We will always Remember

 

 

 

 

This page contains all of the ancestors that we know of, that served in the military. As we both come from military back-grounds we wanted to do something as a tribute and to honor their military service. In our genealogy research we started finding more and more military information on our ancestors, and it seemed that many of them had served. So, we decided to try and put together a Remembrance Page–the following is our compilation.

Once we got started we wanted to add not just family members from the past, but also those in the family that are serving now. I hope any family members reading this will not only enjoy and “remember” with us, but I also hope that if any of you know of someone in the family that should be included on this page or if you have a photo that you want included–please let us know!

For each person we have included a link to our Family Tree website. For privacy reasons, some of the links will display a message that says, “This individual does not exist or you do not have permission to view it.” All family members are welcome, so please contact us for a Login username and password.

Be sure to check the Update History at the bottom of this page for new additions.

Play Background Music

Seth Washburn ~ Minuteman ~ Battle of Bunker Hill

Seth’s Family History

Read Declaration of Independence

The sun was shining from a cloudless sky a little past noon on June 17, 1775 when a British force of 1500 men landed on Charlestown Heights in Massachusetts. Their objective: a surprise attack to nullify the threat posed by “rebel” batteries on the peninsula. However, the night before for nearly twelve hours the Americans (minutemen) had worked non-stop building their main fortification on Breed’s Hill which lay at the foot of Bunker Hill to the north. As the British moved forward, the Americans remained as silent as the tomb. “Don’t fire until you see the whites of their eyes,” was the order passed along the lines.When that moment came, the word “FIRE!” was shouted, and whole enemy platoons were mowed down and shattered, retreating to the foot of the hill. Howe rallied his forces and repeated the attack with the same crushing results. Not to be discouraged, Howe rallied his men a third time, ordering them to use only their bayonets. After a desperate hand-to-hand struggle, the Americans were driven out. In that final assault American General Joseph Warren and British Major John Pitcairn were killed. While the exact number of casualties varies among historians, the Americans were estimated at 441 killed and wounded… with the British casualties at 1,150 killed and wounded.

In all of the twenty battles of the Revolution, Bunker Hill exacted a heavy toll on British officers. In this one battle alone one-eighth of the British officers in the entire War were killed and one-sixth were wounded on that day.Following the earlier skirmishes at Lexington and Concord, the battle of Bunker Hill was significant in that it overruled any real hope of conciliation. The outcome of the battle rallied the colonies and moved a lethargic Congress to take action. Bunker Hill showed the Americans that the British were not invincible. It showed the British Government that the “rebels” were a serious opponent, that “the mightiest army in all of Europe” had a real fight on its hands.

Joel Prindle & Sons

Joel, Joseph, Timothy, Doctor and William

King’s Rangers ~ Battle of Saratoga

Joel and his son’s Family History

The Saratoga campaign was a series of battles fought in 1777 during the American Revolutionary War to gain control of the Hudson River. The Hudson River, called Muh-he-kun-ne-tuk, the Great Mohegan by the Iroquois, or as the Lenape Native Americans called it Unami, is a river that flows from north to south through eastern New York. The campaign ended in the climactic Battle of Saratoga which resulted in the capture of the British Army. General John Burgoyne was a British army officer, politician and dramatist, leading the King’s Rangers (forerunner to the U.S. Army Rangers). On October 17, 1777, he surrendered his army of 6,000 men. The American victory inspired France to enter the conflict on behalf of the Americans, providing money, soldiers and naval support. The 1939 movie Drums Along the Mohawk directed by John Ford and starring Henry Fonda and Claudette Colbert, is based on the book of the same name, and is a first-rate historical film, one of my all time favorite movies.

John Agar ~ Army & Navy ~ Civil War

John’s Family History

Benjamin H. Hewitt

Michigan 23rd Infantry ~ Civil War

Benjamin’s Family History

John Morrow ~ Army ~ Civil War

John’s Family History

Charles W. Hewitt

Michigan 23rd Infantry ~ Civil War

Died Nashville Campaign

Gravestone photo donated by Diana at FAG

Nashville National Cemetery

Claud Madison Dutcher

U.S. Army ~ Spanish American War

Claud’s Family History

 

Frank Porter
Army ~ “Punitive Expedition” against Pancho Villa

Frank’s Family History

On March 9, 1916, on the orders of Mexican revolutionary leader Francisco “Pancho” Villa, General Ramon Banda Quesadilla led five hundred to 1000 men in an attack on Columbus, New Mexico, they burned the town and killed between 18 and 24 people.

