Remembering American Civil War Soldier 1st Lieutenant William Kirkland Bacon

An annual Memorial Day visit to pay respects to American war veterans found those hero's gravestones bathed in the warm afternoon sun. The unadorned, seemingly forgotten gravesite of twenty-year-old 1st Lieutenant William Kirkland Bacon was discovered during a pre-Memorial Day visit in late May 2008 to Forest Hill Cemetery, Utica, NY. Barely visible, the monument inscription reads: “William Kirkland Bacon: Late Adjutant of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment of New York State Volunteers, slain at Fredericksburg, December 16, 1862.”

Adjutant William Kirkland Bacon was affectionately known as “Willie” to his family and friends. Willie’s military life can be summarized by stating that in late April 1861, as he finished his sophomore year at Hamilton College--and following the attack on Fort Sumter--he answered his country’s call by enlisting as a private with Company A of the notable Fourteenth Regiment of New York State Volunteers (NYSV). Company A was the first contingent of Central New York Oneida County residents to volunteer for Union Civil War military service. The Fourteenth New York was first posted to protect and defend Washington D.C., where the regimental officer community recognized Willie’s quick intelligence, attainments, and talents. Later in 1861, Willie accepted a transfer to the Twenty-Sixth Regiment NYSV as Military Clerk. A vacancy occurred several weeks later and Willie was offered an officer’s promotion and assignment as the Twenty-Sixth New York Regimental Adjutant. Now a commissioned officer, Willie engaged in several skirmishes and a couple of major battles leading up to December 1862 at Battle of Fredericksburg. In combat during the Second Battle of Bull Run (Second Manassas), August 30, 1862, Willie was wounded-in-action to the left leg. Confederate fire hit him just above the heal while leading a party of Company F fighting men. The shot's impact knocked him from his wounded horse, and Willie struggled to painfully walk from the battlefield with aid provided by a few of his “Boys.”  Unable to walk without assistance, he eventually made his way to an Alexandria, VA Union Army hospital. Willie’s father, William Johnson Bacon of Utica, found him in Alexandria about a week later and accompanied him to his boyhood home in Utica for convalescent leave. In October 1862, after six weeks rest and medical recuperation, Willie returned to his regiment with his painful Bull Run combat wound still not fully mended.

Then, at mid-afternoon, Saturday, December 13, 1862, during savage combat at the Battle of Fredericksburg--and while leading front-line Union fighting men from General John F. Reynolds' Corps--Willie was mortally-wounded-in-action by Confederate fire to his upper left leg. With his leg shattered, and under heavy fire, two of his men removed Willie from the battlefield. There a wagon ambulance delivered him and other wounded soldiers to a rear medical facility. His left leg was amputated later that evening (very high on the leg near the pelvis). Willie was likely drugged with available painkillers, and probably never regained a fully conscious state. He died early Tuesday morning on December 16, 1862, just two months short of his twenty-first birthday.

Family History:

Adjutant William “Willie” Kirkland Bacon was born to a prominent Utica, New York Family, where his father, grandfather, and great-grandfather were lawyers and all served in elected state office in Massachusetts and New York and as U.S. Representatives. Willie’s father, The Honorable William Johnson Bacon, served nearly two decades as an elected New York State Supreme Court Judge. Willie was the only son of Judge William and Mrs. Eliza Kirkland Bacon. Adjutant Bacon’s middle name--Kirkland--honors his beloved mother’s family name. Mrs. Bacon’s father was the Honorable General Joseph Kirkland, a well-known Utica-area lawyer, the first mayor of the new city Utica, and a New York State and federal elected politician. The Bacon family was emotionally crushed by Willie’s Civil War combat death at Fredericksburg, and never fully recovered from their deeply shared grief on his passing. No military medals were evidently ever awarded to recognize Adjutant Bacon’s heroism. Medals of Honor were awarded to enlisted personnel only at the time of Willie’s 1862 Civil War combat death. Furthermore, it was rare that medals for heroism were awarded to officers posthumously. In fact, many senior Union generals--including then Union Army Commanding General Burnside--felt that medal awards emulated too strongly the practices of European aristocrats. A 1932 congressional award re-authorization, The Purple Heart, recognizes combat-related wounds or death for military service on or after April 5, 1917--and just in this new millennium finally recognizes those who perished as POWs. Published words in letters and books seems to be the preferred method to recognize officers killed-in-action during the American Civil War. One such letter, as sent to Willie’s father from Brigade Commander, General Zealous B. Tower states “…My short acquaintance with Adjutant Bacon prepossessed me greatly in his favor. It is a pleasing duty to inform you that in this battle your son was distinguished for gallant services at the head of his regiment. At Fredericksburgh he was conspicuous for manly bravery and cool determination, till he fell mortally wounded on that never to be forgotten battle-field.”

