specific participating stores. Stores would receive enough food to cover those registered. The person/family would go shopping and the shop clerk would cancel (or stamp) the ration book. Can YOU recall food rationing? Or any rationing for that matter? If so, please feel free to add your memories in the comment section below!   On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events. I w...

The Navy is honoring Private George Alfred Johnson, USMC. Johnson was a member of the first Raider battalion. He was killed 9 August 1942 during landing operations on Tulag Island in the Solomon Islands . The Navy named a destroyer escort ship after Johnson, according to the Intelligencer Journal On This Day in 1944. The ship was launched at Bethlehem Steel Company’s yard in Hingham , MA on 12 January 1944. His mother, Mrs. Alfred R. Johnson of 140 East Chestnut Street , Coatesville, was expected to be in attendance.   On This Day is a prompt I started this month to further explore historical events. I will make every effort to keep events localized to that of my research or research I am conducting for others. However, from time to time, it will simply be a subject that captured my attention.   © Jeanne Ruczhak-Eckman, 2015