On March 15, on orders from President Woodrow Wilson, General John J. Pershing led an expeditionary force of 10,000 men into Mexico to capture Villa. The newly adopted airplane, Curtiss JN-4, was used by the 1st Provisional Aero Squadron to conduct aerial reconnaissance. Villa had already had more than a week to disperse and conceal his forces before the punitive expedition tried to seek them out in unmapped, foreign terrain.

General Pershing’s men were the first forces to use the motorized vehicle in wartime. Secretary of War Newton Baker recognized that “the development of the motor truck, able to traverse wild, unbroken country, transport soldiers and their supplies, will be evolved into a sounder foundation for subsequent use by the Army.”

 

William Vernon Morrow

Navy ~ World War I & Great White Fleet

William’s Family History

Jack Meyers ~ Army ~ World War I

Jack’s Family History

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Walter A. Clark
U.S. Army ~ World War I (with bride Frances Spears)

Walter’s Family History

Lewis E. Vinson
World War I (with wife Emily Mildred Ashby)

Lewis’s Family History

Charles and Joseph Hewitt

Army ~ World War I

Charles’ Family History

Joseph’s Family History

Elmer Daniel Carlson

1st Sergeant Machine Gun Company, 155th Depot Brigade, U.S. Army 80th Div. ~ World War I

Elmer’s Family History

Manley Ace Spears

U.S. Army ~ World War I

Manley’s Family History

Manley J Pringle

16th Cavalry, Troop E ~ World War I

Manley’s Family History

Alfred Lee Pringle

Army Overseas ~ World War I

Alfred Lee’s Family History

 

Roger LeVere Morrow (sitting)

Navy ~ World Wars I & II

Roger’s Family History

Cortez Henry Cummings
Michigan National Guard ~ Peacetime

Cortez’s Family History

Thanks for the Memories

Clyde Dotson & George Luther Gustafson Jr. (right)
Navy ~ World War II & Korea

Gus’s Family History

Kate Smith was my dad’s (George) all time favorite singer. He especially liked her rendition of God Bless America, he would almost always cry whenever he heard her sing it

Play God Bless America

Wesley Kelly (left) ~ Army ~ World War II

Wes’s Family History

–

Franklin Reidel ~ Navy ~ World War II

Frank’s Family History

George Wesley Abel

U.S. Army 1st Division ~ World War II

George Wesley’s Family History

William Benjamin Spears
US Army ~ World War II ~ Normandy Invasion

Women Workers & WWII

Patricia A. Cummings
Factory Worker ~ WWII
(3rd from the left)

Pat’s Family History

Clarissa A. Gustafson
Factory Worker ~ World War II

Clarissa’s Family History

Stanley Pindar
Merchant Marine ~ World War II
(with wife Ruth Morrow)

Stanley’s Family History

Watch John Ford’s 18 minute short “Battle of Midway”

Robert Jewel Sr. ~ Navy ~ World War II

Bob’s Family History

George Howell (center) ~ Army ~ World War II

Georgie’s Family History

James Riley Liscomb
Army ~ World War II (with wife Lucille Howell)

Tood’s Family History

Robert Vinson Porter
Army Air Corps ~ World War II ~ India

Robert’s Family History

Walter William Hibbard
Coast Guard ~ World War II

Bill’s Family History

Cartoon by Bill Mauldin

Thomas Roger Collins
Army Calvary ~ World War II ~ Europe

Thomas’ Family History

Joshua Raymond Conkling

Army ~ World War II ~ Europe

Ray’s Family History

Ralph Ashby ~ Army ~ World War II

John Frank Porter
Army, 29th Infantry, Omaha Beach on D-Day

World War II

Frank’s Family History

John Pell Collins
Army Signal Corps ~ World War II

John’s Family History

Luther Coddington Pringle ~ Navy ~ World War II

Luther’s Family History

William Richard Small  ~ Army Air Corps

Bill’s Family History

Leonard E. Howell ~ U. S. Army

Leonard’s Family History

Cortez Henry Cummings Jr.
Navy ~ Korea, Bay of Pigs, Vietnam
(with mother Daisy Alice)

