Embedded Files
Group Photo 1944 with
115 - Barnhill, Thester Troy., North Charleston, South Carolina
116 - Wilson, Roy M., Tuscaloosa, Alabama
117 - Wilson, Floyd, Lafayette, Indiana
118 - Beville, P.D., Mobile, Alabama
119 - Camisa, Michael, Hazelton, Pennsylvania
120 - Wagner, Raymond A., Beresford, South Dakota
121 - McBee, Ralph A., Fairmont, Georgia
122 - Downs, Rufus A., Birmingham, Alabama
123 - Rowe, Kenneth, Bangor, Maine
124 - Marks, Charles R., Middlebury, Vermont
125 - Bamsey, Louis A., Waterloo, Iowa originally listed as Ramsey in Roster
126 - McGinnis, Charles H., Summerville, Georgia
127 - Roden, Jack Jr., Cullman, Alabama
128 - Vinson, George E., Killen, Alabama
129 - Wolfe, Lewis, Nashville, Tennessee
130 - Jones, Lloyd, Copperhill, Tennessee
131 - Moss ??
132 - Cunningham, Henry G., Birmingham, Alabama
133 - Eubanks, John F., Columbus, Georgia
134 - Steenwyk, Jerry, Oak Lawn, Illinois
135 - Durham, Robert L., Huntsville, Alabama
136 - McLeroy, Lewis A., Eatonton, Georgia
137 - Kendrick, Ralph R., Sylacauga, Alabama
138 - Rumble, James P., Carrollton, Georgia
139 - Wilczewski, John W., Lynn, Massachusetts
As I explained in the earlier pages, I was greatly excited to receive my copy of this group photo. I received it from Thomas Plant's daughter, Barbara. He was clearly identified easily as #29. She has shared several photos from her family album, and has worked with US Army WWII memorial acknowledgment. See my Photo Page 13 for more about him.
Another example of facial uncertainy for the group photo happened for Laurinda Gallant, daughter of Newell Bugbee. She provided me with a great collection from his family album, many taken at various locations during his time of service. One is with a small group of 841st men at Hitler's former Alps hideaway, the Berghof. We exchanged ideas about which face might be her Dad's in the group photo. She was not certain about anyone specifically, 100%. And now that we have a "list" of names also for it, it's now possible her Dad isn't in the group photo at all! His name was not listed by Steenwyk in any of the rows or lists. But we have several of him (Bugbee) from his own album that she knows is correct. See Photo Page 20.
I only knew a few of the men by their faces and names, based on what my Dad told me. My Dad was easily found (as one of the youngest "boys"), in the 4th row, my # 99. And his good friend from his home town was also there, Charles McGinnis, who was # 126. So I chose to just number them, left to right, front row to back top row. As I stated, Rows 1 - 4 were easy, but when I started row 5, it got difficult. After the first few men, they weren't exactly standing shoulder to shoulder, in a line. But then they did level out as I moved to the right. Then the "back" row (6th or top row) was similar, the first few had a few "sqeezing" in the line, but they also "leveled" out as I moved across to the right. My numbering system was initially for my own use...to help me identify the men and connect faces with names. Then recently, we connected with the granddaughter of Jerry Steenwyk, # 134 in the company photo. She provided access to Steenwyk's family album, which included the group photo and his list of last names in columns, for all 6 rows! He pasted these lists to the right or left of his large photo. I'll insert a portion of his family album page to show his work. By this time, I had heard from several family relatives who identified faces, and shared other family photos, and stories. I've since created separate portions on the Photo Pages about them, as I learn more. As I quickly scanned the lists and compared them to my "numbered" photo, I can happily state that most seem to agree with my names and numbered positions.
As I explained in the earlier pages, I was greatly excited to receive my copy of this group photo. I received it from Thomas Plant's daughter, Barbara. He was clearly identified easily as #29. She has shared several photos from her family album, and has worked with US Army WWII memorial acknowledgment. See my Photo Page 13 for more about him.
Another example of facial uncertainy for the group photo happened for Laurinda Gallant, daughter of Newell Bugbee. She provided me with a great collection from his family album, many taken at various locations during his time of service. One is with a small group of 841st men at Hitler's former Alps hideaway, the Berghof. We exchanged ideas about which face might be her Dad's in the group photo. She was not certain about anyone specifically, 100%. And now that we have a "list" of names also for it, it's now possible her Dad isn't in the group photo at all! His name was not listed by Steenwyk in any of the rows or lists. But we have several of him (Bugbee) from his own album that she knows is correct. See Photo Page 20.
I only knew a few of the men by their faces and names, based on what my Dad told me. My Dad was easily found (as one of the youngest "boys"), in the 4th row, my # 99. And his good friend from his home town was also there, Charles McGinnis, who was # 126. So I chose to just number them, left to right, front row to back top row. As I stated, Rows 1 - 4 were easy, but when I started row 5, it got difficult. After the first few men, they weren't exactly standing shoulder to shoulder, in a line. But then they did level out as I moved to the right. Then the "back" row (6th or top row) was similar, the first few had a few "sqeezing" in the line, but they also "leveled" out as I moved across to the right. My numbering system was initially for my own use...to help me identify the men and connect faces with names. Then recently, we connected with the granddaughter of Jerry Steenwyk, # 134 in the company photo. She provided access to Steenwyk's family album, which included the group photo and his list of last names in columns, for all 6 rows! He pasted these lists to the right or left of his large photo. I'll insert a portion of his family album page to show his work. By this time, I had heard from several family relatives who identified faces, and shared other family photos, and stories. I've since created separate portions on the Photo Pages about them, as I learn more. As I quickly scanned the lists and compared them to my "numbered" photo, I can happily state that most seem to agree with my names and numbered positions.
