(OT) Who was 'Pappy' (the fellow combat infantryman in my father's WWII memoir)?

[Taro T]

I failed to update this thread. I received Fred Scott's Deceased Personnel File in June of 2017. It took about two years to get the file, when it was supposed to take one. (The military did apologize, which was nice.)

 

Since I knew a fair amount about the circumstances surrounding Fred's death, I was hoping that there would be some kind of action report that would confirm that he was Pappy. There wasn't. But Fred's cause of death was a gunshot wound to the right hip, and that almost certainly rules him out as Pappy. My dad wrote that he saw a bit of blood on the front of Pappy's shirt and a trickle of blood coming from his mouth, which would suggest that Pappy was shot in the chest.

 

Private Fred A. Scott of Port Angeles, Washington was killed in combat on March 15, 1945, in the vicinity of Ormersville, France. A few days later he was buried in St. Avold, France — Plot B, Row 17, Grave 201, between Edgar Petrey and Jack. A Thomas. His personal effects included 24 photos, two wallets, a Combat Infantryman Badge, five letters and a rosary. He had $33.69, and that amount was sent to his mother in a check. That the military kept track of everything so precisely, most important of all, of course, his body, is demonstrated impressively in the file.

 

In 1948, Fred's mother, Mabel, received a letter from the Quartermaster General, asking about her wishes regarding final disposition of her son's body. She wanted to bring him home, and most of the file deals with Fred's journey back to the state of Washington. His body was delivered to Burlington, WA, on June 10, 1949, aboard the Great Northern Railroad, with a military escort.

 

As tempted as I am to keep searching, I think it's time to let Pappy rest in peace.

 

There's a theory I heard recently that we die three deaths. The first is when our body ceases to function. The second is when we are buried (or cremated), never to be seen again. The third is when we are never thought of again by the living.

 

Pappy and Fred, you're still kickin', boys. You are not forgotten.

PA, very saddened to read that your search hit another dead end.

 

For whatever it's worth, remember that your work on this has most certainly extended the "third life" of Fred, Pappy, & your father as this moving tale has brought them to life in a very memorable manner for at least 27 people (which oddly was roughly the attendence for the last Sabres - Swamp Cats game). They won't soon be forgotten. Thank you.

Edited February 4, 2018 by Taro T

[darksabre]

PA, very saddened to read that your search hit another dead end.

 

For whatever it's worth, remember that your work on this has most certainly extended the "third life" of Fred, Pappy, & your father as this moving tale has brought them to life in a very memorable manner for at least 27 people (which oddly was roughly the attendence for the last Sabres - Swamp Cats game). They won't soon be forgotten. Thank you.

I agree with Taro here. Sucks that you hit a dead end, but that's better than not trying at all.

[Doohickie]

I just cracked the seal on this thread for the first time.  Fascinating stuff, I've only started reading.

 

My dad was too young for WWII; he served in the Navy but got out before Korea.  No badass stories there.

 

But his great uncle fought in WWI, earned several medals, led troops into battle...as a chaplain.  I've done enough research to frame out an outline of his life; my wife has discussed writing a historical novel about him (not really enough info for a biography, so she'd have to make up details).  We've found several references to him on the internet and in several history books.  I might share some of that if there's some interest.

[Huckleberry]

I just cracked the seal on this thread for the first time.  Fascinating stuff, I've only started reading.

 

My dad was too young for WWII; he served in the Navy but got out before Korea.  No badass stories there.

 

But his great uncle fought in WWI, earned several medals, led troops into battle...as a chaplain.  I've done enough research to frame out an outline of his life; my wife has discussed writing a historical novel about him (not really enough info for a biography, so she'd have to make up details).  We've found several references to him on the internet and in several history books.  I might share some of that if there's some interest.

 

I love reading those stories :)

[woods-racer]

Go for it Anordning!

 

The 100th anniversary of WWI is upon us. Have the story out *there*, never know what a labor of love can lead to.

[Doohickie]

A little teaser:  He had a dog named Pączki (Poonch-kee).  That's the Polish word for a jelly donut.  :)

[PASabreFan]

A little teaser:  He had a dog named Pączki (Poonch-kee).  That's the Polish word for a jelly donut.  :)

Not Berliner?

 

Yeah, let's hear more about this, uh, doughboy.