This is a Message Board Post that is gatewayed to this mailing list.
Surnames: Dwiggins, Ingram
Classification: Query
Message Board URL:
http://boards.ancestry.com/mbexec/msg/rw/Hi.2ADI/2502
Message Board Post:
Dear Friends!
My name is Dave Dwiggins and I am a retired Hoosier living in the Philippine Islands.
Recently my wife and I traveled to Manila to visit the Manila American Cemetery where
17,206 American soldiers are buried that were killed in the South Pacific in World War II.
The rolling acres of beautifully manicured grass and uniform crosses at the memorial were
very impressive but an air of loneliness squeezed our hearts. Only a few folks wandered
amongst the grave sites and maybe they were employees.
My thoughts drifted to the servicemen, the heroes that preserved our freedoms we enjoy
each day. No doubt these graves had gone unvisited during all these years and there was no
thanks presented to them.
The crosses revealed only dog tag information that we as soldiers were required to offer
the enemy if we were captured . . . name, rank and serial number. There was room on the
stones for their military unit and the state of their enlistment.
We strolled a few steps further to the grave of an Ohio soldier and focused my camera on
the forgotten identity inscribed on the cross. At that moment it hit me like a brick. I
wondered if I could unite a few meaningful photographs with American families that gave
the ultimate sacrifice, their loved one and of course . . . for free.
Apple soon had nine Hoosier graves located. My home state “Indiana” had always been
special but today the letters on the crosses loomed bolder than ever. These were Indiana
soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen. Without even knowing these brave men I had a sick
and nasty but familiar feeling deep inside me. A momentary glimpse back and I realized it
was the same agonizing feeling I had felt as a soldier when I left my home in Indiana
bound for Southeast Asia in the Vietnam War. A few tears watered my eyes and I was
humbled.
We returned to our home over two hours to the southeast and we commenced our search for
the home of the soldiers and their families still remaining. The names of the Indiana men
buried at the cemetery were listed at the Manila American Cemetery website and there were
964. After several hours we had located each of the counties of which the men had enlisted
in the armed forces. We immediately sent notices to the libraries, newspapers, genealogy
groups and historical societies in the area of their homes counties.
Thanks to a Lake County librarian, Debbie Rzepczynski, we found our first family, the
family of William S. Guest of her county. The experience was rewarding for the family
especially which had never seen the grave site. Debbie, Apple and I all felt blessed that
we were able to do this as a team. Soon there were more and more successes and we became
addicted to the cause. The 964 Hoosier names intimidated us so we focused on the names of
the men from Madison County (our home county) and the counties surrounding it. Our list
consisted of 134 Indiana men whom approximately half were buried in the cemetery and half
were either Missing in action or buried at sea. Those names are honored on the “Tablets of
the Missing” at the Manila American Cemetery.
Our successes continued and within a month we undertook the task of building a database of
all the 964 Indiana names. The project has now grown and we offer the photographs of
nearly all of the gravesites for free to a working email address.
Here is our website address:
http://fizkid.tripod.com/
Our notices were sent to over 200 Indiana libraries, 150 newspapers and other genealogy
and historical societies requesting help to find these families and information about
these heroes that gave all for each and every one of us. Our references here in the
Philippines are nil except for the internet and we pour over it searching for new
information each day. We desperately need your assistance to keep this project continuing.
The project does not cost money, it costs time.
One of our photos was sent to 85 year old Martha Anne Creed of Shelbyville, Indiana. She
is the widow of Claud Creed. The two had a daughter a bit over a year old when he was
killed in action. Mrs. Creed never remarried and recently received her first glimpse of
her husband’s grave site in the Philippines. We have also sent photos to families that
never knew there was a grave for their loved one. Our project is working because of folks
like you.
You may be asking yourself, “What can I do in this project?” If you are a family member
please send us information regarding your loved one and we will send you the photographs
free also along with the information we have about them. We only ask that if you have a
bit of history regarding these men please send it so we can keep in the individual files
we have for each serviceman. We especially ask that if you have a photograph of them in
uniform we will post it on our website and also decorate their file with a personal
touch.
If you are a librarian, please take just a moment of time and look up just one name on
your county list of war dead we are providing you attached to this email.
If you are a journalist, please take the time to post these names and information about
our project focusing on these brave servicemen rather than Apple and me. We don’t need the
publicity for satisfaction. We get our satisfaction and energy from the families we
present the photographs to.
If you are simply wishing to help we gladly welcome you. There are no costs to join and
you receive more satisfaction than you can imagine. Just for an idea . . . simply look at
the list for your county and check your local telephone directory and give someone a call
with the same last name. That may be the easiest way to find these families. If you locate
a family we will gladly send to you the photographs to present to them or we can send them
direct. That is our project goal…..GET THE PHOTOS TO THE FAMILIES THAT GAVE SO MUCH . . .
. . . . FREE!
Apple and I thank you so much for your time and hope you will take the time to visit our
website and view first hand the successes and rewards of this wonderful project. If you
give us a hand we will gladly add your name to our Acknowledgment page at the website.
God Bless the families of our Hoosier soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and merchant
marines!
Sincerely,
Dave and Apple Dwiggins
San Pablo City, Philippines
Kepner Wayne A, died 09-Apr-45, Buried in Manila
Englert Harry J, died 24-Oct-44, Missing or Buried at Sea
Ainslie Edgar S, died 11-Apr-44, Buried in Manila
Bales James Y, died 11-Jan-46, Missing or Buried at Sea
Baumgardt Henry V, died 26-Jun-42, Missing or Buried at Sea
Crane William J, died 26-Jul-44, Missing or Buried at Sea
Ewing Robert Thomas, died 10-Jan-46, Missing or Buried at Sea
Golden Russell C, died 24-Feb-45, Buried in Manila
Harner Wilson W, died 12-Apr-46, Missing or Buried at Sea
Howard Eugene L, 08-May-45, Buried in Manila
Kirkpatrick Richard A, died 20-Mar-46, Missing or Buried at Sea
Kopf Paul E, died 26-Feb-45, Buried in Manila
Leach Robert J, 27-Dec-44, Missing or Buried at Sea
Ledman James, died 06-Sep-43, Missing or Buried at Sea
Mann Robert M, died 01-Jun-44, Buried in Manila
Martin Joseph Cooper, died 26-Oct-42, Missing or Buried at Sea
Miller Robert T, died 07-Oct-45, Missing or Buried at Sea
Neill Michael G, 23-Mar-44, Buried in Manila
Palmer Harlan G, died 25-May-42, Buried in Manila
Poole Eugene K, died 08-Jun-46, Missing or Buried at Sea
Russell Donald H, died 05-Feb-45, Missing or Buried at Sea
Taylor Francis M Jr, died 19-Jul-42, Buried in Manila