Hi all, I had the good fortune of picking up a copy of the book "I Am A Doughboy" at a yard sale this past weekend, and I am just at the start of researching the men listed inside. I really have not done any substantial research into men other than my father before, so I am at the base of a very steep hill in terms of knowledge of the best way to proceed. Your advice would be most welcome! The book is inscribed on the inside cover with the name of the soldier who received it and his details: I Arrived: May 3, 1945 My Address Is: Pvt. Peter F. Bachstetter #42232682 Camp Wheeler, Co. A, 18 BN I.T.B. Georgia Here's two pages of autographs of other soldiers from the back of the book: The last page: I did some preliminary searching on the American Battle Monuments Commission site and so far have not found anyone, which I would think is a good thing, but I was wondering where might be a better place to start looking for these men, to find out more about where they served, who may have been wounded, etc? Thanks, Daniel
It appears to be a Infantry Replacement Training unit at Camp Wheeler. As you guessed Company A, 18th Battalion, Infantry Training Brigade(?). I've seen numbered Infantry Training Regiments used at Fort MacClellen Alabama but maybe at Ft Wheeler they did things differently. Following training of about 16 weeks they would have been split up as replacements to many different units. I found Henry M. Avore's enlistment record here: NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) Since the 1970's fire destroyed 80% of WWII era personnel records the best thing to do, if you live in New England, is check the county courthouses for copies of thier discharge documents. Not all veterans registered their documents but many did. They probably served two to three years so 1947 to 1948. Good Luck
It appears to be a Infantry Replacement Training unit at Camp Wheeler. As you guessed Company A, 18th Battalion, Infantry Training Brigade(?). I've seen numbered Infantry Training Regiments used at Fort MacClellen Alabama but maybe at Ft Wheeler they did things differently. Following training of about 16 weeks they would have been split up as replacements to many different units. I found Henry M. Avore's enlistment record here: NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) Since the 1970's fire destroyed 80% of WWII era personnel records the best thing to do, if you live in New England, is check the county courthouses for copies of thier discharge documents. Not all veterans registered their documents but many did. They probably served two to three years so 1947 to 1948. Good Luck Thanks! Hopefully I'll be able to piece a little something together for each of these fellas, with time. I also wanted folks' feedback on whether I am reading the names correctly. Some are clearer than others. So, I am seeing these names: George Amaral, New Bedford, Massachusetts Leon F Adams, Greenville Alabama Robert J. Adams, Woodlawn, L.I., New York ??? Joseph Amira, Buffalo, New York Harry J. Barcorny, Orange, Massachusetts Nicholas Bobensky, So. Deerfield, Massachusetts M.M. Adams, Brooklyn, New York Chaplain Al Awad, Worchester, Massachusetts James R. Baker, Cades, South Carolina Henry J Balboni, Springfield Massachusetts Daniel Barry, Rumford, Maine Arthur G. Barry, New York City, New York Mehin Bukovitz, Chelsea, Massachusetts Franklin E. Bis????, Brooklyn, New York Robert Beckner, Syracuse, New York. Jack beaudny, Sangerville, Maine Pvt. Joseph C. Botelko, New Bedford, Massachusetts Ernest C. ???????, Greenfield Massachusetts Henry M. Avore, Augusta Maine Earl P. Chandler, Springfield Massachusetts Wilson M. Barrett, Monticello, Florida John S. Borelli, Bronx, NY Richard ?? Buono, Portland, Maine Thomas E. Dalton, Morwick, Connecticut Robert W. ????????, Montreal, Canada John Amato, Cranston, ??? Thanks, -Daniel
You might want to use the enlistment records to check the names and get the home counties. Search form: NARA - AAD - Fielded Search - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) Harry J. Barcorny appears to be Barcome (see link) NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)
You might want to use the enlistment records to check the names and get the home counties. Search form: NARA - AAD - Fielded Search - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) Harry J. Barcorny appears to be Barcome (see link) NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records) Your suggestions were not only helpful in my research into this document but also personally, as I found enlistment records pertaining to my father I did not know about before. My sincerest thanks! -Daniel
So, I found the owner of the book: Peter F Bachstetter Service Info.: SGT US ARMY WORLD WAR II Birth Date: 6 Nov 1913 Death Date: 28 Apr 1992 Service Start Date: 26 Apr 1945 Interment Date: 1 May 1992 Cemetery: Calverton National Cemetery Cemetery Address: 210 Princeton Boulevard Rt 25 Calverton, NY 11933 Buried At: Section 67 Site 2860 -Daniel
Great find, you re-sparked my interest. This guy gave his complete address so I thought it might be interesting. I read his name as Botello - no luck. Turns out you can use "wild cards" so I searched botel* and massachusetts (and 1945, would have been quicker). Pvt. Joseph C. Botelko, New Bedford, Massachusetts appears to be Joseph C Botelho NARA - AAD - Display Full Records - Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, ca. 1938 - 1946 (Enlistment Records)