Dear Maggie: Just a thought...here are two things to try.....check out Earl junior's military records...does he list anyone other than his mother or sister as next of kin? And, find a local American Legion ...maybe someone can help you with the missing records. As a veteran, he would have been entitled to certain things, such as medical benefits, or possibly ribbons due him from combat. Ask them how they would verify his service if the records were burned in St. Louis..Also, do you know where he served? His unit or anything? If you do, you can advertise in the Legion magazine among other things for people who remember him from his unit. There are also web sites for some of these units. Also, you know where they were married...do you have a copy of the marriage license? See who is listed as his parents, then you could check out the census records with the names of his parents. And, the biggie.....have you checked out the divorce record????? That will have some information on it also.... in my great grandmother's divorce, three people were diposed who testified on her behalf for the divorce... it gave me three other family members. Sorry to rattle on, hope some of these might be of help! Sincerely, Diane Eaton Hacker famlygeni@aol.com

Hi Diane, Thanks so much for replying. I don't feel quite so helpless now that I have some good advice. I have only recently taken up the search to try to help Mama locate her father, so I am new to most things genealogical. Your idea of advertising in the Legion magazine is a great one. We do have the divorce decree and the wedding license. I don't believe other family members were listed on either document, but I'll ask Mama to double check. Thanks again. I really appreciate your taking the time to help us muddle through our ancestral jungle. Maggie Maggie Toussaint -----Original Message----- From: FAMLYGENI@aol.com [mailto:FAMLYGENI@aol.com] Sent: Monday, October 18, 2004 3:11 AM To: DECKER-L@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [DECKER] Roll Call- another brick wall Dear Maggie: Just a thought...here are two things to try.....check out Earl junior's military records...does he list anyone other than his mother or sister as next of kin? And, find a local American Legion ...maybe someone can help you with the missing records. As a veteran, he would have been entitled to certain things, such as medical benefits, or possibly ribbons due him from combat. Ask them how they would verify his service if the records were burned in St. Louis..Also, do you know where he served? His unit or anything? If you do, you can advertise in the Legion magazine among other things for people who remember him from his unit. There are also web sites for some of these units. Also, you know where they were married...do you have a copy of the marriage license? See who is listed as his parents, then you could check out the census records with the names of his parents. And, the biggie.....have you checked out the divorce record????? That will have some information on it also.... in my great grandmother's divorce, three people were diposed who testified on her behalf for the divorce... it gave me three other family members. Sorry to rattle on, hope some of these might be of help! Sincerely, Diane Eaton Hacker famlygeni@aol.com ============================== Gain access to over two billion names including the new Immigration Collection with an Ancestry.com free trial. Click to learn more. http://www.ancestry.com/rd/redir.asp?targetid=4930&sourceid=1237