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2002
July
9, 2002
Hello,
This
letter comes to you from the home of the Maurouard family in
Normandy.
We
very much wanted you to know that we recently accepted to sponsor
the tomb of Ranger Elmo Banning, which is located in the Normandy
American Cemetery at Omaha Beach. Our gesture, which involves laying
flowers on the tomb of soldiers buried in cemeteries in Normandy,
was
made possible because we are members of a french organization quite
appropriately called" the Flowers of Remembrance".
We
chose Elmo Banning's grave because he was a friend of a U.S
Ranger-Jay Mehaffey-who we had met and became friends with quite a
while ago. Each time Jay would come on one of his many trips to
Normandy, he would go and visit Elmo's grave at Omaha. We have
undertaken to put flowers on Elmo Banning's grave once a year, if
possible on Memorial Day, in order to show our eternal gratitude for
his having given his life in our struggle for freedom and liberty.
Our
gesture is purely a symbolic one, yet please understand that we feel
it our duty to preserve not only our respect for these men but also
the memory of what they did for us so that we pass it on to our
future generation.
We
have now a contact with Patricia Banning which we have inform of our
gesture. She also send us a picture of his uncle. We are looking for
an other Ranger family (2nd or 5Th Bn) which have someone of his
family or a friend buried in Omaha beach cemetery. We offer of laying
flowers as we have done for Elmo Banning's grave.
If
someone have an interest, please contact us.
(Please reply to Monsieur Maurouard through the contact in the
left margin)
Added
September 6, 2002
I
want to let you know that my nephew (Maxime, 7 years old) is
sponsored by Pfc. Stein Robert, 5th Ranger Battalion, date of
death 08 june 44. Do you have some contact with his relatives?
Sincerely,
Franck
Maurouard
Below is a photo Franck shared with us of Elmo
Banning's stone.
Thank
you so very much Monsieur Maurouard!
July
10, 2002
Hello,
My name is Barry Quilliam and I live in the UK. I am in a British
re-enactment group which portrays a unit of the 2nd Rangers during
WW2. As a
group, our standards are very high and at all times respectful to
the veterans who fought and died for our freedom.
I am trying to locate any members of SGT Lawrence Johnson's family,
who was
killed in action on June 7th 1944 at Point Du Hoc, France, while he
was serving with "D" Company. I would also like to hear
from anyone who knew Lawrence, and may have any stories
regarding his career with the Rangers. I would also like to hear
from any Ranger that sailed on the ship "The Ben My Chree"
at D-Day, as this ship was from my home town. Please find a photo of
her attached. Any information would be most welcome. Our group
website:
Keep
the good work
Best wishes, Barry Quilliam
Photo
of The Ben My Chree submitted by Barry Quilliam
July
24, 2002
Hello,
My
name is Edward J Ryan. My uncle is SSgt Richard E McLaughlin who was
captured on June 7, 1944 inland fro Pointe Du Hoc. He was in 2nd
Ranger Battalion, Company D. Uncle Dick and two others were taken
prisoner and Sgt Lawrence Johnson was killed during 2nd German
counterattack around 1 am on 7 June 1944. Barry Quilliam,
if you read this, I only knew my uncle, but would share what little
info I have. Please include me in your Guest Book Bulletin Board. I
would appreciate any info about my uncle.
You have a great site.
Keep up the good work.
Ed
ejrt@tds.net
July
28, 2002
I
am Lt. Wm. Moody's niece. My mother was his sister. My eldest
brother recently found a little about his death on Internet.
It was a very moving experience. The last I remember of him
was at my grandfathers house before Uncle Bill left. He had
given my sister and me dolls. He was engaged to be married to
a beautiful lady. I remember thinking how handsome he was. I
was about six when he left. His brother was reported missing
at about the same time . He was in the Navy.
If
anyone knew him or has any pictures we would love to have a
copy. Wish we could attend the Ranger reunion but unable to at
this time. God bless all and have a safe journey to and from
reunion.
Shelby
Hickey Richland, Mo. lmatador@dam.net
July
30, 2002
I
do not have any pictures or newspaper clippings. I was wondering if
something could get posted about my uncle who was with the 5th
Battalion Rangers Co. A who was killed in the Irsch-Zerf Campaign in
Feb 24,1945 to remember him. His name was Thomas W.Adams. If
anyone can remember him please contact me.I have been talking
to David Williams and he has helped me a lot.
