Thanks, James, I wish I could transport myself to 2002! And hope we dont have to wait that long to find something! Appreciate your taking time to reply--I'm passing your message on to daughter, Melodie. Evan STROHL -----Original Message----- From: Sir James <[email protected]> To: [email protected] <[email protected]> Date: Tuesday, September 14, 1999 4:20 AM Subject: Re: [VTCALEDO] THURSTON surname >You are going need to wait until 2002 to get at it but >the 1930 census may be a help as he would be listed >living with either his parents or grand parents as you >indicate..with that you should be able to find the parents >and g.parents in the 1920, 1910, 1900 census > >james > >At 03:52 PM 09/13/99 -0000, you wrote: >>Dear List, >>I notice more traffic on this line in the last few weeks. >> >>If I can, I'd like to post my request once again. >> >>I'm looking for someone who might know the person or surname >>of Gerald E. THURSTON, of Hardwick, Vermont. >>He was born in 1924 (stories are conflicting as to where) >>but spent his childhood and adolescent years in Hardwick, >>living with either his parents or his grandparents. >>They eventually sent him to a military school for a few years. >>(Is there a military school around this part of the county?) >>One night, in the middle of the night, all the students were >>rousted out, told they had 1 hour to get their duffle bags packed, >>they were going to fight the war (WWII). Gerry was sent to Ft. >>Benning, in 1941, as soon as he finished a short boot camp, and >>he told me he became one of our county's FIRST paratroopers. >>He made his first jump over Italy, I think, and was shot almost >>immediately, sent to England to recouperate, then sent back >>to the front, where his patrol was wiped out, except for >>3 men, who were all captured and were sent to one POW camp >>after another, tortured, and used as guinea pigs. The Russians >>were the first to free him in 1945, and he spent time in Tampa >>Florida. He and his wife, Carita, raised 9 kids, and Gerry became >>a Fire Captain around Zephyrhills, (Tampa) the 60's. >> >> The rest of the story is too sad, and in 1998, he died in >>Pensacola, FL, leaving a sad split with most of his 9 kids. >>One brave daughter is trying to "re-discover" her Dad, learning >>genealogy the hard way. >> He had once told me that his kids wanted nothing to do with him! >>Actually, it seems that HE just didnt want the kids worrying about >>HIM! >> >>Now, here we are in Florida some 55 years later, and I meet Gerry >>about 1982 or so---and he told me this story, above. >> >>Daughter Melanie wants desperately to "know more about her Dad >>and his family." All we remember is Hardwick was his home, and >>either his parents or grandparents raised him, until they put him in >>the military school, and he went off to war! >> >>Anyone have any ideas?? I know, I know, it would help if we came >>up there. I'm her Dad's brief friend, in Pensacola, and she lives >>another >>500 miles away in Tampa---travel for her right now is impossible. >>We have written for Social Scty application---guess we should try for >>his military record. >> >>Thanks, if you have any ideas! He may have been born in Germany! >>Evan R. STROHL >> >> >> >> >SJ >