How Far Back Can You Trace You Families Millitary History?

[GorillaXI]

So I found out today that my Great Grandfather fought for Germany in WWI in 1912. He soon left Germany and moved to the US to start a new life. My Grand Father fought for the US Army in Africa in 1944 in WWII fighting Rommel. His Brother, my Great Uncle was a Marine and fought the Japanese on Iwo Jima in 1945. My Father was a load master in the Air Force in Viet Nam in 1968. Then there was me. I was a F-15 avionics specialist in the US Air Force during Operation Southern Watch in 1994 in Iraq. All four generations served during a world conflict.

 

It would be interesting to hear if other XI Members have a rich military background.

Edited July 11, 2012 by GorillaXI

[Cavey]

I have limited knowledge of my background, only what my father told me. He retired from the British Army 5 years ago as a Major in the Royals Signals. He fought in the Falklands, and first Iraq war, and was also in the second Iraq war as part of the peace keeping force. In all his time the only person he shot at and killed was in that final tour, after discovering Iraq soldiers raping a girl and her mother in one of the refuge camps. He always went around with 2 soldiers as support and security. When this happened, there were 4 of them. He tried to tell them to stop but they pulled out weapons. My father killed the leader with a Browning pistol, and the 2 soldiers killed the remaining three with automatic rifles (SA 80).

 

It wasn't until I was 25 years old, he would ever tell me of his tours of combat, and I can understand why.

 

The only other knowledge I have of family in combat is my (and I can't remember if it was great or great, great) great uncle fought against the Zulus, and I have his canteen as a souvenir.

[Boo Yaa]

My Grandfather was a radar man for the army in WWII. He was shot down behind enemy lines in France and made his way back on foot. He left a whole lot of cool army script and a few Nazi hats and belts in his estate.

[Olive]

My Great grandfather also fought in WW1 in 1915/1916 near Verdun but he was in the other side...I guess they both would be surprised to see us having fun together at the XI fest...

My father fought in Algeria during the Algeria independance war...another dirty war.As he told me he was not a hero just a 20 years old guy trying to survive...and for years trying to forget what he saw there.

My Grandfather was in French army ( artillery ) when WW2 started.He was made prisonner of war when German army rushed into France.He managed to escape just before they lock them in a prisonner camp near the German border.It took him 4 months to come back to Paris,walking at night to avoid German patrols,as he told me it was a hell of a trip ! He lost so much weight during this trip my Grandmother didn't even recognize him when he knokned at the door !

He spent the rest of the war in French "Resistance army" blowing bridges,trains and everything related whith German army...He was so drunk on D-day that my Grandmother thought he was about to die

I consider him as a hero even if he told me he was not.He was a man of few words and told me what he did during war only one time a few weeks before he passed out.He had no regrets but told me that war made him a killer but certainly not a hero ...i don't know but i'm glad we are in 2012 and the only way we have to kill eachother is a videogame

I spent myself one year in the army in 1985/86 . I had to as at that time we had the " military service" in France . I was not too bad at shooting so they putted me in the sniper team...hoppefully the only things i had to kill were targets at the shooting range

[little_old_man]

I bought a membership to ancestry.com about 4 years ago and have really gotten into it. My dad's side are recent arrivals from Ireland but on my mom's side the lineage goes back to the Mayflower. My wife's family also goes back to the Mayflower so my kids are decendants of two different Mayflower passengers, but so are millions of other Americans.

 

I have records of family members who fought in every major conflict back to the revolutionary war. More recently my uncle who died in the early 70's was a captain who served on Patton's personal staff and was once punched by Patton for losing his helmet. I have a Walther PPK (.32 cal) with the holster and spare clip that he pulled off of a dead German officer. Another uncle joined the Merchant Marines in 1940 at the age of 13 and was sunk twice by U boats in the Atlantic on merchant ships going to the UK. He then fought in Korea and died in the early 60's in a car accident.

 

If you really want to learn about your ancestors get an ancestry.com account. All of the records are there and you can build a complete family tree very easily.

[TheLastColdBeer]

Great-grandpa August Brandau was in the Kaiser's army before WW1. I have his military bible w/family names. He brought them over & the last 2 of 8 were born here. Wasn't much love for Wilhelm II, so America was the choice to keep the boys out of the army. Great-grandpa Brophy was here earlier, and Grandpa Thomas married Anna Brandau.

Side note, and I just heard this recently, my aunt Ann was caretaker for an older lady. She remembered praying in her church group for Ann Brophy to get pregnant. Grandma was Anna, Auntie was Ann, and mom was Anne. Guess who got pregnant? Always knew I wasn't exactly a blessing......My own brother choked laughing. Family can be such a mixed gift .

[Bogleg]

My great grandfather fought in World War I. My grandfather (mother's side) was in the Pacific (Navy) in WW II. My great-uncle (father's side) was with the 101st Airborne for the European Campaign in World War II (he made it through their entire campaign from D-Day on). My other great-uncle (brothers) on my dad's side was also in the 101st, but post-WW II (he was a lot younger). My dad's dad was rated 4F and was denied enlistment for WWII. I think it haunted him his whole life.