I was equally excited to have this "Steenwyk" list of names, especially row by row!
I immediately began entering each of his names into an online file, so I could begin to compare my numbering system and faces with his lists. And yes, there were some inconsistencies with spelling or questions because of his handwriting legibility for some. But since I had the original company Roster, and had researched many names already, I was able to make relationships or links with most. But there are still a few unsolved puzzles that I'll list below.
The Roster was compiled by Sgt. Sirmans in May, 1945. It is a list of 206 men. There are no names mentioned in the company History that are not found in the Roster. The few names or "hometown" addresses in the Roster that were questionable, either by spelling or just a typo, have mostly been resolved.
The group photo was taken in Dombasle, France, in October 1944.
I count that there are 171 men in that photo. That's a difference of 35 from the 206 in the roster. So who were they, and where were they at the time of the photo in Oct 1944? Of the 206 in the Roster, the first 8 names listed are the officers, followed by 180 enlisted men, and finally, the 18 men who were transferred to the Infantry. Again, this was compiled by Sgt. Sirmans in May, 1945. He didn't create the roster along with the group photo. I believe he thought he had the complete list of men, based on his records and the history of the company.
And then we come to the Steenwyk list of names. How do we understand that, or how, a few names are not found in, or do not agree, with the "official" company roster? Perhaps Steenwyk just didn't remember all the men, exactly or perfectly. Did Steenwyk use a copy of the Roster to help remember a face and make his lists? And how soon after the war ended did he do these lists and create his family album? And stated above, he has 171 last names, with a few first initials for accuracy for those who had the same last name, like Johnson, or Brown.
I will list my unresolved names by row and using my numbers, and as I interpret his handwriting:
Row 1:
#10 - Steenwyk lists him as just "MICHARD". The handwriting is pretty clear, but there is no one in the Roster with any last, or first name, that is close to this.
#11 - Steenwyk lists him as just "PHILLIPS". No initial. There is only one Phillips listed in the Roster, Frazier L. Phillips, who was from Camp Hill, Alabama. But Steenwyk does have 2 Phillips listed. He lists F. Phillips as #161. So who was #11 Phillips? Frazier (still living at this time) agrees there were 2 Phillips.
#22 - Steenwyk lists him as just "WEHR". No initial. It is clearly written as Wehr. There is no W name, or really one that I immediately grabbed as the correct name. BUT, there is a man named KERR, Alvin, that might sound a little like the name. And, Kerr is not listed anywhere else in the Steenwyk lists. Was this just a sound-memory-mistake by Steenwyk? Perhaps we will some day be able to find a photo of either for comparison to solve this one.
I was equally excited to have this "Steenwyk" list of names, especially row by row!
I immediately began entering each of his names into an online file, so I could begin to compare my numbering system and faces with his lists. And yes, there were some inconsistencies with spelling or questions because of his handwriting legibility for some. But since I had the original company Roster, and had researched many names already, I was able to make relationships or links with most. But there are still a few unsolved puzzles that I'll list below.
The Roster was compiled by Sgt. Sirmans in May, 1945. It is a list of 206 men. There are no names mentioned in the company History that are not found in the Roster. The few names or "hometown" addresses in the Roster that were questionable, either by spelling or just a typo, have mostly been resolved.
The group photo was taken in Dombasle, France, in October 1944.
I count that there are 171 men in that photo. That's a difference of 35 from the 206 in the roster. So who were they, and where were they at the time of the photo in Oct 1944? Of the 206 in the Roster, the first 8 names listed are the officers, followed by 180 enlisted men, and finally, the 18 men who were transferred to the Infantry. Again, this was compiled by Sgt. Sirmans in May, 1945. He didn't create the roster along with the group photo. I believe he thought he had the complete list of men, based on his records and the history of the company.
And then we come to the Steenwyk list of names. How do we understand that, or how, a few names are not found in, or do not agree, with the "official" company roster? Perhaps Steenwyk just didn't remember all the men, exactly or perfectly. Did Steenwyk use a copy of the Roster to help remember a face and make his lists? And how soon after the war ended did he do these lists and create his family album? And stated above, he has 171 last names, with a few first initials for accuracy for those who had the same last name, like Johnson, or Brown.
I will list my unresolved names by row and using my numbers, and as I interpret his handwriting:
Row 1:
#10 - Steenwyk lists him as just "MICHARD". The handwriting is pretty clear, but there is no one in the Roster with any last, or first name, that is close to this.
#11 - Steenwyk lists him as just "PHILLIPS". No initial. There is only one Phillips listed in the Roster, Frazier L. Phillips, who was from Camp Hill, Alabama. But Steenwyk does have 2 Phillips listed. He lists F. Phillips as #161. So who was #11 Phillips? Frazier (still living at this time) agrees there were 2 Phillips.
#22 - Steenwyk lists him as just "WEHR". No initial. It is clearly written as Wehr. There is no W name, or really one that I immediately grabbed as the correct name. BUT, there is a man named KERR, Alvin, that might sound a little like the name. And, Kerr is not listed anywhere else in the Steenwyk lists. Was this just a sound-memory-mistake by Steenwyk? Perhaps we will some day be able to find a photo of either for comparison to solve this one.
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