Veterans Day

It's Veterans Day! My dad and his cousins Virgil Strobel, Charlie Strobel, and Delmar Strobel all went to WWII at about the same time, and Charlie was killed in Italy. Their uncle Ed was in World War I, and their grandfather John Strobel was in the Civil War. Another of my ancestors George Washburn, was also in the Civil War. My cousin Wayne Crawford did a tour in Vietnam, my cousin Max Storm served in West Germany, and my distant cousin Lewis Crawford was the first Fayette Co., IL death in World War I. I've also ancestors and distant great-uncles who fought in the Mexican War (Josiah Williams II), the Black Hawk War (John Carson), the War of 1812 (Winslow Pilcher, below; Josiah Williams I; and George Washington Williams), and the Revolution (John Kay, John Starrett Carson, Thomas Mahon). I trace some of these histories on my "Grace, Place" blog. Beth's dad, Bob Powell, was in the Navy in WWII and her grandfather Arthur McNabb was in WWI. My mom had a successful, if short career as a school teacher while Dad was overseas. Remembering all who served.