Military Monday - A Fighter Pilot in the Family

"Will and Adcock"

is written on the back of the photo.  Will is on the left.

Last month would have been the 91st birthday of William Jordan Kinling, my mom's first cousin. 

Bill was born March 29, 1921, and died July 27, 1999, at the too-young age of 78.  Like all our family members, he was much more than dates on a tree.  In between, he was also a son, grandson, World War II fighter pilot, husband, father, grandfather, a great friend to many and much, much more.  Called "Will" as a child and young adult, he eventually became known as "Bill."  I think that happened after the service, not positive. 

Bill's middle name is his mother's maiden name, a common practice, and often seen on mom's side of the family.  There were family names like Jordan, Fulton, Sampson, Wright.  Those names make good "middle" names and carry on the tradition.

That custom doesn't work so well in a big Polish family, like my dad's side, with last names like Szymanski, Poznaniak, Gostomski and Landowski.  I remember it being hard enough to learn to spell my own last name, much less having a four-syllable middle name to deal with! 

My mom has only a few photos of her cousin, despite his family members owning a photo studio.  The one above is my favorite. 

Military Monday - More On "Two Sides of a Tombstone"

Recently, Valerie Craft at Begin with 'Craft' told us of her experiences, and why you always read both sides of a tombstone.


John Walker Sams is not my family member.  But while loading my photos of a recent visit to Darlington Cemetery, I saw this and thought, another perfect example. 
 

John Walker Sams
SGT US Army
Vietnam
Apr 26 1944 - Apr 8 2006
Bronze Star Medal



Last week as I walked through the cemetery, I was attracted to the dark granite, high polish, and organic shape of this stone.  I walked over for a closer look and snapped a photo or two. 

Having learned my lesson on looking at both sides, I did so and was taken by surprise.  This person is much loved, and I think there must be a genealogist in the family, because the stone has been designed to tell the story of their lives.     





 SAMS

John Walker

Apr 26 1944

Apr 8 2006

Beloved Husband, Father

Devoted Christian, Soldier

Kathy Lynn

Aug. 12 1947



And here's the "other" side of the story:

Engravings include a brief epitaph for John, his wife's name and birth date, plus an eagle for his Airborne Division, a cross entwined with flowers, on his wife's side is the winged rod and serpents that form the RN cross (sometimes associated with the Army Medical Corps), wedding rings with anniversary date and "Till We Meet Again" engraved, and, nestled sleeping in the upper left corner, a kitten. 

John Walker Sams: a devoted husband, father and Christian who also served his country and loved cats...sounds like a nice man to know.

Close-ups of the SAMS engravings.
My photo, 11/2011.

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.