Bacon Post No. 53 of the Grand Army of the Republic (G.A.R.) was chartered in Utica, NY, October 24, 1867. G.A.R. Post 53 was named to honor the memory and Union Civil War service of 1st Lieutenant William Kirkland Bacon. Medal of Honor (MOH) recipient Joseph Keene—who won the MOH for valor fighting with Wille Bacon at the Battle of Fredericksburg––annually joined former comrades from the 26th New York Infantry Regiment for many years following the Civil War on "Decoration Day" (aka Memorial Day), holding memorial exercises at the grave of William Kirkland Bacon. His comrades still holding a fond recollection and warm affection for Willie Bacon…"their Little Adjutant."

***********************************************************************
A memorial book authored by Willie’s father Judge Bacon, "Adjutant Bacon: Memorial of William Kirkland Bacon, late Adjutant of the Twenty-Sixth Regiment of New York State Volunteers" served as a major reference for this log-of-remembrance. Judge Bacon’s work is preserved by Goggle digitizing and is available by Internet search.

This edited and updated article was originally witten and posted to Ancient Geek Fumes on 24 January 2009.

Dick Williams -- An Honorable World War I Veteran

 

Richard Norris "Dick" Williams 2nd was born 29 January 1891 in Geneva, Switzerland to his beloved American citizen parents Mr. Charles Duane Williams and Ms. Lydia Biddle (White) Williams. Richard's father Charles was an attorney frequently engaged in European legal employment. Richard's dad Charles strongly respected the French and Swiss people and regarded these lands as special places, truly a second homeland. Richard's namesake and paternal uncle, the full brother of his dad Charles is Richard Norris Williams (1858-1918). The preponderance of written sources show Richard as a paternal 4th Great Grandson of Founding Father Benjamin Franklin. Additionally, Richard is commonly recorded in primary records as Richard Norris Williams using several different suffix including Jr., II, 2d, 2nd, and Second, but his name is NEVER recorded in primary records as R. Norris Williams II as wrongly cited in his Find A Grave Memorial page. As a Harvard University undergrad student, Richard is frequently recorded in written Harvard publications as R. N. Williams, Jr.; whereas, Harvard publications frequently use a student first/middle initials name form. His cemetery monument is engraved Richard Norris Williams, Second.

Richard's fateful April 1912 return voyage from a European visit with his father Charles, a disastrous first-class passage was booked from England to New York City aboard RMS Titanic. The now infamous sinking of Titanic followed an iceberg collision in the late evening 14 April 1912 – truly a night to remember. Various published news reports suggest in the early morning 15 April 1912, as Titanic saw her last moments above the waves, Charles leaped into the cold North Atlantic Ocean waters. At the urging of his dad, Richard followed jumping about forty feet into the frigid ocean. One of Titanic's collapsing funnels (aka smokestacks) evidently struck and instantly killed Charles, missing Richard by only a few yards. Richard swam to one of the nearby Titanic lifeboats and sat there is the frigid waters for multiple hours. Responding to Titanic's distress calls, the RMS Carpathia navigated the ice field to arrive two hours after Titanic had sunk. The Carpathia crew rescued 705 Titanic survivors from the ship's lifeboats afloat in those icy waters. Medical staff aboard Carpathia wanted to amputate Richard's legs as he was severely frostbitten hours in hypothermia conditions, but he declined, later quoted – "I'm going to need these legs." He walked the Carpathia decks every two hours during the saddened four days trip to New York City. Eventually feeling was somewhat restored in his frostbitten legs. Richard later recalls that those four days in transit to New York City aboard Carpathia were far more traumatic than those few hours aboard the sinking Titanic. Think about it, nearly every suffering Titanic survivor had just lost one or more friends and loved ones.

Richard graduated from Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, Class of 1916 with the S.B. Degree (Bachelor of Science). In collegiate athletics, Richard displayed talented skills as a member and team captain in his college junior and senior years with Harvard University's winning tennis team.

Richard is a U.S. Army Veteran of World War I with overseas combat-zone service in France. His two years military active duty commenced in the spring 1917 by attending a four-week military officer training course at Plattsburgh, New York. He was commissioned an Army 2nd Lieutenant (O-1) effective 15 Aug 2017, a 1st Lieutenant (O-2) effective 10 Aug 1918, and a Captain (O-3) effective 7 Nov 1918. Richard's overseas military service unit assignments include: Headquarters 67th Field Artillery Brigade, 42nd Division; French Army 262nd Field Artillery; General Headquarters Army Expeditionary Forces, Chaumont, France; Headquarters 4th Brigade U.S. Marine Corps, 2nd Division; and Headquarters Services of Supply, Paris, France. Richard's WWI military engagements include the Chateau-Thierry Campaign, the Aisne Defensive, and the Marne-Aisne Offensive. Among Richard's various military awards are the World War I Victory Medal with multiple campaign clasps, the French Croix de Guerre Medal, and the French Legion d'Honneur Medal. English translation of the French medal citation reads - "As an example of bravery and composure, he was a valuable auxiliary to the command by carrying orders of his brigadier general in paths swept by artillery fire and saturated with gas." Captain Richard Norris Williams 2nd returned to the United States in May 1919 and was honorably discharged from the U.S. Army on 20 May 1919 at Camp Meade, Maryland.

