|
Hello
Nov 18, 2009 22:58:58 GMT -5
Post by Sean on Nov 18, 2009 22:58:58 GMT -5
I'm Sean Smart. I am retired from the US Army and work as a photo retoucher. I've had an interest in WWII history since childhood and became obsessed with the US Airborne. The web site and this forum are my way of giving back to the veterans of the 11th and their families. I served with the 187th Infantry as part of the 101st Airborne Division for about 10 years. Sean
|
|
|
Hello
Dec 16, 2009 2:35:14 GMT -5
Post by fegger on Dec 16, 2009 2:35:14 GMT -5
Hello Magro, Anyone left out here in the SF Bay Area to attend a Sunday Service? I was with Joe 10 days before he passed and he sang the old gray mare she ain't what she used to be...Thanks, Frank Joseph (Joe) Augustine Egger, 93, San Francisco native, born 9/27/15, passed in Reno NV Sept 13, 2009. A WWII 11th Airborne Pacific Theater hero, retired SF Bay Area business owner and last survivor of 8 siblings of the SF early settler Egger family. "Joe", one of the good young baseball players coming out of SF's St. Anthony's Parish, graduated from St. Ignatius College Prep in the thirties. He was later signed by the Chicago White Sox although his baseball career was short lived. He signed up for military duty after Pearl Harbor and joined the newly activated 11th Airborne Division as a paratrooper in 1943. In 1944, the "Angels" of the 11th, as they were eventually called, left SF and proceeded to New Guinea in the South Pacific for staging. With subsequent aerial assaults they liberated the Philippines, first at Leyte Beach, then Nasgubu Beach, Luzon and on to Manila. General Douglas MacArthur had tasked the 11th Airborne Division with rescuing the POWs at Los Baños. They went behind Japanese lines in an "audacious" move and freed the 2,147 Allied Internees that had been held since 1942, including locals, contractors, nuns, priests, nurses and tourists who were about to be executed by the Japanese. Joe's 11th Airborne moved on to Okinawa to prepare for the invasion of Japan. Unbeknownst to the troops massing for the invasion, Washington made the decision to drop the atomic bombs. It was shortly thereafter Joe and the 11th made their aerial assault at Atsugi Airdrome, near Tokyo, becoming the first Americans to occupy Japan. When General Douglas MacArthur and the 1st Calvary came ashore at Yokahama, they were shocked to be met by the 11th Airborne's Band and paratroopers singing "the Old Gray Mare, She Ain't What She Used To Be"... Joe remained on occupation duty in Japan with the 11th Airborne, returning to SF in 1947. Upon return, Joe, a calf skinner by trade, founded the Independent Meat Company serving the SF/Oakland and Central Valley areas from 1948 to 1980. An avid dancer, he cruised the world in his retirement years, eventually moving to Carson City, Nevada. Joe lived out his final years in Reno. Preceded in death by parents Anna Weiss & Eugene Egger, turn of the century immigrants to SF from South Tirol (Northern Italy), and siblings Elizabeth (Lee), Katherine, Anna, Eugene, Ted and Frank Egger Sr., Rose Doyle, and, spouse Alice Beckerman Egger. He is survived by daughter, Madeline (Carol) Henriksen, Surprise, AZ, two grandsons, Mike (AZ) and Jeffrey (HI) Henriksen and great grandchildren, Brandon and Jas Henriksen. Also, nieces and nephews Diane Bowman & Joe Egger of Santa Rosa, Paul Egger, El Cerrito, Eugene Egger, Redwood City, Karen Denton, Pinole, Elaine Wright, Walnut Creek, Maureen Schaeffer, SF, Joanie Doyle, San Ramon, Jim Doyle, Woodbridge, Alice Toroni, Carmichael, Carey Egger Diaz, Mill Valley & Frank Egger, Fairfax, CA. Memorial contributions in Joe's name may be made to St. Anthony Foundation, 150 Golden Gate Avenue • San Francisco, CA 94102 Family and friends may attend a Memorial Mass at Immaculate Conception Chapel, 3255 Folsom St, San Francisco, Sunday, Dec 20, 2009 at 12 noon, Fr. Guglielmo Lauriola, celebrant. Ashes will be scattered off the Golden Gate. Northern Nevada Memorial Cremation Burial Society 10101 S Virginia St. Reno, NV 89511. Info for Chronicle: Frank Egger, former Fairfax mayor. 13 Meadow Way, Fairfax, 94930 CA. Phone 415.456.6356. email fegger@pacbell.net
|
|
|
Hello
Dec 28, 2009 11:22:22 GMT -5
Post by Mike on Dec 28, 2009 11:22:22 GMT -5
My father was 11th Airborne, 511th PIR during the occupation time. I am still getting info bits and pieces and cannot wait until I get all of it. I do not have dates, but he did relay to me that Gen. Swing wanted "Rangers" or a Ranger unit for the 11th. My father volunteered and they went to training for it. It was not the formal Ranger school and not sure where the trng. was held, but they "supposedly" were then qualified. My father says some wore the Ranger tab, but he felt they only hit the high spots and never went to the offical school, so he did not feel he was worthy to wear it. This is a great site and thanks for keeping a part of history alive.
|
|
|
Hello
Jan 12, 2010 12:47:57 GMT -5
Post by Sean on Jan 12, 2010 12:47:57 GMT -5
Hello to fegger and Mike. Welcome! Sean
|
|
|
Hello
Jan 17, 2010 22:03:49 GMT -5
Post by ltweston on Jan 17, 2010 22:03:49 GMT -5
Hello Sean! Great website you have. My father was 11th Airborne and I am trying to piece together what all he did and what company he might have been in. I look forward to more pictures as I am hoping to catch a glimpse of him and be able to continue my information gathering. In case you have any info that is not yet on the site his name was John S. Weston.
|
|
enid
New Member
Posts: 2
|
Hello
Jan 28, 2010 21:54:07 GMT -5
Post by enid on Jan 28, 2010 21:54:07 GMT -5
Hi Sean , My Father Harry Schoppy (they called him "Pappy" as he was one of the oldest at 30)was in the 11th Airborne, 511th, B Company and made the jump on Los Banos in 1945. I have some photos, his jacket, a mangled parachute a map of Los Banos and a letter from some British folks thanking for the rescue. Great web site! I've been reaching out to anyone who might be around from that time or a descendent but so far have heard nothing.
