"I Am A Doughboy" Book w/ US Army Signatures

Discussion in 'US Units' started by ph0ebus, Sep 5, 2012.

  1. ph0ebus

    ph0ebus Junior Member

    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:

    [​IMG]

    The last page:

    [​IMG]

    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
     
  2. Earthican

    Earthican Senior Member

    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
     
  3. ph0ebus

    ph0ebus Junior Member

    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
     
  4. Earthican

    Earthican Senior Member

  5. ph0ebus

    ph0ebus Junior Member

    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
     
  6. ph0ebus

    ph0ebus Junior Member

    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
     
  7. Earthican

    Earthican Senior Member

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