Richard's father began encouraging his tennis game in his preteen years. While a Harvard University undergraduate student, his pleasant personality and excellent tennis game earned him team captaincy honors in his junior (1914/15) and senior (1915/16) years. His excellent collegiate tennis play won him the 1913 and 1915 Intercollegiate singles titles and added tennis doubles titles in 1914 and 1915. The outstanding athlete Richard was half of the Gold Medal winning mixed doubles tennis pairing at the 1924 Paris, France Olympic Games, as coupled with a strongly capable partner Ms. Hazel Hotchkiss Wightman. Later, Richard became a highly successful professional tennis player, and ultimately won five of seven Davis Cup tournaments, serving as U.S. Davis Cup Team Captain during his successful professional tennis career. Richard was later honored with election to the International Tennis Hall of Fame, Newport, Rhode Island, Class of 1957. The Tennis Hall of Fame website may be viewed by those wishing more information on Richard's stellar tennis achievements. His Hall of Fame biography states, "The sum of Williams' career was daunting: He made the world's Top 10 from 1912-14 and 1919-23. In the U.S. alone he was ranked in the Top 10 all but one year from 1912-25." New York Times tennis sportswriter Allison Danzig remarks, "At his best he was unbeatable, and more dazzling than Tilden." Richard continued his love of tennis and retained gifted athletic prowess in his later years, this evidenced by winning many local and regional tennis matches as reported in major and regional newspapers throughout the 1930s-1950s.

Richard's lifelong employment is variously reported in business finance activity by multiple primary records, first in bond sales with a Boston firm, as a senior stock broker with a Philadelphia firm, and later in Pennsylvania-based investment banking activity.

In 1919 Richard married the local beauty Ms. Jean Haddock, the daughter of Mr. Arthur Henry Haddock and Mrs. Matilda (Steward) Haddock in New York City Christian ceremonies. The happy couple is blessed with two sons Duane Williams and Richard N. Williams III. Jean's untimely passing in 1929, aged 38 years, was due to cancer. In 1930 Richard remarries the twenty-two year old socialite Ms. Frances West Hemsley Gillmore in Manhattan, New York City, New York, the daughter of Mr. Quincy Adams Gillmore and Mrs. Frances West Hemsley Gillmore. The couple is blessed with a son Quincy Adams Williams and a daughter Frances Sue Williams. The happy thirty-eight year marriage to Frances ends with Richard's untimely passing in June 1968, aged 77 years. Richard's widowed second wife Frances passed away in 2001.

Been Thinkin'... MY GOSH, 'Twas 35 Years Past!

Historical information in the next edited paragraph was compiled by Google AI. Google artfully adds a footnote that should be obvious to the most casual observer – "AI data might contain errors."  The paragraph was carefully checked and seems to be highly accurate.  

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (K.S.A.) contributed approximately $16.8 billion in 1990/91 dollars (about  $13.5 billion in cash and significant in-kind support) to the United States to offset the costs of the 1991 Gulf War (aka Operations Desert Shield/Storm). This amount represented about 27% of the total allied contributions and was primarily in the form of cash payments and in-kind support, items like fuel, water, food, quarters, and local transportation for the U.S. forces stationed in the region. Overall, U.S. allies pledged about $54 billion, covering the vast majority of the estimated $61 billion incremental cost of the war for the United States.  The vast majority of K.S.A. leaders and people (both military and civilian) are recalled as very decent people.   

USNAVLOGSUPDET Romeo Official Business Stamp

Recalled from period first-hand knowledge that K.S.A. directly contributed at least 15 billion dollars to the United States in support of that 1990/91 Gulf War (aka Operation Desert Shield & Operation Desert Storm). Below is a copy of a October 1990 K.S.A. Monetary Agency check that passed through U.S. Naval Logistics Support Detachment Romeo compound office, one of two or more similar cash payments to transit via this Jeddah office.  

Other words cannot express this fundamental truth --

"We were mercenaries on an ethical mission

and in the paid military service of a foreign nation." 

On Autosomal DNA Testing

And finding a contemporary Stanton Family Cousin,

Colonel Robert L. "Bob" Janzen, USAF (ret.)

DNA double helix, public domain from Dreamstime.com

Autosomal DNA testing hasn't been very helpful in my case (and I think this is not unusual). What is confirmed over and over again is my Mom is my mother, Dad is my father, and my older Brother is my brother. Almost all of my 1st-thru-3rd cousins identified as my test activity "DNA Matches" were previously known or recently discovered, so the suggested DNA-match list more or less confirms prior known facts. Autosomal DNA tests have not helped much with more distant family genealogy research, but doubtless other family storytellers have experienced better DNA-Match research production.

So, is autosomal DNA testing a waste of time? Well maybe for many folks, unless a person is unsure about their ethnicity and/or may hold questions about their true blood-related family as may occur in an adoption, etc., etc.. So why a waste of time [??] -- the fact is a vast majority of DNA-match contact attempts go unanswered in personal experience! It seems that a significant percentage of DNA test takers submit DNA samples to simply verify their ethnicity and/or to confirm their paternal/maternal linkage... and once determined they simply loose interest in more genealogical research... going away never to return. I always thought maybe I fell off the back of a milk delivery truck (Mom always liked that milk-man). However, by DNA testing, Lillian-is-my-Mom. And I think on many occasions my Dad Steve felt like disowning me as a pre-teen and teenager -- perhaps suspicious about that friendly milkman. But it seems that by DNA, Dad-is-my-Dad.