To the above post from Mike....I believe that original "Ranger" school was at Camp McCall and my brother thought so too. I saw my Dad in a group photo on this site! Dad passed away on Dec. 31, 1987 and would have been shocked at the interest in this history today as so many came home and tried to forget.
I have a large group photo with some names and will try to locate "John S. Weston for the above writer.
|
|
|
Hello
Feb 19, 2010 18:57:10 GMT -5
Post by Cipollinaj on Feb 19, 2010 18:57:10 GMT -5
Hi, Just found site. excellent.
We are celebrating The 30th anniversay luncheon of the paratroopers who took part in the Los Banos rescue. It is in Forlini's Restaurant NYC. Yes, the numbers of WWII vets are getting smaller. We just lost John Fulton. He was the 11ht airborne soldier who did surveillance outside the camp before the rescue and using Morse code, gave info of the disposition of the enemy troops at the camp.
|
|
|
Hello
Feb 22, 2010 3:34:14 GMT -5
Post by jgambol on Feb 22, 2010 3:34:14 GMT -5
Hi Sean, this is J, the guy who's been writing a novel set within the exploits of the Angels in WW2. The stuff you've added, especially the scans of the after-action reports, are pure gold. Now I know why fate has been conspiring to keep me from finishing my story before I got more info.
I got interested in the 11th after a Google search turned up an article by Charlie Sass, ex B-511th, on Leo Kocher's 511th website. I'm happy to say Charlie and I have become correspondents. I'm Filipino and all the events in the Angels' war in Luzon took place in my backyard -- in one particular instance, literally. (My parents' house is built on land that once was the approach to Nichols Field, now part of the international airport.) Both my parents are from Batangas province, the Angels' bailiwick after Manila was secured, and the husband of a great-aunt, now an American citizen here in the Bay Area, worked for the 457th Engineers as his first job as a young teen.
|
|
|
Hello
Mar 12, 2010 16:55:08 GMT -5
Post by Sean on Mar 12, 2010 16:55:08 GMT -5
Hello to everyone that has posted. Please feel free to post as much as you want. Sean
|
|
|
Hello
Jun 22, 2010 14:55:04 GMT -5
Post by shark2003 on Jun 22, 2010 14:55:04 GMT -5
My name is Sharon Hamlin. My father, Thomas Phizacklea, Jr. passed away on May 3, 2010. He is inurned at the Florida National Cemetary. He was one of the "Angels" , 11th Airborne Division. We just found out that he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Would appreciate any information that anyone may have regarding my father.
|
|
|
Hello
Jul 5, 2010 10:20:42 GMT -5
Post by Gregory R Silling on Jul 5, 2010 10:20:42 GMT -5
my dad who passed three years ago was in Company B
I know he left SF to New Guinea, Leyte was a pathfinder and jumped on Tegaytay Ridge and Los Banos.
Knew little other than what I have read in the book The Angels
Dad like many WWII vets spoke little of his exploits.
Trying to piece it together. Any help is appreciated....
Thanks all and Happy fourth
my email is zapgr24 AT comcast dot net
HAPPY 4TH to all!!!
|
|
|
Hello
Nov 12, 2010 10:22:37 GMT -5
Post by cuffem66 on Nov 12, 2010 10:22:37 GMT -5
Hello... My my name is Greg Fegett...My grandfather James Henry Fegett was in the 11th Airborne. He didn't talk much about his time in the service. Just wonder if anyone here knew him or had a relative that served overseas with him.
|
|
|
Hello
Dec 16, 2010 13:57:47 GMT -5
Post by Gail Cox on Dec 16, 2010 13:57:47 GMT -5
My father, Everett Smith was 11th Airborne. Wrote humorous and ironic army stories home. During my research to fill in the blanks, I came across this site. Happy to see so many remember and are so proud. 1st in Manila, 1st in Japan
|
|
jneal
New Member
Posts: 1
|
Hello
Dec 19, 2010 18:43:27 GMT -5
Post by jneal on Dec 19, 2010 18:43:27 GMT -5
Just a note to say that I have found a great web site here. i was a member of the 11th airborne Assn. years ago & thought they had abandoned. Glad to find this site. As a OLD 457th vet I like to keep up on what is going on in the Airborne group. This site has brought back a lot of memorys. Thanks and keep up the good work. Looking forward to geting "The Voice Of Angels" again.
|
|
|
Hello
Dec 22, 2010 15:29:24 GMT -5
Post by Steven Letchworth on Dec 22, 2010 15:29:24 GMT -5
Hello, I am helping a friend find info on a family member who was killed at Luzon on 6 Feb 1945. He was LTC William Riddick Crawford of the 11th Airborne. He was born in Hertford, NC in 1915 and graduated West Point, 1937. Any help would be greatly appreciated. I would also like to thank all of those who served and thier families for thier sacrifices. America is very fortunate to have had such men.
stevenletchworth@gmail.com
|
|