That's a pretty tall order, but don't give up; things do turn up!

The Navy had thousands of men in the ETO. We would have to narrow it down to somewhat and find out what ship he sailed on, etc.

Do you have any pertinent info such as serial number, state of birth, when he enlisted, etc. Have you contacted anyone at the cemetery to see what is inscribed on this grave stone?

Let me know,

Marion

Oh, just a heads-up - Never list your email in public on the web. Any member wishing to get in touch with you can click on your USERNAME, post a reply, PM you in private, or contact me as a go-between. I have removed your email address from your post. Any public email is inviting SPAM attacks or worse. Thought you should know.

Thanks Marion,

Well yes I have contacted Rhone and the reply was good news. I do know he is in SEC A row 1 grave 19 so this was accurate as to what I did know for sure. As far as Gordon I had the letter from the War Dept. sent to Grandma with his MIA status, and then the letter to inform her of his death. Somehow it has dissapeared. But I do know his grave says Seamen Second Class Gordon C. VanDeMortel. his birthdate is april 27th 1926. I believe he had only been in the service for 1 year so i would say he entered the Navy in 1943. As far as a ship he was on this is what I would like to know, I know this is tall thats why I am here. I will tell you that going to France next year is going to be something I will never forget.

Greg

Good luck Greg in your search.

I imagine that the Navy must have daily reports like the army did. Now that you know his date of death, maybe that would give you some kind of cross reference and you could find out a little more about him that way.

Hello Greg, welcome to our forum family.

It may not seem like a lot of info on your uncle, but it should be enough to get started on the research & i think we may be able to help you out here, i had a few uncles in the navy & i got some navy sources to dig up when i get home tonight. I can get a list of ships damaged on 15 Aug 44 but that may be the hard way to narrow things down.

One question: what state was Mr. VanDeMortel from?

Good luck Greg in your search.

I imagine that the Navy must have daily reports like the army did. Now that you know his date of death, maybe that would give you some kind of cross reference and you could find out a little more about him that way.

I am honored to be on here, truely my honor!!! My uncle Gordon was from New York born and raised. Ialso live in NY, not far from where he was born. Thanks so much for everything my friends your all true Americans and you have blessed us all with the most important thing in the world FREEDOM. Thanks

Greg

I have some preliminary research findings for you Greg. First is the correct name spelling as found in the record searchs on the ABMC & WWII Memorial websites, the name is VAN DE MOORTEL, second is his Service Number: 6092682.

G. C. Van De Moortel

Seaman, Second Class, U.S. Navy

Service # 6092682

United States Naval Reserve

Entered the Service from: New York

Died: 15-Aug-44

Buried at: Plot A Row 1 Grave 19

Rhone American Cemetery

Draguignan, France

Awards: Purple Heart

An ARC search for New York casualties at

State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel :

http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/ww2/navy-casualties/

VAN DE MOORTEL, Gordon Charles; Seaman 2c, USN,

Parents, Mr. and Mrs Jacob Van De Moortel, 33 Wadsworth St., Geneva.

Time to pack it in for tonight, we`ll see what tomorow brings.

Larry, I was counting on you, and once again you came through with shining colors. GREAT! It's a start and we now have something to go on.

I am going to look through my books related to the landing. I believe one may have a list of ships. I'll let you know Gregory.

There is a wonderfully detailed book on the Southern France landing. It is called

Dragoon - The Other Invasion of France - author Paul Gaujac

There is a section, The First Onslaught Comes From the Sea, which you would probably find of great interest. Lots of photos too.

It's worth having in your collection, and comes highly recommended by me and many of the veterans who landed there.

I was looking for the Navy version of the Army`s IDPF - Individual Deceaced Personel File and came up with a source for info thru the Mortuary Affairs Section of the Military Medical Support Office

IV. The Navy has index cards on deceased sailors. These 5x6 cards normally include a description of how the seaman was killed, burial place, next of kin, and birth, enlistment and death dates.

Write to:

Officer In Charge, Naval Medical And Dental Affairs

Mortuary Affairs Branch, PO Box 886999, Great Lakes IL 60088-6999,

Phone: (800)-876-1131 Ex 621, 627 or 628 Fax: (847)-688-3964

Write or call them with your uncle`s name & service number, they should be able to help you obtain the records.

I have some preliminary research findings for you Greg. First is the correct name spelling as found in the record searchs on the ABMC & WWII Memorial websites, the name is VAN DE MOORTEL, second is his Service Number: 6092682.

 

G. C. Van De Moortel

Seaman, Second Class, U.S. Navy

Service # 6092682

United States Naval Reserve

Entered the Service from: New York

Died: 15-Aug-44

Buried at: Plot A Row 1 Grave 19

Rhone American Cemetery

Draguignan, France

Awards: Purple Heart

 

An ARC search for New York casualties at

State Summary of War Casualties from World War II for Navy, Marine Corps, and Coast Guard Personnel :

http://www.archives.gov/research/arc/ww2/navy-casualties/

 

VAN DE MOORTEL, Gordon Charles; Seaman 2c, USN,

Parents, Mr. and Mrs Jacob Van De Moortel, 33 Wadsworth St., Geneva.

 

Time to pack it in for tonight, we`ll see what tomorow brings.

Thanks Larry,

Well this is quite shocking that the Navy has misspelled his last name, it is VanDeMortel only 1 o not 2. But thanks so much for the info you have dug up and also for the link which I certainly will make useful. I will either call or write very soon and look forward to talking directly with someone.

What you have done for me is very appreiciated and I am grateful. This whole site has just been amazing and I look forward to reading so many of the other posts on here. I know that I may not add or respond to much on here but it wont keep me away from reading all others.

I will tell you that my trip there next year will be a dream come true and I will take many photos of this trip. I have a German woman in my life and she will be moving here very soon , in the meantime we are doing quite alot of traveling throughout Europe. As my picture I added may show do you know where I was? I have others of this ( spot ) and it was wowwww.

Look forward to hearing from you even if your searches come up empty or they go cold. Thanks for everything

Sincerly,

Gregory

There is a wonderfully detailed book on the Southern France landing. It is called

 

Dragoon - The Other Invasion of France - author Paul Gaujac

 

There is a section, The First Onslaught Comes From the Sea, which you would probably find of great interest. Lots of photos too.

 

It's worth having in your collection, and comes highly recommended by me and many of the veterans who landed there.

Hi Marion,

I will certainly look for this book very soon it sounds like something of high interest for me. I am trying to learn as much as possible about Gordons last day before he left us so soon. As you know I never knew him but my mother talked often about his childhood and what a wonderful brother he was.

I also would like to add that I will never forget you for all the help you and your site has done for me, I will undoubtably take this with me to Draguignan. I plan on spending a few days there and also at the beach shore of the landing site if I can find out a relative point of this. My camcorder will be busy and I think I will add this to this site either from Borkum or when I arrive home.

It is also my wish that if anyone wants a picture or anything at all from Rhone Cemetery or anything at all please just ask and I will do whatever I can for whoever it may be.

Thanks again Marion

Gregory