Forrest2016 Posted January 20, 2019 Share #1 Posted January 20, 2019 Hello, I need your help again. My friend find two dog tags from the same soldier. Unfortunately we couldn´t find any information about him in the www. Can you help us? The serial no is 36712404His name is Castro Joseph J. Thank you. Best Regards. Forrest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted January 20, 2019 Share #2 Posted January 20, 2019 Hi Forrest, The first digit of the serial number "3" indicates that he was Drafted. The second digit of the serial number "6" indicates that he was either from Illinois, Michigan, or Wisconsin. Although I could find no WWII registration for this individual to match up to your number, I feel relatively certain this is your soldier, as he was born in Illinois. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted January 20, 2019 Share #3 Posted January 20, 2019 Also, I found this. Publication: Freeport Journal-Standard Location: Freeport, Illinois Issue Date: Thursday, March 21, 1946 Page: Page 9 Discharges have been recorded in Carroll county by the following persons: Cpl. Irvin K. Hartman and Captain Kermit W. Hartman, both of Mt. Carroll. Cpl. Allen Saidel, Cpl. Carl C. Christensen, Dorothy J. Hoak, MaM 2/, Lt. (J.g.) Kathryn E. Lichty, all of Lanark. Pfc. Carl S. Anderson, Lt, Robert F. Kchoo, Sgt. Raymond L. Castro, Sgt. Joseph J. Castro, Frank Castro, Jr., Benjamin M. Mills, RSM 3/c, Pfc. John B. Zubaty, T/5 Jack M. Colebatigh, all of Savanna. It's quite possible that a copy of his discharge may be available at the Carroll County Courthouse. COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER'S OFFICE BRIAN WOESSNER, COUNTY CLERK & RECORDER Carroll County Courthouse P.O. Box 152 Mt. Carroll, IL61053 Clerk's Office Phone: (815) 244-0221 Recorder's Office Phone: (815) 244-0223 Fax: (815) 244-3709 Email: http://[email protected] Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest2016 Posted January 21, 2019 Author Share #4 Posted January 21, 2019 Thank you very very much for your answers and your help. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted January 22, 2019 Share #5 Posted January 22, 2019 You're welcome. Glad I could help. -- Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest2016 Posted January 22, 2019 Author Share #6 Posted January 22, 2019 Matt, thanks a lot. We also very happy, when we know, that the soldier is come back home and not died in our forrest. So we are very thankful about information. Best Regards Lydi Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted February 10, 2019 Share #7 Posted February 10, 2019 UPDATE: Hi Lydi, I took it upon myself to email the Carroll Country Clerk and Recorder to request any discharge information or paperwork on Sgt. Joseph J. Castro and I actually received a copy of his Enlisted Record and Report of Separation Honorable Discharge. I scanned it and am providing the scanned information below. Five foot four inch tall Sgt. Castro was evidently a Squad Leader in Company C, 26th Infantry, which I believe at the time was under the Army's 1st Infantry Division (the big red one) and participated in the following campaigns; Normandy, Northern France, and Rhineland. He was evidently wounded on 22 Oct 1944 in Germany. He was definitely in the thick of combat. Anyway, you can look at the rest of the information and if you have any questions regarding it, just let me know. Thanks...Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted February 10, 2019 Share #8 Posted February 10, 2019 (continued) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted February 10, 2019 Share #9 Posted February 10, 2019 (continued) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted February 10, 2019 Share #10 Posted February 10, 2019 Hello Lydi, I'm just naturally curious. You said your friend found the two dog tags in Germany. If you don't mind, I have some questions if you know the answers. What city or town in Germany is closest to where they found? How were they found? Like were they found, in the ground or on top of the ground, and with or without a metal detector? How long ago were the dog tags found? Were both tags found with a chain or something else that kept them both together? Do you have or can you get a picture of the dog tags and post them here on the forum? Thanks...looking forward to knowing a little more about them. I appreciate it! Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Forrest2016 Posted February 10, 2019 Author Share #11 Posted February 10, 2019 Hello Matt, thanks a lot for your further information. The dog tags were found in the huertgen forest, about 25 km away from aachen or 65 km away from cologne / west rhineland. They were found in Dezember 2018. No, no chain or something else. Best Regards Forrest Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted February 10, 2019 Share #12 Posted February 10, 2019 You're welcome Forrest, and thank you for the pic of the tag and information about location found. That's pretty neat. Thanks again. -- Matt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted February 10, 2019 Share #13 Posted February 10, 2019 Again AZNATION - Great research! You are a whiz! Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted February 10, 2019 Share #14 Posted February 10, 2019 The 26th Infantry was definitely there at this battle. It's also possible that Sgt. Joseph J. Castro was wounded at this time as it indicated he was wounded in action 22 Oct 44 in Germany. The 26th went on to fight at Aachen, Germany as well after this battle. Battle of Hürtgen Forest 19 Sep 1944 - 10 Feb 1945 https://ww2db.com/battle_spec.php?battle_id=117 An excerpt: The Battle of Hürtgen Forest was the longest battle the Americans had ever fought in the history of the United States military. The American forces suffered 33,000 casualties (9,000 of which were attributed to non-combat causes such as illness and friendly fire), while the Germans suffered 28,000 casualty (12,000 of whom died). Despite the eventual American victory achieved with the "Yankee doggedness" as described by Dwight Eisenhower, many historians argued that the lives spent at Hürtgen were in vain for that the forest was of little strategic value. While the American troops fought the extended battle, dams on the Roer River remained under German control. "One way or another, they got you. You froze to death or you got sick or you got blown to bits." Said Leonard Lomell, an Army lieutenant and a survivor of Hürtgen. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
aznation Posted February 10, 2019 Share #15 Posted February 10, 2019 Again AZNATION - Great research! You are a whiz! Bob Thanks Bob! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Simon Lerenfort Posted March 12, 2019 Share #16 Posted March 12, 2019 Nice tag finds from the wald Forrest! Good to know he got home safely. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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