A Sad, But Successful DNA-Match Finding: -- A previously unknown paternal 2nd cousin was found using our DNA match results; but unfortunately, Colonel Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen, USAF (retired) was deceased (Bob passed away in 2016, two years before his discovery). Bob and I are in the same generation relative to our closest common ancestor, our mutual Great Grandmother Ms. Effie Julia (Odell) Moegling (1862-1924). Seems that cousin Bob took the 23andMe DNA Test in an unsuccessful attempt to track the origin of the Parkinson's Disease that took his life. These facts relating to Bob's passing were confirmed back in 2019 by his beloved wife Jenny (note: Bob's brother Carl, a U.S. Army Veteran, also passed away from Parkinson's Disease in 2011). Very sad to have missed the opportunity to discuss ancestry subjects with Bob... naturally over a couple of beers. I'm unsure if Bob was satisfied with his DNA test research, but thinking he was probably disappointed with this personal medical research project.

RIP Colonel Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen, USAF (ret.)

Colonel Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen, USAF (1935-2016) joined the U.S. Air Force in 1958, honorably serving his county for 28 years.  Bob is a 1953 graduate of Pelham Memorial High School, Pelham, New York; Colgate University, Hamilton, New York (with BA); and, Webster University, St. Louis, Missouri (with MS).  He is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War.  Bob's many Air Force assignments were in various overseas duty stations and in the continental USA locations including a tour of duty at the former Griffiss Air Force Base, Rome, New York, and with several Air Force commands in the State of Virginia & Washington DC.  While in active military service, Bob also graduated from the Air Command Staff College and the Air War College.  He was awarded numerous medals and commendations throughout his distinguished career including: the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the National Defence Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.  Following his U. S. Air Force retirement, Bob and his beloved wife Jennifer made their home in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Virginia, USA.  Bob was interred with full military honors at Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, Virginia, USA.  Our common ancestor is Great Grandmother Ms. Effie Julia (Odell) Moegling (d.1924).

P.S.  Should have added that our interesting common ancestry takes Bob and I back to both early New England settlers Captain George Denison (d.1694, Hartford, CT) and Thomas Stanton Sr. (d.1677, Stonington, CT).  The following lineage chart shows Thomas Stanton Sr. -- to -- Colonel Bob Janzen linkage.  Also note: Thomas Sr. eldest son Thomas Stanton Jr.'s wife Sarah Denision (d.1701) is the eldest child of the famous Captain George Denison (d.1694).  Captain George Denison and Thomas Stanton Sr. are two of our common 10th great-grandfathers:

Thomas Stanton Sr. (1616 - 1677)
10th great-grandfather

Thomas Stanton Jr. (1638 – 1718) and Sarah Denison (d.1701)
Thomas Jr. is son of Thomas Stanton Sr.

William Stanton (1677 - 1718)
son of Thomas Stanton Jr. and Sarah Denison

Sarah Stanton (1708 - 1755)
daughter of William Stanton

wife of Samuel Richardson Sr. (d.1756) 

Sarah Richardson (1734 - 1812)
daughter of Sarah Stanton

wife of Revolutionary War Veteran Gideon Brainerd (d.1801)

Sarah Brainerd (1762 - 1828)
daughter of Sarah Richardson

wife of Revolutionary War Veteran Frederick Smith (d.1852)

Hannah Smith (1789 – 1840) and Isaac Odell (d.1840)
daughter of Sarah Brainerd

William Sheldon Odell (1817 - 1891)
son of Hannah Smith and Isaac Odell

Albert G. Odell (1839 - 1892)

son of William Sheldon Odell

Effie Julia Odell (1862 - 1924)

daughter of American Civil War Veteran Albert G. Odell (d.1892)

Effie, closest common ancestor of Bob Janzen & DJ Paul

Alice Edith Gorton-Moegling-Brazinski-Gignac (1885-1935)

eldest daughter of Effie Julia Odell

Edna Elizabeth "Betty" Brazinski - aka by short-form "Brink" (1915-1978)

daughter of Alice Edith Gorton-Moegling-Brazinski-Gignac

Colonel Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen (1935-2016)

son of Edna Elizabeth "Betty" Brazinski

Note: This 2021 genealogical post was significantly updated for Veterans Day 2025 and republished on 9 Nov 2025 in honor of Stanton Family distant cousin and United States Air Force Veteran Colonel Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen (1935-2016).

As Veterans Day 2025 Approaches...

Emblems of the United States Military

In 1954 the official November 11th holiday name was changed from “Armistice Day” to “Veterans Day” – this change was made to ensure that the holiday honored all Veterans of all American wars, not just World War I (aka "The Great War"). Memorial Day always falls on November 11, does NOT change to the closest Monday to thus give Americans a long weekend.

