Fighter Pilot Honored 76 Years After Death, Robert M. Leety-- Part 3:

Robert Leety's father had written his son about 340 letters while he was overseas.  Some of those came back marked "Deceased."

Sally Leety  Hunter, Robert's sister, recalled the day she learned about his death when she was 11 years old.  "I had the only temper tantrum in my life that day,"  she said.  Not long before his death, he had bought Sally a doll in France.  She brought the doll to the cemetery for Saturday's service.

Her family hung a Gold Star flag (meaning they had lost a son in service) on the door after they got the news.

Though Leety's body is buried in France, his family is starting to get some closure.  In 2016, one of Robert Leety's nephews contacted a French man named  Pierre Lindauer, who owned the property where the plane crashed.

Niece Sally Leety Stevens and her husband traveled to the Lorrain American Cemetery in 2017 to see her uncle's grave site.  While there, they met Mr. Lindauer, who had recovered Robert's flight wings from the crash site during the war.  he returned them to Leety's family, along with a piece of the plane Leety had been flying.

Quite a Ceremony.  --GreGen

'Merrill's Marauders' Receive Congressional Medal-- Part 2

Setting out in February 1944, the unit (code-named "Galahad") marched some 750 miles over the Himalayan foothills through dense jungle, contending with the enemy, hunger and rampant disease.  

Despite lacking heavy weapons support, the Marauders engaged in five major battles and 32 smaller actions over five months, spending much  of that time in continual combat.

Although vastly outnumbered, they inflicted heavy losses on the Japanese 18th Division and on May 17, 1944, captured Myitkyina airfield, the key transport supply hub in northern Burma.  Only 200 Marauders completed the protracted mission, the survivors having lost an average of 35 pounds.

The unit disbanded that August.

In 1944 the Army awarded the Marauders a Distinguished Unit Citation, and every member received a Bronze Star.  Dozens of Marauders  have received other awards, including a Distinguished Service Cross, the Silver Star and individual Congressional Gold Medals.

In 1962, writer-director Samuel Fuller, himself a World War II veteran, paid homage to the unit with the historical epic "Merrill's Marauders", starring Jeff Chandler in his final role.

Well Deserved.  --GreGen

Raymond Barker, USMC-- Part 4: His Family Was Devastated By the News

Raymond's family was devastated by the news.  A relative remarked:  "Even the slightest mention of his name  would cause a cascade of tears.  There simply was too much grief over his death."

After Raymond's mother received the news, she hung a gold star on her front door, signifying that  the family had lost someone in the war.

Ray had a sweetheart before he left for the war and most of his family believe he would have married her.

--GreGen

Some More on the Palmer Family Who Lost Two Sons on the USS Oklahoma That Day-- Part 1

From Find-A-Grave.

Both sons, Wilfred (also I've seen it spelled Wilferd) Dewey Palmer and Calvin Harry Palmer were remembered at the USS Oklahoma Memorial on Ford Island.  Their  unidentified remains were buried at the Punch Bowl, National Cemetery of the Pacific on Oahu.

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Only their mother is listed in Find-A-Grave:

Rose E. Stredwick Palmer

Born:  Feb. 1895 in North Dakota.
Death: October 1984, age 94

Buried at Sunset Lane Memorial Park
Port Orchard, Washington (state)

However, an added section shows that she was from England and Sweden and that her husband was Harry C. Palmer from Illinois.  In 1930 the census recorded them as living in North Dakota with two sons, Calvin and Wilferd and three daughters:  Florence E.,  Joyce D., and Doris M..

The mother's tombstone lists her as a Gold Star Mother.  The brothers were reburied at Port Orchard, Washington (state), evidently to be with their mother.

Such a Sad Story.  --GreGen

The Cubs, World War II, Chicago, in 1945-- Part 2: Gold Stars in the Windows

The spring of 1945 brought good news for Chicagoans.  It was beginning to appear that World War Ii was about over and, also surprising, the fact that the Chicago Cubs were already favorites to win the National League pennant.  The last time the Cubs had made it to the World Series was during the depths of the Great Depression in the 1930s.

Then came Pearl Harbor and over the following years, many a bungalow window had a Gold Stat in its window, marking the home of dead hometown hero.A homemade memorial plaque on the 4900 block of South Princeton Avenue listed six names of 48th Precinct servicemen who had died defending their country.

One small part of the South Side had sent 139 off to fight.

--GreGen