Re: Capt. Robert E. Brown (O-369825) - KIA 19 Sep 1944
 

As a (final?) follow up of this post, the local commitee planning to place a memorial is looking for the birthday or at least birth year of PFC John. J. Vetter, ASN 32638178. He was one of the 321st GFAB victims of the Waco crash. He originated from Nassau County, NY.



At first glance his ASN is not in the NARA Enlistment Records. Ancestry has 'about 1921'.



Thanks for help.


Regards,


Leendert

Re: Capt. Robert E. Brown (O-369825) - KIA 19 Sep 1944
 

Leendert,

It seems 1921, New York (State) is as close as can be found. 1940 Census for the John Vetter family attached, see line 34. At this time John Jr is 19 years old.

This appears to mirror available data from the Field of Honor Database for this veteran

https://www.fieldsofhonor-database.c...-vetter-john-j

However according to the family 1920 Census before John Jr was born and after during the 1930 Census the family was living in Hempstead, Nassau County, New York. It is reasonable to believe that John Jr was born in Hempstead, New York.

Re: Capt. Robert E. Brown (O-369825) - KIA 19 Sep 1944
 

I found a John Vetter born January 20, 1922 in Queens, NY which "may" be him but I can't really prove it. The actually birth certificate number is obscured on the listing I found. The certificate would have more information on the family.

NY census records show the family ( father John, Sr and mother Marie appear to have been living in Queens in that time period (a sister born around the same time was also born in Queens). The family then moved further out on Long Island. John went to high school in Freeport, NY.

His name appears in the Freeport listings of WWII war dead from time to time.

http://nyshistoricnewspapers.org/lcc...ed-1/seq-9.pdf

Re: Capt. Robert E. Brown (O-369825) - KIA 19 Sep 1944
 

Thanks for help.

Indeed, 1921 appears to be the closest or at least ‘safest’ estimate.

The Nassau Daily Review-Star of Oct. 20, 1944 reports Vetter’s death. Home address (or rather his parents) is given as 65 West End Avenue in Freeport, Long Island. He had entered the Army in Nov. 1942.
I gathered that Freeport is a village within the municipality of Hempstead, mentioned above.

Regards,

Leendert

Re: Capt. Robert E. Brown (O-369825) - KIA 19 Sep 1944
 

Just to tell that on 11 October 2019 a memorial plaque will be dedicated to the men killed in the glider crash at Blankenberge.


Regards,


Leendert