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