Tombstone Tuesday - Jordan

Saturday was a bright and crisp day in Baltimore, one of those lovely, sunny autumn days I recall once January and February have set in. 

Realizing that we may not have too many of these beauties left for a while, hubby and I took advantage and decided to accomplish some outdoor "to do" tasks.  Not leaves this time, though!

We traveled to the other side of town and visited Baltimore National Cemetery on Frederick Road in Catonsville, in search of my great-uncle Benny's gravesite. 

This was a fitting way to spend the Saturday of Veteran's Day weekend.  We were humbled and silenced as we stood at the top of entrance driveway and looked down at the rows of erect stones, standing with typical military precision.  All these headstones, each representing a brave person.  Most of these are soldiers who returned home to live their lives, we said in unison.  It was astounding to look around, begin to rack up numbers of soldiers and wars in my head...so many, so many. 

Marker between Sections J and I.

Before we had left home, I double-checked Uncle Benny's section and plot information at the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs Nationwide Gravesite Locator.  I also printed out a map of the cemetery, which was easy to follow.  Just find the appropriate section marker, then look on the back of any stone; it will be engraved with that individual's site or plot number.  Then just start walking in the right direction, for higher or lower numbers.  

I'll say this for the military, they are excellent when it comes to organizing a cemetery.  



Benjamin M Jordan
Maryland
TEC5
Signal Corps
World War II
January 30 1915
September 13 1964

Even though we came prepared, for someone who may not be, the cemetery provides plenty of information, which is available even when the office is closed.  There are two large binders with a listing of interments; these are kept on an enclosed shelf to protect from the elements.  They also have an electronic kiosk that is linked to the Nationwide Gravesite Locator mentioned above.  The kiosk's keyboard was not the typical QWERTY type, but rather an alpha order board - A - B - C and so on.  I'd never seen one like that before.  Still, it was all easy to use.  Maps are also available at the kiosk. 

This was my first visit to Uncle Benny's gravesite.  I know it will not be my last.  Besides fulfilling my own genealogy-related task, this visit pleased my mom.  We stopped by see her after leaving the cemetery.  She was happy to see the photo of Benny's stone, and touched that we thought to visit him.  She is proud of his service.  We sat together quietly, as Mom recalled childhood memories of her beloved Uncle Benny. 

Military Monday

On a sunny afternoon in August 1942, an unknown family member or friend took this photo of my grand-uncle Benny.  Benny was my mother’s uncle, my maternal grandmother’s younger brother.  In the doorway stands his older brother Jim (James Edgar).

The family bible tells me that Benny was born on January 30, 1915.  According to Baltimore Sun newspaper archives, military records, and the Maryland State Archives, he died on September 13, 1964. 

Family lore tells me that Benjamin McGown Jordan:

fought in United States Army during World War II,

parachuted to the ground on D-Day,

broke both ankles during the landing,

and was awarded the Purple Heart for his injuries received in battle.

Ancestry.com* reveals that he enlisted on February 12, 1941.  At the time, his “civil occupation” was a plumber’s apprentice.  He completed a “grammar school” education.

Uncle Benny was laid to rest in Baltimore National Cemetery.  His grave marker transcribes thus: 

Benjamin M. Jordan

1913-1964

TEC5, US ARMY

I have recently learned that a TEC5 (also known as a Technician Fifth Grade) was one of many technicians who held positions like driver, machinist, cook, and similar positions.  In other words, these were the people who were necessary to keep the military corps running, but not the guys who fired the big guns.  So why was he parachuting in on D-Day? 

I’m not sure about that one…even a new genealogist like me knows to take “family lore” with a boulder-sized grain of salt.  Nevertheless, serve he did, break both ankles he did, and receive the Purple Heart he did.  My nephew holds it to this day.  So it looks like another visit to the National Archives is in order for me.

Hmmm, should this be Military Monday or Mystery Monday?

*National Archives and Records Administration. U.S. World War II Army Enlistment Records, 1938-1946 [database on-line]. Provo, UT, USA: Ancestry.com Operations Inc, 2005. Original data: Electronic Army Serial Number Merged File, 1938-1946 [Archival Database]; World War II Army Enlistment Records; Records of the National Archives and Records Administration, Record Group 64; National Archives at College Park, College Park, MD.