White County Servicemen killed in South Pacific in World War II
This is part of an incredible site created by Dave Dwiggins, a fellow Hoosier, who lives in the Philippines - Known family members take note of this project! Please participate if you are able.
These names were provided by Mr. Dwiggins:
Dave Wrote:
Dear Friends!
My name is Dave Dwiggins and I am a retired Hoosier living in
the Philippine Islands. Recently my wife and I traveled to Manila to visit the
Manila American Cemetery where 17,206 American soldiers are buried that were
killed in the South Pacific in World War II. The rolling acres of beautifully
manicured grass and uniform crosses at the memorial were very impressive but an
air of loneliness squeezed our hearts. Only a few folks wandered amongst the
grave sites and maybe they were employees.
My thoughts drifted to the servicemen, the heroes that
preserved our freedoms we enjoy each day. No doubt these graves had gone
unvisited during all these years and there was no thanks presented to them.
The crosses revealed only dog tag information that we as
soldiers were required to offer the enemy if we were captured . . . name, rank
and serial number. There was room on the stones for their military unit and the
state of their enlistment.
We strolled a few steps further to the grave of an Ohio
soldier and focused my camera on the forgotten identity inscribed on the cross.
At that moment it hit me like a brick. I wondered if I could unite a few
meaningful photographs with American families that gave the ultimate sacrifice,
their loved one and of course .
Apple soon had nine Hoosier graves located. My home state
“Indiana” had always been special but today the letters on the crosses loomed
bolder than ever. These were Indiana soldiers, sailors, marines and airmen.
Without even knowing these brave men I had a sick and nasty but familiar feeling
deep inside me. A momentary glimpse back and I realized it was the same
agonizing feeling I had felt as a soldier when I left my home in Indiana bound
for Southeast Asia in the Vietnam War. A few tears watered my eyes and I was
humbled.
We returned to our home over two
hours to the southeast and we commenced our search for the home of the soldiers
and their families still remaining. The names of the Indiana men buried at the
cemetery were listed at the Manila American Cemetery website and there were 964.
After several hours we had located each of the counties of which the men had
enlisted in the armed forces. We immediately sent notices to the libraries,
newspapers, genealogy groups and historical societies in the area of their homes
counties.
Thanks to a Lake County librarian, Debbie Rzepczynski, we
found our first family, the family of William S. Guest of her county. The
experience was rewarding for the family especially which had never seen the
grave site. Debbie, Apple and I all felt blessed that we were able to do this as
a team. Soon there were more and more successes and we became addicted to the
cause. The 964 Hoosier names intimidated us so we focused on the names of the
men from Madison County (our home county) and the counties surrounding it. Our
list consisted of 134 Indiana men whom approximately half were buried in the
cemetery and half were either Missing in action or buried at sea. Those names
are honored on the “Tablets of the Missing” at the Manila American Cemetery.
Our successes continued and within a month we undertook the task of building a
database of all the 964 Indiana names. The project has now grown and we offer
the photographs of nearly all of the gravesites for free to a working email
address. Here is our website address:
http://fizkid.tripod.com/
Our notices were sent to over 200 Indiana libraries, 150
newspapers and other genealogy and historical societies requesting help to find
these families and information about these heroes that gave all for each and
every one of us. Our references here in the Philippines are nil except for the
internet and we pour over it searching for new information each day. We
desperately need your assistance to keep this project continuing. The project
does not cost money, it costs time.
One of our photos was sent to 85 year old Martha Anne Creed
of Shelbyville, Indiana. She is the widow of Claud Creed. The two had a daughter
a bit over a year old when he was killed in action. Mrs. Creed never remarried
and recently received her first glimpse of her husband’s grave site in the
Philippines. We have also sent photos to families that never knew there was a
grave for their loved one. Our project is working because of folks like you.
You may be asking yourself, “What can I do in this project?”
If you are a family member please send us information regarding your loved one
and we will send you the photographs free also along with the information we
have about them. We only ask that if you have a bit of history regarding these
men please send it so we can keep in the individual files we have for each
serviceman. We especially ask that if you have a photograph of them in uniform
we will post it on our website and also decorate their file with a personal
touch.
If you are a librarian, please take just a moment of time and
look up just one name on your county list of war dead we are providing you
attached to this email. If you are a journalist, please take the time to post
these names and information about our project focusing on these brave servicemen
rather than Apple and me. We don’t need the publicity for satisfaction. We get
our satisfaction and energy from the families we present the photographs to.
If you are simply wishing to help we gladly welcome you.
There are no costs to join and you receive more satisfaction than you can
imagine. Just for an idea . . . simply look at the list for your county and
check your local telephone directory and give someone a call with the same last
name. That may be the easiest way to find these families. If you locate a family
we will gladly send to you the photographs to present to them or we can send
them direct. That is our project goal…..GET THE PHOTOS TO THE FAMILIES THAT GAVE
SO MUCH . . . . . . . FREE!
Apple and I thank you so much for your time and hope you will
take the time to visit our website and view first hand the successes and rewards
of this wonderful project. If you give us a hand we will gladly add your name to
our Acknowledgment page at the website.
God Bless the families of our Hoosier soldiers, sailors, marines, airmen and
merchant marines!
Sincerely,
Dave and Apple Dwiggins
San Pablo City, Philippines
Photographs Provided by Mr. Dwiggins