Veterans Day is distinct from Memorial Day, the official holiday Memorial Day is now observed on the last Monday in May, a day specifically designed to honor those who died in service or as a result of combat wounds.

Memorial Day does not now and never has officially honored the living members of the military or living United States Military Veterans, a fact that seems lost to many Americans and on the majority of present mass media reporters.  Memorial Day was originally called "Decoration Day"... a late 1860's  time to decorate with flowers the graves of deceased American Civil War Veterans.  However, there presently seems to be many in the USA who disagree, holding to firm belief that Memorial Day should officially honor all deceased military Veterans, and there is personal agreement on that point.  On Memorial Day many do choose to honor their family's deceased military Veterans, look no further than most any USA cemetery at the many American Flag drapped Veteran headstones... yes, even found in  the National Cemeteries.  How can this family and Federal Organization practice be considered a problem?

Note to the mass news media: Armed Forces Day is the day that celebrates the men and women currently serving in the United States Armed Forces, including the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Space Force, and Coast Guard. Established in 1949, this annual holiday is observed on the third Saturday of May.  This day is a unified day to honor all branches of the military and show appreciation for the service members' sacrifices and dedication to protecting the nation.  Current active duty members of the U.S. military are NOT considered Veterans (Title 38 of the U.S. Code) -- the title Veteran is earned by former members (both living and deceased) of the U.S. military who were discharged or released from a service under honoroble conditions.

The following nine links support recent selected posts done over the past 5 years that honor family and non-family past Veterans of the United States Military:

A World War II Sailor, click HERE 

Four military veterans of World War II and Vietnam, click HERE   

A Revolutionary Soldier, click HERE

Two Great-Great Grandfathers and American Civil War Veterans, click HERE

Honoring more Revolutionary War Veterans, click HERE

Two cousins and World War I U.S. Army Veterans, click HERE   

An American Civil War casuality Private James Cady Stanton, click HERE  

Two U.S. Army Colonels Mortally Wounded-In-Action at the Civil War Battle of Gettysburg, click HERE

Three distant cousins Killed-In-Action during the Revolution and in World War II, click HERE 

We Love Sporting Events, But Some Wonder Why [?]

 

The last major league baseball game we attended was in about 2007-2008 at Rogers Centre, Toronto, Canada.  Traveled to see the Yankees vs Blue Jays. Don't recall the actual trip costs, but thinkin' conservative costs for the overnight stay includes 2 game tickets at >$150., hotel >$100/day., ball park purchases [$$ ?], meals >$150+, travel >$100+, etc., etc. – gotta be a grand+ in final trip costs – costs may be near two grand in inflation adjusted dollars. We did see Andy Pettitte successfully pitch that baseball game, and saw Jetter and A-Rod play – that was a hard-to-forget experience. Bottom line, that trip was worth it.

Wondering why anyone is surprised about gaming corruption... ever heard of "Eight Men Out" -- look it up.  Betting corruption in all sorts of events and games -- its been underway for centuries.  I'm told with reasonable certainty that Julius Caesar placed rigged bets on chariot races!

A case speculation I'm thinkin' about today...

Considering today the breaking news about apparent major sports game betting & playing-card scandals... wondering why any honest person with a brain would pay their associated hard-earned dollars to view any potentially-rigged professional sporting event. I'm thinking now, for example, about a moderated means sports fan family... of the simple, USA regular family type... folks who saved enough family cash to watch a child's favored Aaron Judge play a baseball game at Yankee Stadium. The family purchased game tickets a couple weeks before, and when seated before that ball game were told the Yankee management-by-committee operators decided to bench an uninjured Aaron Judge this day with an unannounced prior notice. The proposed Aaron Judge benching is alleged necessary since the bean-counters on the Yankee management committee see it as “a statistically necessary day of rest.” Oh really, the data says the day-of-rest protects the Yankee player investment.  Yes, the benching probably impacts this single game outcome on this day.  We the "Great Unwashed" know that all number-cruncher statisticians are ethical and totally honest, no gamblers among these stats-people.  There can be no other reason for the unexpected Judge benching.  Right, you do know that Brooklyn Bridge remains available for purchase!  

The cited speculated scenario could and logically does happen from time-to-time... so why would this fictional sports fan family attend any professional sporting event these days until the full scope and extent of the current sport & game scandals is fully understood. Not even sure why we should waste the TV viewing time watching a sporting event that has a potentially rigged outcome. Call me one in full support of the present FBI and U.S. Justice Department gaming investigation(s)... go forward rapidly with a complete sport betting review and a strong management, official & player investigation(s)... prosecute and significantly punish the parties found guilty.

I currently choose to believe that the vast majority of sporting events are operated ethically and honestly. But it is impossible to not suspect clear and evident obviously incorrect management & official sporting decisions, as coupled with some player alleged mistakes. Questions are especially justified with the advent of semi-frequent and obvious judgment errors when evaluating good quality and readily available digital replay.

A procrastinator’s report from a decade past...

