Sometimes family history retold by others needs to be backed up by facts. For years we all thought that my Dad's brother Hugo recuperated in California.
Here are the facts from his Honorable Discharge paper.
Inducted April 16, 1942 at Fort Snelling, Minnesota. He was 28 and 2/12 years of age and was a farm laborer, blue eyes, brown hair and a ruddy complexion. He was 5 feet 9 inches in height. He completed 2 years and 20 days service.
He was a Rifleman qualifying with the M 1 Rifle
He was in the Sicilian Campaign
Decorations EAME Medal, Purple Heart, Good Conduct Medal
Wounds received Shrapnel wound in buttocks, left leg and ankle
Hospital Tuscaloosa Alabama dated 2 May 1944
Left U.S. 8 June 43, arrived North African theater 22 June 43; left North African theater 5 July 43; arrived European theater 10 July 43; left European theater August 43; arrived North Africa theater August 43; left North African theater 15 Oct 43; arrived U.S. 24 Oct 43
Honorable discharge button presented at Northington General Hospital Tuscaloosa, Alabama. He spent 193 days in the hospital.
He was part of Company K, 157 Infantry in the United States Army.
My Uncle Hugo was a quiet man, who only spoke when it was necessary ...and when he spoke it was important so you better be listening. He limped especially in the winter. I have many memories of him. He married Aunt Mia and they raised Mia's Grandson together. Hugo had no children of his own but Grandson Joe was like a son to him.
Uncle Hugo 4 Feb 1914 - 25 Oct 1987
Thank you Veterans!
Far Side
Thank you to all our Veterans.
ReplyDeleteThank you for introducing me to this remarkable man.
ReplyDeleteWonderful story and man. My ancestors never shared the details of their service. Those records hold some very sad stories.
ReplyDeleteThose WWII vets were a tough bunch for sure! My dad was much the same, and rarely talked about his war time experiences. My father-in-law shipped out to north Africa about the same time as your uncle, then moved on to Italy, and then north and east as the Allies pressed on.
ReplyDeleteI had two uncles who served in WWII and neither talked about their time overseas that I can recall. Thank you for sharing the story of your uncle.
ReplyDeleteWell said. Many vets suffered for the remainder of their lives from wounds of war.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless our veterans!
ReplyDeleteThank you for telling Uncle Hugo's story. My Dad never talked about his service in WWII in the Navy either. I wish I would have asked more questions and now it's too late.
ReplyDeleteGod Bless all who served our great country, including my brother, brother in law and my own Hubby, Dennnis.
Blessings and love,
Betsy
What a lovely tribute!
ReplyDeleteThank you for posting the story. I met a homeless man in the park recently -- Vietnam Vet with PTSD and a host of other mental health issues. Some men who served our country did not fair so well integrating back into society when they were discharged. We tried to get my dad to talk about his service during WWII in the Navy in the South Pacific and he would not. He mentioned once sitting on the beach eating his lunch and watching chickens peck the eyes out of dead Japanese soldiers. I can't imagine what other horrors he might have seen.
ReplyDeleteThat generation was so stoic and so humble. Bless all of them for their service and their sacrifice.
ReplyDeleteNice to have all those details. Interesting how someone colorized the background of that old photo.
ReplyDeleteGod bless Uncle Hugo and may his soul be resting in peace. ~Andrea xoxoxo
ReplyDeleteGreat tribute!
ReplyDeleteThank you for this post. It is good to get to know a little about the many special veterans that served for us. I thank your Uncle Hugo for his service. Bless his memory as well as all other veterans!
ReplyDeleteI wore a Poppy pin yesterday in honour of the ANZAC's..................
ReplyDeleteService records tell us more than we might otherwise ever have known, as so many WWII Vets never talked about their service. This is a good share for Veterans Day.
ReplyDeleteRecords always add so much to stories we heard. Often there is truth but some information isn’t correct.
ReplyDeleteMany thanks to your Uncle Hugo for his service. It is greatly appreciated along with all who have served and are serving today.
ReplyDeleteInteresting story. You did a good job of digging up the facts. The package from you arrived. Thank you.
ReplyDeleteYou got the actual complete story. Longs days in the hospital. My dad was described as shell shocked after returning from battle of the bulge. The ship ride was just as bad for them when they returned.
ReplyDelete