Unbelievable, thank you, alieneyes. I've been doing some genealogy and I did know Duncan's parents' names and some other details. But to see all these newspaper accounts! I'm thunderstruck. How ever did you find them so quickly? I never heard a word of this from my father or any other relative. Incidentally, the Rev. Duncan Flynn Dodd is who married my parents in Sea Cliff in 1948. I never met him but I did know that he lived to be over 100. My dad's been gone since 1984 and the last of his siblings died in 1991 so there is no one left with a personal memory of any of this. What a gift you have given me.
You're more than welcome, Kathy. I have a subscription to newspapers . com so after I looked him up here just did a search. That site also purports to have the names of all enlisted POWs but he doesn't show up. I'll check again later for more as faded editions don't show up on a search. Also, if you look at his findagrave entry it has incorrect dates for his father. Regards, Dave
Yeah, the Archives site was where I got the first information after getting a “records tip“ from FamilySearch, where I have a family tree posted. I am too cheap to have a subscription to either Newpapers.com or Ancestry. What astounding detail. There is one of my father’s first cousins still living and sharp at 96 and I will ask her if she remembers anything. Thank you again and have a great weekend.
I presume that these are him, it quotes his service number as 32161285. Record set World War II Army Enlistment Records First name(s) Duncan O Last name Dodd Race White Birth year 1919 Birth state China Or Mongolia Or Sinkian Or Tibet Marital status Single, without dependents Enlistment year 1941 Enlistment month Jul Enlistment day 18 Enlistment place Cp Upton Yaphank New York Branch Branch Immaterial - Warrant Officers Grade Private Soldier Number 32161285 Education Fourth Year of High School Resident state New York Country United States Record set US National Archives, World War II Prisoners Of War Index, 1942-1947 First name(s) Duncan O Last name Dodd Year 1942-47 Country United States Name full person DODD DUNCAN O Residence New York Service code ARMY Detaining power GERMANY Camp Stalag 2B Hammerstein 99 work camps in vicinity of Koslin & Stolp West Prussia 53-17 Record status Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated Serial number 32161285 Record set World War II Pows First name(s) Duncan O Last name Dodd Resident state New York Day reported 20 Month reported Feb Year reported 1943 Detaining power Germany Camps Stalag 2b Hammerstein (99 Work Camps In Vicinity Of Koslin & Stolp) West Prussia 53-17 Status Returned to Military Control, Liberated or Repatriated Service code Army Collection Washington, Seattle Passenger Lists, 1890-1957 First name(s) Duncan O Last name Dodd Sex Male Age 3 Birth year 1919 Birth place/nationality Nanking China Arrival year 1922 Arrival date 1922 Arrival city Seattle Arrival county King Arrival state Washington Arrival country United States Ship name Empress Of Russia NARA publication title Passenger and Crew Lists of Vessels Arriving at Seattle, Washington, 1890-1957 Collection California, San Francisco Passenger Lists, 1893-1953 First name(s) Duncan Oliver Last name Dodd Sex Male Age 8 Birth year 1919 Birth place/nationality China Ship name Shinyo Maru Arrival year 1927 Arrival date 1927 Arrival place San Francisco, San Francisco, California, United States Arrival city San Francisco Arrival state California Arrival country United States NARA publication title Passenger Lists of Vessels Arriving at San Francisco, CA, 1893-1953
“Also, if you look at his findagrave entry it has incorrect dates for his father.” It looks like that, but it’s actually not. Those are his in-laws, Duncan and Isabelle Robb. His wife was Isabel Robb Dodd. Duncan O’s father and father-in-law were both Duncan, and his wife and mother-in-law were both Isabel, with variant spellings. How crazy is that. I do not know if Duncan O ever had children. Maybe the cousin will know. Was there supposed to be an obituary for Duncan O in that string of clippings? The very bottom item is completely black and unreadable.
Thank you also, Tony. Yes that was his serial number. I saw it on the list in the archives. Duncan and his sibs were all born in China while their parents were missionaries there. Kathy
Here's what the original looked like: "Mr Dodd is survived by a brother, Donald of Lake of the Woods, Va and a sister, Janet Harris of Westbury. Viewing today at the Whitting Funeral Home......"
Wow. I was able to enhance the contrast in Duncan Dodd's 1988 obituary clipping and read all of it. Here are a few sentences I found particularly compelling. He was a watercolor artist. I never knew that before. "Mr. Dodd served in the infantry ... In North Africa, his unit was cut off by German forces and captured. He spent the ensuing 18 months, before the war ended, in various prison camps in Italy and Germany ... He returned to Pratt Institute after the war. There, a teacher who had criticized his 'artistic timidity' before the war, looked at his post-prison paintings and remarked: 'You're not so timid now.'" "His wife once noted that while painting, he walked 10 to 12 steps back and forth in front of his easel: the exact measurement of his prison cell in German camps." I cannot thank this forum and especially alieneyes enough for this personal glimpse.
Hello! I've recently typed my grandfather's War Log from Stalag IIB. I'd love to exchange information. His name was Jack "Rosey" Rosendall and amongst entries about their softball team and a singing group they created, there's also about two-three months of entries from January - March 1945 that describe where they were marching everyday, the farms they stayed at etc. My email is melissafox.90@gmail.com - Thanks!!
Here is an image from my grandfather, Jack Rosendall's, War Log that I've been documenting. I hope someone can find a connection
Melissa, It's very interesting to read this list of names. Thank you. Might I suggest, though, that you amend your email address by substituting the @ with 'at', otherwise you might get some unwelcome replies - not from registered users of the forum, I might add, but from visitors. Vitellino
MIO NONNO ITALIANO ERA A STALAG IIB HAMMERSTEIN, MI HA PARLATO ANCHE DI KOSLIN, QUALCUNO HA QUALCHE NOVITÀ?
For all, cleo.89's post above, should anyone be able to help. "MY ITALIAN GRANDFATHER WAS AT STALAG IIB HAMMERSTEIN, HE ALSO TOLD ME ABOUT KOSLIN, DOES ANYONE HAVE ANY NEWS?" Kind regards, always, Jim.
My grandfather was Pvt. Anthony "Tony" Berich. He was captured in the 2nd wave in Normandy and sent to Stalag IIB. He lied about his age, was 16 when captured and only 17 when liberated. He was from Central Pennsylvania, and had injuries, shrapnel and developed type 1 diabetes in captivity. He never spoke about the war. He went blind from his diabetes at age 47 and died at age 54. I wish I knew more. Has anyone travelled there? Would love to someday.