Hank’s Family History

Wendell N. Blodgett
Marine ~ Korea ~ Battle of Chosin Reservoir

Wendell’s Family History

Watch “Battle of Chosin”

 

Alan Reidel ~ Navy

Alan’s Family History

Richard G. Dulmage

Navy ~ Cold War ~ USS Yorktown

Alaska, Hawaii, Memphis & San Diego

Richard’s Family History

Paul Henry Bergeron (left) ~ Air Force ~ Peacetime

Paul’s Family History

William H. Cummings
Navy ~ Coral Sea, Evacuation of Saigon
Mayaguez Rescue

William’s Family History

Clyde Keith Gustafson
Navy ~ Vietnam
USS Bayield APA 33 and USS Ranger CVA 61

Clyde’s Family History

Play Ruby Don’t Take Your Love To Town

Lawrence Paul Bergeron
Air Force ~ Vietnam War ~ Netherlands

Larry’s Family History

Robert Diecks ~ Navy Seals ~ Vietnam War

Play Ballad of the Green Beret

Douglas Moody Jewel ~ Marines ~ Vietnam War

Doug’s Family History

Robert Butler ~ Army National Guard ~ Peacetime

Bob’s Family History

Claire Twitty ~ Navy Waves ~ Vietnam War

George Lamont Blodgett
Navy ~ 1970-1990 Proudly Served

George’s Family History

William Randall Small
Navy ~ USS KittyHawk – Iranian Hostage Crisis

Randy’s Family History

Leilani Kay Gustafson & Alana Marie Hahn
Army ~ Germany

Lei’s Family History

Larry Allen Cummings ~ Navy ~ Peacetime

Larry’s Family History

Glen Roy Cummings ~ Army ~ Peacetime

Glen’s Family History

Randall M. Cummings
Air Force ~ Cold War England

Randy’s Family History

Teresa H. “Bloom” Bowersox
Army 82nd Airborne ~ Desert Storm

Teresa’s Family History

Christopher George Blodgett
Air Force ~ Peacetime Japan

Chris’s Family History

Elizabeth Carol Butler ~ Navy ~ Peacetime

Lizzie’s Family History

Brian Andrew Cummings
Army U.S. Army Drill Team ~ Peacetime

Brian’s Family History

U.S. Army Drill Team Edinburgh Military Tattoo

John Michael Butler
Air Force ~ Iraq War ~ Korea ~ Germany

John’s Family History

Lesa Padgett Butler ~ Civilian Contractor
War on Terrorism

Lesa’s Family History

Jacob Wathen
Army ~ 101st Airborne “Screaming Eagles”

Jacob’s Family History

Travis Hill
Navy ~ Corry Station, Pensacola, FL

Travis’ Family History

Richard Scott Gustafson
Air Force

Richards’ Family History

 

 

Please let us know if you have pictures, stories, or missing family that should be included. And don’t hesitate to let us know if there are mistakes so that we can make the corrections. This is a work in progress and we are adding and updating all the time, so check back often!

E-Mail us for a high resolution copy of any picture.

Update History

Veterans Day 2018 Update:

In honor of the 100 year anniversary of World War One, Armistice Day, we did a special post (Veterans Day 2018 Update) and we have added some family that served during WWI, to the ones already on the page..

They are Charles and Joseph Hewitt, they were in their early 20’s when they enlisted. They were sons of Alvin Hewitt and nephews of Cortez and Della (Hewitt) Spears.

And on September 7th, 1917 the Clio Messenger announced that Manley A. Spears another nephew of Cortez Spears had been drafted in the first rounds. Manley had reported on his draft card in June of 1917, that his wife and mother were solely dependent on him.

And another pair of brothers, who were cousins of Grandma Daisy; Alfred Lee and Manley J Pringle. also joined. Alfred served in Europe and Manley served with Troop E of the 16th Cavalry.

Our last WWI addition this year is Elmer D. Carlson, son of Carl and Elis Gustafson Carlson of Irwin, Pa. Elmer entered service Sept. 22, 1917. He went to Camp Lee and was attached to the Machine Gun Company, 155th Depot Brigade, 80th Div. He was appointed First Sergeant and was honorably discharged from service in Nov. 1918. When we were in Irwin, PA in 2014 we took a photo of Elmer’s Headstone.