Thank
you for your help,
Thomas
Adams toadams@camtel.net
(A
tribute to Ranger Adams has been placed on the Timeline
click here to view)
August
5, 2002
Hello
I am the nephew of Alfred E. Moore who served in Headquarters
Co., 5th Rangers in WWII. I am looking for more information about
his time in the Rangers, as he passed away when I was very young.
Please contact me if you knew him or know
someone who served in HQ Co. Thank you in advance.
Charles
A. Moore cmjemoore@aol.com
September
4, 2002
Hello,
My
name is Bill Meyers and I'm writing from Traverse City, Michigan My
uncle and namesake, William D. Myers was KIA at Point de la Percee
with C company of the 2nd Rangers. I've been looking for any
surviving Rangers that may remember Uncle Bill. I had the good
fortune of speaking with Capt. Goranson in 1997. Interestingly
enough, Capt. Goranson believed that one of the landing craft
suffered a direct hit killing most of the platoon at once before
they hit the beach. This was most likely my uncle's platoon.
I noticed a posting from the relatives of Lt. William Moody and I
suspect that my Uncle Bill served in his platoon. Other than
my conversation with Capt. Goranson five years ago, I've come up
empty handed.
Uncle
Bill entered the Army in the late 1930's and worked his way up to
Staff Sergeant in the MP. After the war started, he
volunteered to enter the Rangers but was forced to take a demotion
to get in. According to my father (who served in the South
Pacific along with another brother), Uncle Bill didn't hesitate to
become a Pfc in order to get a chance "to let the axis have
it."
Two
weeks ago my sister Sara became the first member of our family and
relative of Uncle Bill was able to visit his grave in Normandy.
She and her family said the experience was extremely moving.
The staff at the American Cemetery went out of their way to
transport them to the grave site and provide them with a
personal tour of the grounds.
Oh
well, if you've read this far and if you know any 'C'
company survivors or anecdotes, I'd enjoy hearing from you.
Bill
Myers myers@trilinkllc.com
(see
2nd Battalion Photo Gallery for Ranger photo)
September
5, 2002
I
am writing to say thank you so much to the Maurouard family for
taking care of my uncle’s grave.
I am also looking for more rangers that knew my uncle Elmo
Banning. He was in 5/B
if there is anyone out there I would love to here from you. You
can post this message
Thank
you and God Bless,
Patricia
Pdoe8@cox.net
October
13, 2002
Hello
Friends,
My I
am very interested in the Rangers of the 2nd World War. I
am an honorary member of the Normandy Veterans in the UK. I am, I
add very proudly, their Standard Bearer, along with a friend who
shares the same
thoughts as I do.
Have
just completed a 48K charity walk for these veterans in the UK. We
hope to do another next year on the American sector. We did visit
the lovely cemetery on top of Omaha. It’s so peaceful. Please let
me thank you to all those soldiers who gave so much for us, and
those who never came back. May they forever rest in eternal peace
and those who were the lucky ones, may live in very good health and
prosper in everything you do. But I feel that is not enough for what
they have done. These few words may say it all, for what you did in
your lives, will echo in eternity. God
bless you all and may you all live in tranquility for evermore.
Thank
you again,
From
Peter and Keith
Email:
omahadogred@aol.cometernity
October
20, 2002
Thank
you so much for asking us to attend your convention at Cape
Girardeau. It was a huge pleasure to both of us to meet and
greet each of you. We both had a great time. Am
still trying to display pictures taken at the convention on a CD but
it seems my PC is lacking a certain element that allows the pictures
to be viewed. Will keep on trying. If we ever get this
durn thing straightened out, will forward all to you.
May God bless each and every one of you.
Sincerely,
James and Catherine Hildebrand
November
8, 2002
Hello,
I recently discovered I had an Uncle in the 5th Rangers Battalion.
His name was Edward Ivan Mapes and he died on Feb 23, 1945.
I'm trying to find out which Company he was in and exactly where he
was when he died and how. I would greatly appreciate hearing
from anyone. Thank you.
Connie Ellis
CMapes7103
November
9, 2002
Does
anyone know my father?