 

My father was in the USAF from 1963-1967; he had a kid in 1965 and was stationed in Europe. My uncle (dad's brother) was in the Army from 1966-1971 (enlisted, volunteered). Of my dad's other 5 brothers, I have a USAF vet, two Navy vets, and am Army vet. I have one uncle that didn't serve. On my mom's side, my two uncles were in the Marines.

 

My younger brother served with the 7th ID (Army), my older brother was a mobile air traffic controller in the USAF from 1984-88, and I myself was a Terminal Attack Controller (I called in airstrikes) in the USAF from 94-98. I was attached to the 4th ID and 3rd ACR out of Ft .Carson, CO.

 

In my family, military service is an expectation. I don't think there was much of a question about it.

[ANGUS]

Not a lot of detail right this minute,But My grandfather flew p-51 in WWII,Pacific and GatorGirls grandfathers were in navy.My dad was in Vietnam .Some how I didn't go service ??? sometimes wonder why not.My grandmother on dads side has our family history back to columbus days I l have to do some more digging...

[simplemod]

My great X3 grandfather was a Sergant for an Arkansas troop during the Civil War, but I don't have any info on specific battles. He and 3 of his brothers, and 1 brother-in-law were all Confederates. My Great X2 or 3 on my fathers side, also was a confederate as well, he just recently recieved his military grave marker. That was an awesome day, re-enactors fired guns and cannons for our ceremony.

 

Then I skip to mnore recent family, don't know much about the inbetween. My granfather,US Marines, fought in Korean War, served his time, then came home. Several great-Uncles were in WW2 and Korea, Marines and Army. Most of the uncles died when I was very young, and I don't remember much.

I do have one of their issued New Testament Bibles, and also have my grandfathers issued darning kit, LOL. But it looks cool.

[HarryWeezer]

I bought a membership to ancestry.com about 4 years ago and have really gotten into it. My dad's side are recent arrivals from Ireland but on my mom's side the lineage goes back to the Mayflower. My wife's family also goes back to the Mayflower so my kids are decendants of two different Mayflower passengers, but so are millions of other Americans.

 

I have records of family members who fought in every major conflict back to the revolutionary war. More recently my uncle who died in the early 70's was a captain who served on Patton's personal staff and was once punched by Patton for losing his helmet. I have a Walther PPK (.32 cal) with the holster and spare clip that he pulled off of a dead German officer. Another uncle joined the Merchant Marines in 1940 at the age of 13 and was sunk twice by U boats in the Atlantic on merchant ships going to the UK. He then fought in Korea and died in the early 60's in a car accident.

 

If you really want to learn about your ancestors get an ancestry.com account. All of the records are there and you can build a complete family tree very easily.

 

Been at it for 40 years with the goal of identifying our ancestry through nine generations, to include all 256 sixth great-grandparents. Currently have 219 of them: http://ogdensburg.info/genealogy/FinalChart.jpg

 

Likewise, ancestors in every war including on both sides in the American Revolution - even a Civil War draft dodger who skedaddled to Canada while his two brothers in different regiments were each wounded the same week. Lots of fun turning up murderers, thieves, etc. in the family.

[3rdCdnInfty]

my great great uncle fought for Canada during the first world war, from stories I heard from my mother, he was a tiny tiny man, he was injuried when he was hit by shrapnal that inbened into his forehead, when he went to the aid station they said that it was not life threating and they went onto the hundreds more hurt,

 

I have two great uncles who fought in the second world war, one for Canada - he fought with the Irish Regiment of Canada- he enlisted when he was 16 with fake papers about his age - my great grandfather found out and let him stay to teach him and his friend a lesson, he went to the base and found out a few weeks later that they had been sent to England for more training, he fought Italy. My other great uncle fought for the U.S in the the 103rd Infantry Division the Cactus Division, he was killed in action in France.

 

After I graduate from university I plan to enlist in the Canadian military to join the officer training program

[VANHELSING]

Acording to my Family records My Great grandfather Edward Moore was a Corporal in the Spanish American War, His father Levi Moore fought in the Civil war with the NY calvary Under General Custer assigned to guard Washington D.C., Also on my Mothers side John Fredrick Ripperdan was in the Kentucky Militia during the Revoulution. I am starting to research my family hopefully I come up with more info,Something cool to pass down to the family.

[loaderXI]

Well mine is scattered...But will say being a descended of Davy Crockett much of my family fought in the Civil war and are buried in my home town where my father lays to rest...My father was a Artillery man coming out of Fort Bliss or Fort Hood..which ever it worked...He entered in one and was discharged from the other at the end of the war and fought in WWII after the war he was a US marshal one of his honors was serving in that capacity on Kwajalein Atoll for some years he served up to LBJ....I have a Uncle from Corpus Christi and a cousin who both were hurt bad in war Unc was wounded in Korea was paralyzed and cousin wounded in Vietnam who continued to serve in Washington until his retirement by the way Dad was from Brownsville Texas....Grandpa on moms side was a merchant Marine during WWII (Supply runs) used to have his manifest and logs but long lost now ....Military was a huge part of my family all I have is the gravestones and what Reg they served in....I hold close to my heart all who have served and find every chance to honor them all and have raised my children to do the same....Thanks to all who served and continue to serve from mine to yours """" God speed """'God bless""""

[Sonovabich]

My Dad got to ww2 just before it ended in 1945 when he was 18, he guarded Japanese prisoners of war in Changi (King Rat) jail in Singapore.