New Member LST_Grandson

[LST_Grandson]

Hi my name is Kevin. I am trying to find information regarding my grandfather's involvement in WWII. His name is Charles Thomas Parker, and I know that when he left the states he went to Northern Africa, then to Anzio, Italy and finally to Normandy. I know I do not have a lot to go on, but I'm trying to find out information in order to compile a scrapbook and some other information for his 86th birthday in August. If anyone has any links I can search out or general information I would appreciate it.
Thanks,
Kevin

[Jim O]

Welcome to the site Kevin. If you know what unit(s) he served in that would help.

[gary g stevens]

Greetngs Kevin , Have you tried the Nation lArchives . They have acess to some service records. If you can find his dd form 214 it will be of great help to you. Your grandfather or another member of your family might have a copy of it.

[Klaus]

Welcome to the forum Kevin! It's a pleasure having you here.

I'm sorry but I can't help you. I'm pretty sure someone on this forum can.
My Grandfather was in northern Africa too. But he was in the Afrika Korps.

Cheers

Klaus

[sniper1shot]

Welcome to the forum Kevin.
My grandfather was Cdn Infantry (Sigs) in N.Africa in '43.
Good luck in the search as I know someone will definately have an answer for you or at least lead you in the right direction.

[mausmp]

By your user name, I assume your grandfather was aboard an LST (smart former MP that I am!).

You may try United States L.S.T. Association for further information. LST HQ is located in NW Ohio.

My father, Gilbert L. Austing, was assigned to USS LST 818 in the Pacific in the waning days of WW II; I've gained a lot of insight at this website.

Further, there's an LST museum in Evansville, IN (The USS LST Ship Memorial (USS LST 325)) for LST 325; this LST was purchased from Greece and sailed back to Mobile, AL by a number of former WW II LST sailors-you may wish to consider taking him to Evansville and let him relive his past.

Mike Austing
Dennison, OH

[temujin77]

Hello and welcome!

I don't have much new to offer besides the same recommendation of checking up with the National Archives and the US Navy Naval Historical Center like others have suggested. But once you've found out what LST he served aboard, perhaps you'll be able to find a pic of it in action here:

WW2DB: Photographs

There are currently 38 LST photos at that link, which is a part of my WW2 history website.

Best of luck to you!

[LST_Grandson]

Thanks so much for all the great websites and info. I'm going to sit down with my grandfather within the next week or so and talk to him some more about everything and find out more detailed information. Thanks again for all the avenues you've opened. I'll give an update when I get more info.

[mausmp]

Klaus, do you have access to any former Afrika Korps personnel rosters? In our family history, we've always been told "one" of our relatives was Hauptmann Austing (vorname unbekannt-see? I still remember some of my German! I was assigned to MP Customs, Mannheim, on the Dutch/German border in the Aachen area from '76-'79)

Mike Austing
Dennison, Ohio
USA

[Klaus]

Sorry, can't help you there. It is tough enough to get my grandfather talking at all about the war.