But recently an Ashby cousin found our Family Tree online and contacted me. We have been having a great time getting to know each other and trade stories and photographs. Doing some research we found that my second cousin Lynne Abel Allenspach’s father, George Wesley Abel, pictured with his wife Liz in 1959, served 38 months overseas in the African, Sicilian and Normandy invasions with the Army’s 1st Big Red Division (Big Red 1). Wes died October 20th, 1994. Lynne’s mother Emily Elizabeth (Lizzie) Vinson Abel died May 1st, 1979. Lynne and I share great-grandparents, John & Emily Ashby.

As always we are grateful to those that have served and those that are serving today. May God bless them and their families, as they lay aside their lives to protect all our lives–there is no greater love than this.

Update 2017: the new website name is ClanLore.com

Veterans Day 2017 Update:

Another new addition to our military family–Richard Scott Gustafson, he brings the count to sixty-five. He just finished his basic training and is awaiting for his MOS orders. Congratulations Richard on choosing to serve in the U.S. Air Force and thank you for your service!

Today…and every day…we are grateful for our military service men and women, past and present and the families who support them. With Respect, Honor and Gratitude–Thank You Veterans

Memorial Day 2013 Update:

We have a new addition to our military family–Travis Hill, he brings the count up to sixty-four!

Travis is currently in basic training at the Naval Training Center in Great Lakes, IL.

We are so proud and happy for him. He will be continuing his training as an Information Systems Technician (IT) at Corry Station in Pensacola, FL. His rating appears to be a modern version of what his Great-Uncle Hank was when he was in the Navy–the guy in charge of the communication systems aboard ship! What a great career, easily transferable to civilian life, but maybe he’ll make a career of the Navy, like his Uncle Hank. Congratulations Travis and thank you for your service.

Memorial Day 2012 Update:

Where is the time going? I think only one person, Jacob Wathen, has joined the military since our last update, Ooh Rah Jacob, congratulations for graduating from basic training, boy don’t we all wish we could go through that again! I have added him to the bottom of this page. John Butler just returned from another tour in Korea, and now him and Lesa and their daughter are stationed in Germany, the home of Oktoberfest, for three years and loving it!

Here is an interesting thing, there are elementary school children looking at our families military history! Mrs. Carter, an elementary school teacher at, Union Elementary School, in Shallotte, NC, has a link on her AIG class page to our ‘A Salute to our Military’. She uses the page as a tool for her students to learn about our veterans. She chose a picture of my dad as the link to our page.

Memorial Day 2010 Update:

It’s already May 31st! Where is the time going? I’m way behind on this page…but all our websites were invaded a couple months back and we are slowly getting them back online. I have added only a few new pictures to the page this Memorial Day. Recently I was given a picture from a company magazine, of my grandmother (Nanny) Clarissa Jones Gustafson, working in a factory during WWII. She is inspecting engine tappets. I haven’t anymore information on that yet, but I will add the story for that when I find out. I also put up a picture of Randy’s mom Pat working at Bendix during WWII. Cousin John Butler’s wife Lesa is working as a civilian contractor at Ft. Irwin, CA in an aggressor training program…at least that is how I understand it. Hopefully she’ll comment and give us a better description of what she is doing to help prepare our men and women for the battlefield, in Afghanistan & Iraq. My brother George’s father Wendell Blodgett was one of the “Chosin Few” and researching that campaign I am again reminded of the great sacrifices our families have given for their country, and I am truly humbled. I hope you enjoy the page and please feel free to comment, give suggestions, point out errors, etc…

Memorial Day 2009:

We moved this page to FamilyHistoryImages.com from the old location at rootsweb free hosting ~

And we wrote:

Three years ago we decided to do a “Remembrance” page to honor our ancestors that have served in the military. From the outset this tribute has included not only our ancestors, but descendants in our family tree too, including family members that continue to serve today. We launched the page on May 29th 2006 for the first time, and have tried to update each Memorial Day and Veterans Day and I think we might have done it once on the 4th of July. It has been very informative doing the research on each person, and the time frame in which they served, has brought each of them and the past alive. We are always looking for more family to add to our homage, so I hope you will be encouraged by our small tribute and will let us know of anyone that you feel should be included.