Happy Memorial Day

I know its been quite a while since my last post, but I have been very busy opening a pool that is too cold to swim in.  Anyway, I felt it necessary to post today and just mention a few of the veterans in the family.  I realize that Memorial Day is to remember those who gave their lives, but I figure that being a veteran means that you were willing to make the sacrifice - but were fortunate enough to not have to.  The more I think about it, there was one veteran who was killed in battle and he was in my wife's family.  He was Major Jacob Brown, who was the commanding Officer  at Fort Texas during the Mexican War.  He was killed 6 May 1848 defending the fort.  When the commanding General Zachary Taylor (yes the future president) came to the fort, he renamed it Fort Brown in his honor, and the town that grew up around the fort became Brownsville, TX.  So, Brownsville, Texas is named after my wife's 3rd  Great Grandfather.  I actually found a drawing of his death (this was before cameras) and here it is:

Pretty cool, huh.

Before I start, let me just say that there are too many veterans on my wife's  side of the family to count.  If I were to include them, it would take me days to complete it.  But, I will add one other person - my father-in-law, Benjamin F VanVliet, who served in the US Air Force.  I believe he served during peace time - but he served.  Okay, two people, my brother-in-law, Benjamin F VanVliet, who served in the US Coast  Guard, also during peace time - but again he served.

But now on to the many veterans in the family.  I have to start with my dad, Tom Brady, who served in WWII in the 34th Div of the 5th Army.  He served in North Africa and Italy.  The battle that he talked about the most was Monte Cassino.  He didn't talk about the war much, but when he did the topic was usually Monte Cassino.  His two brothers: Jim and Frank, who both served in the US Army Air Corps.  They were both shot down over Germany (at different times) and were captured.  They were POWs  and wound up in the same POW camp, and (legend has it) they escaped together.  Yes, they were quite a story.  My dad's younger brother Paul also served in Korea in the early fifties. Matter of fact, he was in Korea when my brother Paul was born.  Quite a coincidence they have the same name huh?

Now my mom's two brothers also served in WWII.  My Uncle Ed Bergen served in the US Navy.  He served on the USS Monssen DD436 and was serving on board when the ship was sunk during the opening actions of the Naval Battle of Guadalcanal in November 1942.   Three quarters of her Officers and men were killed or wounded in the battle, but Uncle Ed survived, after spending a night in the water.  Uncle Bill, was a second Lt in the Army.  I don't know much about his service, but I think he was in the Phillipines for a time.  I also know that my mom's father, Edward L Bergen, Sr. served in the US Navy during WWI.  He was assigned to the USS Frieda from 10-14-18 to 11 -11-18 (Armistice Day).  I don't know anything about his service, and I found a State of New Jersey Service Record for him at the NJ State Archives.  That's where I learned the ship that he was assigned to.

I know that there were numerous other cousins and uncles (aunts?) who served our country in various military actions, but the last two I will mention were unknown to me before I started this never ending hobby. The first is Andrew Brady.  Andrew is the brother of my great grandfather James E Brady.  I found his service almost by mistake - because I was looking for something else.  I came across a file card for service in the Spanish-American War for Andrew Brady of Scranton, PA.  The card says that he served in Porto Rico (that's how they spelled it).  This is all I have for him.

Next is James Bradley.  James is the brother of mygreat grandmother Madge Bradley Brady.  James (1876 - 1928) served in WWI, and is buried in St Vincent de Paul Cemetery in Minersville.  I did find a copy of his burial card:

Well, that's all I have for tonight.  I know I left out a lot of veterans, but maybe I'll make a list for Veteran's Day of all of those that I can find and what conflict they served in.  But for now, thank you all for your service.