Hey everybody,

Another new post. I was going through my grandfather's stuff and stumbled on something unique. I wish was complete but I only have half of a dollar bill with squad signatures on it. I scanned what I have for posterity sake.

Hey everybody,

Another new post. I was going through my grandfather's stuff and stumbled on something unique. I wish was complete but I only have half of a dollar bill with squad signatures on it. I scanned what I have for posterity sake.

Oh Ken this is great, what a treasure you have found, thanks for sharing this with us! It appears what you have here is what was called a "short snorter" ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Short_snorter ). Basically you and your buddies signed one another's dollar bills and they must be presented upon request, if you didn't have it with you, you had to buy a round of drinks. I'm thinking here that one of your grandpa's buddies has the other half of this bill and if one did not have their half with them when asked, they were buying. It was a common, fun ritual during WWII that had been started by flyboys in the 1920's.

Here is a story about one such short snorter. http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2010/02/short_snorter_dollar_bill_is_a.html

Randy

Gary,

That is him! I know that mug anywhere... Thanks a bunch. Where is he located?

 

Ken

Bravo Gary! Nice job.

I was able to identify a few off the back off of the 1st squad photo. My grandfather is in the middle row in the center for frame of reference (Anton Pagoria). The others names I identified beyond nicknames or possibly after the marching orders document were:

 

Ray Kollman

Ralph Bateman

Floyd Savill

John Guthrie

Maynard Toot

Forrest Will

 

Names I did not find were: Gardecki, Kosmari, Moran, Lawrence, Herzie, Schemehorn, and Santer.

Ken,

Question... just to clarify, I cropped out the guy from your original photo that I believe you said was your grandfather (1st image). Am I correct? If so, is the guy I cropped out of the company photo (2nd photo) possibly him also?

Ok,

I had the owner of the company photo scan it to me. Unfortunately they don't have a large scanner so they had to spit the photo in two. I layered it and flattened the images the best I could.

 

Any recommendations to send to some people who are not that tech savvy, but have the tech to do it... If any of you are better at photoshop and could get a better layered image let me know and I can post the two images on here.

Ken,

I would have had to do the same thing and did the same with the copy I have with the hole in it. I would love the opportunity to assemble the images that were scanned! Was the photo scanned at a pretty high resolution? Give me an idea of this and we can formulate a plan to get the images transferred my way.

Thanks for the opportunity, my friend!

Gary

Gary,

That is him! I know that mug anywhere... Thanks a bunch. Where is he located?

 

Ken

Ken,

He is front row, 12th from the left (just five guys down from my grandfather). I'll be posting an updated company photo shortly with Mr P identified. Glad I could help, my friend!

Gary

Hey everybody,

Another new post. I was going through my grandfather's stuff and stumbled on something unique. I wish was complete but I only have half of a dollar bill with squad signatures on it. I scanned what I have for posterity sake.

Ken,

Wow, what a cool family treasure! I've heard of these things, but never saw one. Keep digging, my friend, as you never know what you may find.

Gary

 

Bravo Gary! Nice job.

Hey Randy,

Thanks for all that you do to help folks out! It's inspiring, my friend!

Gary

Folks,

I need opinions here. I think through some research that I may have found another guy to ID on the unit photo. His name is Clifford L. Betzold SN 37 786 701 having been listed as getting a Good Conduct Medal on March 28, 1945. I attached his obit to verify that the guy I found is the same guy in the unit. I also found a 1940 yearbook from Nokomis High School in Illinois which the obit says he graduated from in 1940, I attached the senior photo from the yearbook and a guy from the unit photo that I believe is him. Take a look and tell me what you think... do they look like the same fella?

Thanks for the help, good friends!

Gary

Alright, folks!

Here's the updated Company A photo with the eighth identified soldier added! More to come as they are identified!

Gary

Success!

I have been working carefully this morning on the removal of the Company C panoramic photo from it's frame, and I'm pleased to say, mission accomplished! The photo is in fine shape and should copy well. I have been on the phone with the folks from Creve Coeur Camera in near by Columbia Missouri and they have told me they can hook us up with the scanning and copying. I know this to be a reputable shop and will be driving there with the Company C pic this afternoon. If the results happen to prove to be unsatisfactory, we will formulate a Plan B. While I have the photo out from the glass I took four close ups of the men so maybe you can get a better look while we are waiting. Of course I will post as soon as possible to let everyone know what we have from the folks in Columbia. Have a good one everybody.

Randy

Folks,

 

I need opinions here. I think through some research that I may have found another guy to ID on the unit photo. His name is Clifford L. Betzold SN 37 786 701 having been listed as getting a Good Conduct Medal on March 28, 1945. I attached his obit to verify that the guy I found is the same guy in the unit. I also found a 1940 yearbook from Nokomis High School in Illinois which the obit says he graduated from in 1940, I attached the senior photo from the yearbook and a guy from the unit photo that I believe is him. Take a look and tell me what you thin... do they look like the same fella?

 

Thanks for the help, good friends!

 

Gary

Gary,

In my opinion this is definitely a match, very nice work my friend!

Randy

Success!

 

I have been working carefully this morning on the removal of the Company C panoramic photo from it's frame, and I'm pleased to say, mission accomplished! The photo is in fine shape and should copy well. I have been on the phone with the folks from Creve Coeur Camera in near by Columbia Missouri and they have told me they can hook us up with the scanning and copying. I know this to be a reputable shop and will be driving there with the Company C pic this afternoon. If the results happen to prove to be unsatisfactory, we will formulate a Plan B. While I have the photo out from the glass I took four close ups of the men so maybe you can get a better look while we are waiting. Of course I will post as soon as possible to let everyone know what we have from the folks in Columbia. Have a good one everybody.

 

Randy

 

IMG_0502 (2500x1875).jpgIMG_0504 (2500x1875).jpgIMG_0505 (2500x1875).jpgIMG_0506 (2500x1875).jpg

 

 

Great job, Randy! From your photos it looks like it is in excellent shape. The C Company folks will be thrilled!

Gary

Gary,

 

In my opinion this is definitely a match, very nice work my friend!

 

Randy

Good enough for me!

Here's another update to the Company A photo with the ninth identified soldier added! More to come as they are identified!

Gary

Ken,

 

Question... just to clarify, I cropped out the guy from your original photo that I believe you said was your grandfather (1st image). Am I correct? If so, is the guy I cropped out of the company photo (2nd photo) possibly him also?

 

Ken,

 

I would have had to do the same thing and did the same with the copy I have with the hole in it. I would love the opportunity to assemble the images that were scanned! Was the photo scanned at a pretty high resolution? Give me an idea of this and we can formulate a plan to get the images transferred my way.

 

Thanks for the opportunity, my friend!

 

Gary

Gary,

Looking into this.. May be able to get the photo and take a photo of the photo with panoramic camera I have.

Hello Everyone,

We just got back from our trip to Branson Wednesday, had a wonderful time, weather cooperated for the most part while we were there. Ralph lives close by Branson and was able to visit with him on this trip. He and I had met once before this back in 2011, not long after we first made contact. He was most kind to invite me into his home and I feel like we had a very good visit sharing photographs, personal items, and stories from our relatives in the 292nd. I plan on posting these things I have shared with him on the forum, starting with my grandfather's address book. My aunt gave me this book shortly after Ralph and I first met in 2011. It includes addresses of family and hometown friends as well but I was pleasantly surprised to see Ralph's dads name the first time I opened it up.While Ralph and I were looking at this book we noticed that Leopold DeMello's name was in it, he being the subject of a few recent posts. Have a good one everybody.

Randy