Whaling Ship Charles W. Morgan under full sail

We happened to be vacationing in Mystic Connecticut, and one August 2014 afternoon found us enjoying a late day libation at a small barroom on the Stonington side (seaward) of the majestic Mystic River. Our refreshment consumption was interrupted by a large commotion outside the establishment... horns blowing, loud human voices and cheers were noted. Stepping outside to investigate the ruckus, we are thrilled to discover and witness the historic wooden whaling vessel Charles W. Morgan, the previously unknown return of this ship from her three-month sailing visit to several New England seaports. The river banks were lined several deep with well wishers that day as The Morgan was expertly piloted under the famous Mystic River drawbridge, making way on this final leg toward a special berth in her most recent home-port at Mystic Seaport. There are times when an unknown, happy, and unplanned discovery forever makes a unforgettable notch in a person's gray matter.

Regards, DJ

Click HERE for more information on the vessel Charles W. Morgan

Note: Photo purchased in 2014 from offices of local newspaper "The Day" -- over time, lost the personal photos taken this day -- remember a nice image as The Morgan passed under the Mystic drawbridge.

A National Day Of Remembrance on September 11th

National Day of Service and Remembrance designated by Congress on September 11th to honor victims of the 2001 terrorist attacks.

The Patriot Day Act  

A Resolution of the U.S. Congress passed in 2001 to proclaim this day, and in 2009 this day was established as "National Day of Service and Remembrance."

September 11th is commemorated as a National Day of Service and Remembrance, the day is not a federal holiday.

Below is the pictorial evolution and status as photographed over the past 15+ years relating to  Revolutionary War Veteran Private Elijah Stanton's memorial headstone. 

Elijah's headstone lies face-up on the ground at his Eatonville Cemetery burial site (before 2010).  

Photo by Find A Grave contributor "Cassandra."

Elijah's headstone sits on ground and propped-up against wife Lucy's headstone (about 2015). 

Photo by Find A Grave contributor "Ed M."

Elijah's headstone cleaned and reset in new base in mid-May 2019.

Photo by Find A Grave contributor "DJ Paul."

Elijah's headstone in Oct 2023 remains sound in new base but shows

growing black mold before "Wet and Forget" application.

Photo by Find A Grave contributor "DJ Paul."

Elijah's headstone following 2 years periodic cleaning with "Wet and Forget" product and necessary yardwork. Photo dated September 11, 2025, with a fresh American Flag added.

Photo by Find A Grave contributor "DJ Paul."

Patriots Day September 11th, a solemn day designated that we should never forget those multiple tragic and murderous terrorist attacks of 9-11-2001. In the USA this day has evolved into the “National Day of Service and Remembrance” so designated by a resolution of the U.S. Congress. The National Cemetery Administration proposed that one way to generally remember and pay respects is by visiting and perhaps cleaning the graves of Military Veterans and First-Responders. The first cemetery visited this day was the grave-site of a distant third cousin Elijah Stanton (1754-1849) – “A Revolutionary Soldier” – a grave I've taken personal responsibility for in periodic checks and ground maintenance. Elijah's grave was discovered some years past when working with various genealogical resources and in the process of compiling our family tree. Elijah's gravestone first noted laid face-up on the ground nearly covered by debris and grasses. Then later someone had propped-up Elijah's stone against the gravestone of his beloved wife Lucy. A 2018 decision was made to install a new base for Elijah's monument, this task completed in the days before Memorial Day 2019. The new base contains about 400 pounds of concrete placed on a firm pea gravel footing. Over the years a considerable amount of back-colored mold had formed of Elijah's memorial, a growth not uncommon on older memorials in these parts. For the past couple of years, the “Wet and Forget” cleaning solution has been periodically applied to Elijah's memorial headstone, and it is happily reported to now be nearly clear of the unsightly mold. Several photos are provided that document the restoration of Revolutionary War Veteran Elijah Stanton's memorial headstone.   

A cleaning product works!  One product the National Cemetery Administration (NCA) suggests for headstone cleaning is “Wet and Forget” (NCA does not endorse any cleaning product) – see data about “Wet and Forget” cleaning product at this link -- Click Here

National Service On Patroit Day, September 11, 2025

 

A Unselfish Act Of Remembrance --

Click Here

Many Thanks!  👫 djp 

It is altogether fitting and proper that we do this...

 

“The world will little note,

 nor long remember what we say here,

while it can never forget what they did here.”

It was 162 years past on this day before Independence Day when Confederate Generals Robert Lee and James Longstreet issued the infamous orders to General George Pickett – make that July Third charge across one mile of open fields to engage the perceived “weaker center” of the Union lines. About 15,000 rebel soldiers engaged Federal Forces in what is known today as Pickett's Charge. We don't have exact causality numbers, but certainly over one-third of Pickett's men lay dead, dying, or with significant wounds on that Gettysburg killing field, all within a couple hours from the start of this aggressive rebel action.  And the Union forces suffered greatly too, with smaller but very significant casuality figures, a number perhaps three-quarters of whatever the rebel casuality number really was on this day.

