This Is the Face of Genealogy

Roy B. Bindon 1918 Khaborovsk, Siberia (sitting).

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

It Takes A Thief - Discharge Papers



 A while back, I wrote about breaking into the locked “safe” in my parents’ basement. Inside were numerous papers belonging to my grandparents. One of those items, I was particularly excited to discover was my grandfather's World War I discharge papers. Initially I thought they were the originals but upon closer examination I noticed they are a notarized copy. If you're familiar with the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center, you know that this is quite an exciting find.

The Enlistment Record portion expands on some of the details of my grandfather's service. This should help me verify information that I've pieced together from other sources and provide a more complete timeline. Down at the bottom in the notary area, it states that my grandfather has the original in his possession. I'm still hoping the original will turn up and have no doubt it might.

I also noticed Grandpa recorded his discharge papers with the Spokane County Auditor upon his return from the war.

I can see why Grandpa kept his discharge papers locked up and am thankful that he did.

© 2011, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Photo by Marcin Wichary

Veterans Day - WWI Service in Russia

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum Roy Bindon's US military service during WWI was a bit unusual. He was inducted into the Army 30 April 1918 in Chicago, Illinois and shipped out to Siberia, Russia on 2 September of that same year. Roy was trained as a sniper and served with the Machine Gun 31st Infantry and later the 27th Infantry.

Roy Bindon, sitting, in Khaborovsk,
Siberia 1918. Original privately held
by Carol Fuller, [ADDRESS FOR PRIVATE USE].

The American Expeditionary Forces in Siberia were charged with keeping the Trans-Siberian Railroad open and out of the hands of the Bolshevicks. Roy and his comrads arrived in Vladivostok and went to work. As Roy's daughter told me the story:

One day the troops had gone up past Volodevestock (?) and Verteneudinks (?). She thinks it was beyond Verteneudinks. The troops were out guarding the Trans-Siberian Railroad and Roy, being a machine gun sniper, was sent out in the woods by his commandant.

While he was out, the Bolshevicks camped below the tree that he [Roy] was stationed in, where he had set up his machine gun sniper position. They [the Bolsheviks] spent the night below him and he had to stay up in that tree all night long. He hung on for dear life until they got up early the next morning and moved out.

When Roy thought the Bolsheviks were sufficiently gone, he reported back their position to his commandant. The commandant, had a canvas tent or some other temporary structure that was somehow heated. As Roy reported in to the commandant, the warm air hit his cold eardrums, and his eardrums burst. He slowly started going deaf from that point on.

It really is a rather extraordinary story. I was able to confirm it by obtaining Roy's military records (see sources below). According to these records, Roy was treated in December of 1918 at an Army hospital in Khabarovsk, Siberia.


Roy came back from Russia and spent many years in Hines hospital because he was slowly going deaf and the ringing in his ears just about drove him crazy. After reading Roy's military records, I can only imagine the frustration he and the family went through trying to get him the medical help that he needed.

Sources:

Roy's Military Records obtained from the Department of Veteran's Affairs in Chicago, Illinois. More specifically, his Honorable Discharge Certificate, various Requests for Army Information and Applications for Disability Compensation.

Carol Fuller Interview, 24 February 1994.


© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Treasure Chest Thursday - Grandpa's WWI helmet

Apparently, Grandpa (Richard Roos) saved his WWI helmet.  After I don't know how many decades of sitting in a cardboard box, it now enjoys a place of honor.  I was able to make a definitive identification of it by the 91 Division's evergreen tree insignia on the front.  By the way, their motto - Always Ready.

There's even still a blank piece of the stationary Grandpa used to write home on stuck way up in the crown.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Treasure Chest Thursday - WWI German Bayonet

This turned up a while back in one of the boxes of my grandparent's things.

 

The manufacturer was Simson & Co SUHL. A quick Google search revealed that it is a German bayonet.  The Allies referred to it as a "Butcher Blade" due to it's shape.  A pretty nasty looking weapon if you ask me. This particular one is a "sawback bayonet" characterized by the 29 teeth on the backside of the blade.  It was designed to be more of a tool than a weapon. 

Grandpa's diary and letters home referred to him wanting to find a German helmut and bring it home. In one of his last letters home, he mentioned that whenever he found one, they would have to move out before he could get it mailed.  He also mentioned that he was shipping home a box of stuff for himself and a friend.  I'm guessing this was one of the treasures in that box.

You can read more about this particular bayonet here if you are interested.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Wordless Wednesday (not so) - Richard Roos

Let me introduct you to my grandfather, Richard Roos, and the procurer of the WWI treasures I've been writing about lately.

Richard served with the AEF, during the latter part of WWI, as a cook with the 361st Infantry, Machine Gun Company E, out of Ft. Lewis, Washington.

This is one of the pictures my grandparents gave me when I first started inquiring about the family history in the early 1970's.  It's something I've always treasured.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Treasure Chest Thursday - Photo Locket

This locket was in the same little box as the WWI pins and buttons I wrote about on April 8th.

Grandpa was able to get a 3 day pass while with the American Expeditionary Forces in France.  He went to Paris to check up on his father's family and must have picked up this tiny souvenir.  The pictures from top to bottom are of the Statue of Gambetta, the Monument of the Republic, the Grande Roue, the Eiffel Tower, the Pantheon, Notre Dame, Invalides and Sacre Coeur all in Paris.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum

Treasure Chest Thursday - WWI tags and buttons

While going through some boxes a couple of weeks ago, some interesting items turned up. 

These are my grandfather's dog tags, some buttons and a pin from a reunion.  He served with the 361st Machine Gun Infantry in WWI.  I was surprised while watching the WDYTYA episode with Matthew Broderick.  They mentioned his grandfather had fought in the Meuse Argonne offensive.  My grandfather had been involved in that battle as well only several days earlier.  I loved being able to see the area in living color.

© 2010, copyright Michelle Goodrum