Motivation for research?

[frostyknight]

My interest in family history goes back to when I was a child. On my mother's side of the family there was a great oral tradition. I heard about people's names going back generations, details of people's lives, the odd skeleton . My Great Uncle Tom was particularly knowledgeable, but unfortunately died at the age of 91 when I was about 11; naturally, at that age I didn't write down what he said. On my dad's side of the family there was much less oral tradition, though I used to play with my Dad's uncle's WW1 medals as a kid. I always wanted to find out more, and I've been hooked for years now
Or maybe I'm just nosey

[nickgc]

it was one of the two ships that brought the majority of  American soldiers back home at the end of WWII.

It would be an interesting study in logistics to see how 2 transport ships transferred millions of US troops from Europe to the US.   An internet search shows that over 300 ships were converted to transports for this effort.  It took 48 hospital ships to transport just the .5 million wounded.  To quote one source,"the post VE-Day rush homeward would average more than 435,000 GIs per month for the next 14 months."

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I started my research because my mother didn't know her paternal grandparents... it has turned into a longterm project (obsession?)

Nick

[Lookin2]

maryn1913

I am looking for ships' names  that carried American soldiers in WWII.  I would like the name of the ship that you referred to.  Thank you, Lookin2

[Lookin2]

Nickgc

Nick I have been unable to find but a couple of ships.  I e-mailed NARA and they tell me that most info on troop deployment have been destroyed.  What exactly did you Google so that I may take a look.  Thank you, Lookin2

[nickgc]

Lookin2 - I was referring to troops returning home to the US from ETO after WWII.   Not only troopships, per se, were involved in this huge transport operation.  Look at the phrase "Operation Magic Carpet".  Several sites give list of ship names involved.  They will not list names of individuals, which I believe you are after.  Most of these ships were designated "Victory ships".

Sorry that my comment led to taking this thread off topic.

Nick

[Lookin2]

Nickgc

What I am doing as I cannot get lists of names is putting a file together for her of what I can find re the US involvement WWII and perhaps at a later date something might be found that will give her the answer she is looking for.  Thank you, Lookin2

[chirp]

As a child I always enjoyed looking at the box of family photos and knew from a young age who was who. Sometime later (probably when I was aged about 12) I found an old tin box in the attic which contained a list of names written in beautiful copperplate script with dates alongside. The paper was old and very marked at the creases. I recognised one name: that of my great grandfather. I guessed the others were his siblings and parents and and that the dates were of their births. Some years later I was proven right. Also in the box was the original marriage certificate for my great grandparents. I asked my parents if I could keep these documents and later they were my starting point for what became my passion for family history. I was simply fascinated by the past but not school history lessons as they seemed too remote from reality. I wanted to know about how people actually lived, particularly my people.

My feelings haven't really changed though now I have developed an interest in social history too which makes my family searches all the more interesting. The piecing together of information and "following up a hunch" are all part of the excitement too.

(Of course I have never discovered who it was who had the lovely handwriting!)

[suehorne58]

A photo given to me by my late mum of my maternal gt.gt.grandfather, it was a bog-standard studio photo but what intrigued me was the medals he was wearing - turns out he fought in the Crimea!  After that I was hooked and have been ever since.

Sue

[clayton bradley]

When my father in law was elderly I would go over once a week and take him shopping. We had to sit down first and have a cup of tea and he would tell me stories of his family, things he wanted to know. While my in laws were alive, I didn't have time, but after their deaths, I started to look for answers. Every time we went past Stockport Central Library my father in law would say "I know I'm related to the chap on the plaque but I don't know how." Now I know how and a lot more besides, claytonbradley