Most historians still place the number of casualties at more or less 53,000 over those first three days in July 1863 during The Battle of Gettysburg. But a few seemingly more rational folks now suggest the true causality numbers at Gettysburg may actually exceed 75,000, this when considering the uncounted collateral human damage suffered in early July. It is interesting that the Civil War Era after-action bean counters did not consider or count those soldiers with significant wounds who likely died months or years later as a direct result of Gettysburg wounds or disease.

When Blue union forces and Gray rebel forces left Gettysburg, the deplorable conditions left for area civilians to deal with is not typically mentioned... safe food supplies gone or very significantly dwindled, clean water is now questionable or unavailable, and human and animal carnage left where they fell or at best then placed in very shallow battlefield graves. Seems obvious to the most casual observer that an uptick in related disease must have been true in the Gettysburg, PA area general civilian population over the ensuing months and years... women, children, disabled, and the aged must have been greatly suffering.

“...these dead shall not have died in vain, that this nation,

 under God, shall have a new birth of freedom,

 and that government of the people, by the people,

 for the people, shall not perish from the earth.”

The Gettysburg Address

POTUS Abraham Lincoln

November 1863

'Twas 82 Years Ago Yesterday His Ship Went Down

 

A Story About Chief Petty Officer Robert Walter “Bob” Spencer, U.S. Navy

Uncle Bob Spencer (1918-1982) was a ship's company cook/baker serving aboard USS Niagara (PG-52) when his ship was attacked during WWII by Japanese Aircraft on 22/23 May 1943. Niagara was one of four different naval vessel crews that Uncle Bob served with during WWII.  Bob's wife, our paternal Aunt Effie May (Paul) Spencer told this story "...hubby could not swim, but Bob's shipmates saved him as the Niagara was taking on water and sinking." And as the story goes, "...the ship's crew saved Bob because it's so hard to find good U.S. Navy Cooks and Bakers."

On 22 May 1943, USS Niagara, operating with Motor Torpedo Boat Division 23 and then converted to the Motor Torpedo Tender APG-1 classification, with assigned activities in the South Pacific Theater, departed Tulagi, Solomon Islands headed towards New Guinea. Otherwise put, the Niagara acted as the "mother ship" (supplies, fuel, and repairs) for a PT Boat squadron.  The following morning (May 23rd), a high-flying Japanese twin-engine monoplane attacked with four bombs. The ship made a tight starboard turn at maximum speed until the bombs were released, then swung ship hard to port. Three near-misses to starboard and one to port damaged Niagara's sound gear and the training mechanism of one 3 inch gun and knocked out steering control temporarily. Half an hour later, when steering control had been regained, six more high flying twin-engine planes dropped a pattern of over a dozen bombs. One hit directly on Niagara's forecastle and several were damaging near-misses.

Water rushing through a 14 inch hole 6 feet below her waterline flooded two storerooms, a passageway, and her engine room. All power and lighting failed, and her main engines stopped. Fire below decks forward was out of control, and Niagara listed rapidly to port (leaning left for you landlubbers). Her main engine and steering control were restored 7 minutes after the attack. But Niagara's increasing list and imminent danger of explosion of her gasoline storage tanks necessitated the order to "abandon ship."

PT–146 and PT–147 came alongside her stern to take off some of Niagara's crew. Others went over her side into rafts and boats to be picked up by other motor torpedo boats. Niagara was then ablaze from bow to bridge. Flames were spreading aft, and ammunition was exploding on deck. Yet, despite her damage, not one of Niagara's 136 officers and men was killed or seriously wounded. PT–147 launched a torpedo which struck Niagara in the gasoline tanks. She exploded with a sheet of flame 300 feet high, and went down in less than a minute. The motor torpedo boats landed Niagara's crew back on Tulagi Island early the next morning.

USS Niagara steams toward Pearl Harbor 

Naval after-action report edited and copied here from Wikipedia.com, where DJ Paul (retired U.S. Navy), is a financial contributor to the very fine Wikipedia historical article authorship. Wikipedia compiled much of this information from an article found in the public domain "Dictionary of American Naval Fighting Ships."

Remembering Four Of Our War Veteran Cousins

A Memorial Day, May 26, 2025 tribute. We respectfully remember four of our many deceased U.S. Military Veteran cousins.  Well done and thank you for your dedicated and Honorable services freely given to the United States of America.

Maternal First Cousin-1xRemoved  Leo Francis Wood

Leo is genealogically one generation senior to DJ Paul.  

