Hi everyone, My name is Arturo Lara (artlara1) and I live on the Outer Banks of North Carolina. I enjoy learning about military history and finding the history of my family in the military. Some of my family served as listed below. Grandfather (Robert C. Carraher) USA Grandfather (Donald A. Hecke) Korean War, USA 1X Grandfather (Charles R. Carraher) WWII, USA 1X Grandfather (Arthur H. Hecke) WWI, USA 2X Grandfather (Alvis G. Kingery) USA 2X Grandfather (Frank C. Carraher) USA 2X Grandfather (Frank H. Bass) WWI & WWII, USA 2X Grandfather (Edward Javorsky) WWII, USN 4X Grandfather (Silas C. Pearsall) US Civil War, USA 1 Cousin 5X Removed (John Kingery) US Civil War, USA 3 Cousin 3X Removed (Warren Kingery) WWI 4 Cousin 2X Removed (Warren T. Kingery) USA, USAF (Korean War), USAFR I also enjoy collecting things. I like to collect coins, military memorabilia, and autographs. I hope to learn new things and meet new friends along the way. All the best, Arturo Lara (artlara1)
Welcome Arturo! Looks like you found the perfect place for your interests. I have some family in Canton, NC, a mere 450 miles from your location in the same state. ;-) Please keep us informed with your research on your family's military history.
Thank you all for your welcoming comments. I feel that this is a great place to be, considering my interests. I think it's neat to meet people who live all over the world...well mainly Western Europe and the U.S. that I see here now anyway. I will surely keep everyone here posted on my family's military history. I might even share some stories. Well, I guess I could share one now. My grandfather, Donald Hecke, was with his unit one day and they had taken a break. My grandfather, and a few other men, noticed their Sergeant sleeping under a tree. Now the Sergeant was a bigger guy and he had just eaten a can of beans, which made him gassy. My grandfather approached him, while he is still sleeping, and took out a match and lit it. When the Sergeant passed wind, well... you kind of get the picture. After the Sergeant had gotten up, he started to chase my grandfather. The terrain was I guess hilly because my grandfather kept going up and down these different hills and it really tired up the Sergeant. That's probably the only story my grandfather ever told me from his time in the service. He passed away in November of last year at 81. He was a really cool guy and I wish I could have gotten to know him better. Well, It's nice to meet you guys. All the best, Arturo
Funny tale there, thanks for sharing it Arturo. The more jovial and mundane the story a veteran tells, the more likely they saw serious action and want to forget it. Its a shame he's no longer with us to relate more of what he saw.
My grandfather was a great man, grew up in Southern Illinois and was a businessman owning several newspapers and a radio station (well, my grandmother ran it). He attended Southern Illinois University, Carbondale and graduated in 1958. He was honorably discharged and I was surprised when I heard this story. I also found out that my grandfather Robert Charles Carraher was indeed in the U.S. Army and was dishonorably discharged. I am working to get more information on his service. I also found out my Great-Great Grandfather, Alvis Gaston Kingery, was also in the U.S. Army, too. Looking for information on his service as well. Will keep everyone informed. All the best, Arturo
I learned this evening that my 1st Cousin 5 times removed served in the United States Army during the United States Civil War. He volunteered for service on August 22, 1862. He was mustered into service on September 8, 1862 and mustered out July 29, 1865. He was a member of Company D, 97th Regiment, III Volunteer Infantry. He was with Sherman in that memorable march to the sea and during his time on the service, he participated in some of the fiercest and bloodiest conflicts of that war and yet, he came through the war without a scratch or wound.
Careful, Arturo. We have some Southerners here. Mentioning Sherman without, at the same time, questioning his parentage can be a bit dicey.
Well, Thank You Tommy for your concerns. I am just giving the information that I have from books and other family sources. I hope I am not upsetting anyone on here with this post. If I do, I can, and will, delete the information, but will leave his unit information for others to see. Thanks again, Tommy. -Arturo
No, Arturo. That won't be necessary. I was just making an attempt at a little humor (hence the 'winking smiley face'). Never ever apologize for mentioning your military heritage here. In fact, I hope you will be willing to post a memorial for your cousin over in Roll of Honor & Memories - All Other Conflicts.
Tommy, I think, no, I WILL make a memorial for him, and my other family members in the other part of the site. Hopefully I have something everyone will find interesting. I also found out on my trip to Montrose, Illinois that my Great Grandfather, Arthur William Kingery may have been a veteran, but it may be a different Arthur Kingery, I am checking in on that. Thanks again, and will hope to hear from you on the memorial for my cousin! -Arturo
I'm late welcoming you, but I was on vacation, and didn't see your posts til today. Welcome. Your stories are what we like. Read and post whatever you can about these men. They are the lifeblood of this forum.
Thank you LRusso for welcoming me to this great place. You have not welcomed me too late, I am still kind of new to this place, so thanks! I posted a mini-biography on my cousin, John Kingery, from the U.S. Civil War. Today, I will post a story of my grandfather, Donald Hecke from the Korean War. Thanks again! -Arturo
