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Unknown Dog Tag find in Germany


Forrest2016
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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 36712404
His name is Castro Joseph J.

 

Thank you.

 

Best Regards.

Forrest

 

 

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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.

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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]

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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

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  • 3 weeks later...

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

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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

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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

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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.

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  • 1 month later...

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