Warrant Officer (W-1), USNR, Leo Francis Wood (1908-1963).  Leo is a U.S. Navy WWII Combat Veteran, nearly all of his wartime active-duty military assignments are with the "Gator Navy" mainly aboard the Attack Cargo Ship USS Oberon (AKA-14).  Age 33 Leo enlisted in the U.S. Navy on 8 Dec 1941, the day after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor.  Leo advanced very quickly in naval service, he is recorded as a Petty Officer Third Class (SK3) in early 1942, and a Storekeeper Chief Petty Officer (SKC) in mid 1944 -- his capabilities with accounting principles and experience in civilian small business management no doubt was noted and found highly useful to his naval commanders.  His "Up Through The Ranks" appointment to Warrant Officer is dated 30 Jul 1944, where he continues his service as the Oberon Paymaster (a naval billet these days is most often referred to as Ship's Disbursing Officer).  Leo's military awards include: the American Campaign Medal, the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal (5 awards included: North Africa Occupation, Sicily Occupation, Salerno Landings, and the Invasion of Southern France), the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal (1 award for the Assault of Okinawa Gunto), the Navy Occupation Service Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.  Leo was Honorably Discharged from naval service on 26 Oct 1945 as WWII concluded and the military service began necessary downsizing following VJ-Day.  Cancer takes Leo Francis Wood in May 1963, and his remains are interred at Saint Bernards Cemetery, Saranac Lake, New York, USA.  Our common ancestors are Great Grandparents Emile and Suzanne (LaLonde) Ouellet.  Leo is a first cousin of the next listed Kenneth J. Seney. 

Maternal First Cousin-1xRemoved Kenneth Joseph Seney

Kenneth is genealogically one generation senior to DJ Paul.

Fire Controlman First Class Petty Officer (FC1), USN, Kenneth Joseph Seney (1913-1981), enlisted U.S. Navy in 1935. Kenneth is a WWII Combat Veteran, with first sea-duty assignment aboard Light Crusier USS Brooklyn (CL-40).  He is recorded as a Petty Officer Second Class in 1943, and was thereafter promoted to Petty Officer First Class effective 1 Apr 1944.  Kenneth's primary WWII sea-duty service includes over three years in ship's company aboard the Jeep Carrier USS Prince William (ACV-31), operating in the Pacific Theater.  He then did a short stint aboard the Destroyer Escort USS Donald W. Wolf (DE-731), and lastly transferred to Receiving Station Terminal Island, Los Angeles, California on 10 Apr 1946 for Honorable Discharge (expiration of enlistment).  Kenneth's military awards include: Navy Good Conduct Medal, the American Campaign Medal, the Europe-Africa-Middle East Campaign Medal, the Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.  We know very little about Kenneth's life in California, except that he married a California girl named June in mid-1939, and following his military discharge  he was employed as a systems analyst by the Department of Defense most likely specializing in Fire Control Systems, stationed in San Diego, California.  Kenneth's untimely 1981 passing was at his home in San Diego, California, where he and wife June had lived for many years.  The internment site of Kenneth's remains is presently unknown.  Our common ancestors are Great Grandparents Joseph and Agnes (Anderson) Seney, and Great Grandparents Emile and Suzanne (LaLonde) Ouellet.  Kenneth is a first cousin of the aforementioned Leo F. Wood.

Paternal Second Cousin Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen

Bob is genealogically in the same generation as DJ Paul.

Colonel Robert Lawrence "Bob" Janzen, USAF (1935-2016) joined the U.S. Air Force in 1958, honorably serving his county for 28 years.  Bob is a 1953 graduate of Pelham Memorial High School, Pelham, NY, Colgate University, Hamilton, NY (with BA), and Webster University, St. Louis, MO (with MS).  He is a combat veteran of the Vietnam War.  Bob's many Air Force assignments were in various overseas duty stations and in the continental USA locations including a tour of duty at the former Griffiss Air Force Base, Rome, New York, and with several Air Force commands in the State of Virginia & Washington DC.  While in active military service, Bob also graduated from the Air Command Staff College and the Air War College.  He was awarded numerous medals and commendations throughout his distinguished career including: the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Joint Services Commendation Medal, the National Defence Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.  Following Air force retirement, Bob made his home in Fredericksburg, Spotsylvania County, Virginia, USA.  Bob was interred with full military honors at Quantico National Cemetery, Triangle, Virginia, USA.  Our common ancestor is Great Grandmother Ms. Effie Julia (Odell) Moegling.  Bob is a first cousin of the below listed Corporal James R. Brink.

Paternal Second Cousin James Richard "Jim" Brink

Jim is genealogically in the same generation as DJ Paul.

Corporal James Richard "Jim" Brink (1944-1966), USMC, enlisted to the U.S. Marine Corps in July 1965.  He is a June 1962 graduate of Charles Baker High School, Baldwinsville, New York, USA.  James parents removed to California from their hometowns in New York State at about the time of his high school graduation. He next attended Sacramento City College.  James is a Vietnam War Combat Veteran assigned to Company F, 2nd Battalion, 9th Marines, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Amphibious Force (MAF).  He was Killed-In-Action on 14 Dec 1966, fatally injured by rifle fire from an opposing enemy force while serving in Thừa Thiên-Huế, Republic of Vietnam (South Vietnam).  His military awards include: the Purple Heart, the National Defense Medal, the Vietnam Service Medal, and the Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal.  James was posthumously awarded the New York State Conspicuous Service Cross.  His remains were interred with full military honors, 27 Dec 1966, near his parents home at Sierra Hills Memorial Park, Sacramento, California, USA.  James name is found inscribed in Washington, DC, THE WALL, at Panel 13E, Line 43.  Our common ancestor is Great Grandmother Effie Julia (Odell) Moegling.  Jim is a first cousin of the aforementioned Colonel Robert L. Janzen.