My
father is Selmer Olaf Olson. He is from Dickinson, North Dakota.
Born in 1918. He was with the 2nd Ranger Battalion on Omaha Beach
and before that he was with the 124th Calvary Recognizance. Please
contact me as this would cheer him up. He had an MVA a couple weeks
ago and is laid up in the hospital.
Roxanne
Goldsmith
Roxanne
November
17, 2002
2nd
Battalion Ranger Co F asks...are there any S&D related to
Rangers in my Co?
I
received a birthday card from the S&D. I want to thank you all
for the kind words. I was wondering if some of the Sons or Daughters
of some of the men I was with during the war are in your org. such
as John J. Gilhooly he was from the Bronx. N.Y., or William
Petty from Georgia. I was in F Co 2nd Ranger Bn. Maybe one of
the sons or daughters in your org. are related to someone I knew
from F Co. Thank you.
Sincerely...Frank
Oropello
November
30, 2002
My dad, Ben Temkin, served with the 4th Rangers from their inception in
1943.
He is now very active with the RBA of WW2 and was in New Orleans
this past August. Very nice website!! best of luck with it.
Just one sad note..my dad had three photos of he and his friends
taken in Africa when they were in the 1rst BN.,names were
Yantentillo (Who was a trumpet player with the Charlie Barnett
band), Willie--AKA Robert-- Taylor (Both of whom were later KIA and
a man named Wade who was wounded and lost a leg.
The photos were accidentally thrown out when my dad placed them on a
table for me to post on the ranger website. There are no records of
these men, and I hope that their names can be eventually tracked
down, as well as any family members.
And I hope that others can be encouraged to submit old photos before
they are lost/destroyed.
Matt
Temkin
If
you know any of the family members of these Rangers, please contact
the webmaster: WWIIRgrSD@aol.com
December
6, 2002
My
father, Zigmund A. Burek, was in the 5th Ranger Battalion, Company
"D" (I think). He passed away 13 years ago and I am trying
to find more information on his service in WWII. He only liked to
share his happy memories with us girls (when he got in trouble
before going overseas during a raft exercise when he told the
officer in charge the dolphins were sharks and tipped the boat), but
I would like to find out the real story to share with my siblings
and children. If anyone has any information, please share.
Thank
you Karen Kennedy
karenklkennedy@aol.com
December
16, 2002
My
name is Coby Eilenberger and I am the grandson of Mose Eilenberger 5/F
Rangers of WWII. He was a decorated soldier receiving two
purple hearts and was wounded on three different occasions. If
anyone knows my Grandfather he would be very pleased to hear from
you.
Sincerely,
Coby Eilenberger
ttucoby@aol.com
December
31, 2002
My
father is Clifford L. Wasson, service number RA 20724934. He was in
the Rangers during the period of the 6th's operations. He
had told us he
was in the Philippines, and I assume it is the same battalion.
He
passed away 2 years ago. We are trying to reconstruct some of
his
time served during WWII, and hopefully you can help. Are there
any
bulletin boards for making contact with anyone who may have known
him?
Also, perhaps your organization has some sort of roster of the men
of the
6th? Hopefully there are some former Rangers out there who may
have
known him. As an additional bit of information, he was in the
same area
1942 - 1944 with the 90th Bomb Group, 400th Squadron with the
"Jolly
Rogers".
Any help will be greatly appreciated.
Sincerely,
Warren Wasson
wmwasson@juno.com
January
17, 2002
After
reading the book "Ghost Soldiers" I became interested
in the W.W.II Army Rangers. This book told of the raid on the
prisoner of war camp at Cabanatuan in the Philippines. My
uncle Merville Robertson was interned in this camp in 1942 and a
month before the raid he was put on a Japanese "Hell Ship"
enroute to Japan. Just recently we learned that he died on
this ship while on his way to Japan. Had he not been put on
this ship, he might have been one of the many saved by the Heroes of
the 6th Army Rangers. I would like to thank the Army Rangers
for all they have done to make our world a better place to live.
Through their heroic efforts over 500 prisoners in that camp got to
come home. Thank you so much for all your sacrifices for your
fellow man.
A
Grateful Niece of a W.W.II Hero
Brenda
S. Almoney
brenda.almoney@grahampackaging.com
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