bobgee Posted March 5, 2019 Share #1 Posted March 5, 2019 Interesting studio pic of a Kelly helmet wearing GI. Not sure if Army or Marine. Reverse states taken just after Pearl Harbor attack. Bobgee Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
268th C.A. Posted March 5, 2019 Share #2 Posted March 5, 2019 Advertisement Paul Ecenia Birth Nov 1919New York, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA Death 23 Dec 2010 (aged 91) Florida, USA Burial Myrtle Hill Memorial Park Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA Memorial ID 63380569 · View Source ShareSave toSuggest Edits Memorial Photos 1 Flowers 1 Paul Ecenia was born in N.Y.C. on November 19, 1919 to Gregory "Harry" Ecenia and Anna Soroka. Paul was baptized in the Russian Cathedral in NYC.Paul was a W.W.II veteran with two Purple Hearts and seven battle stars. He is a Pearl Harbor Survivor and a retired Captain. He was at Normandy, Bastogne, Midway, the Bulge, and the Rhine Crossing Battle of Germany. He was the World Armed Forces jitterbug Champion in 1944.Paul married Rita Vann from San Antonio, Texas in 1945 . They moved to Tampa in 1954 and owned and operated Allied Fence Company for over 40 years. Rita and Paul celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. In the 1950's Paul wrote a column called "In My Opinion" for a Tampa weekly paper.Paul was an accomplished singer, dancer and actor with many theatrical and film credits and was known for his large collection of 16 mm full length feature films.He owned and operated The Bowery on Madeira Beach. The Bowery was one of the last venues in the area to have a full floor show nightly with featured entertainers. He enjoyed entertaining, planning shows, and emcee-ing. He participated in many USO shows produced by Tampa entrepreneur Tony Garcia.Paul was a Past President of the St. Patrick's Day Association and the Tampa Community Theatre. He was a member of Actor's Equity, the Greater Tampa Showman's Association, Elks Club 708, St. Gregory Parish Council, the Latin American Fiesta Association, and numerous business organizations. Paul was one of the founders of St. Gregory Russian Orthodox Church, in TampaPaul was a League Bowler and avid fisherman. He collected stamps, coins, WWII patches, antique liquor bottles, Movie Magazines, Matchbox cars, hats, weapons, Elvis dolls, movies, records, masks, and joke books!!He is survived by his wife Rita, son Gregory (Barbara) and daughter Tandova Ecenia-Oberst (Lash), granddaughter Tatiana Baile (Brian), great grandson, Jackson and many nieces and nephewsThe family wishes to thank Mary Bell Hickman and George Spinka, for their friendship and loving care of Paul over the years and also, Father Joseph of St. Philip the Apostle Orthodox Church for his spiritual care of Paul. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
268th C.A. Posted March 5, 2019 Share #3 Posted March 5, 2019 Advertisement Paul Ecenia Birth Nov 1919New York, New York County (Manhattan), New York, USA Death 23 Dec 2010 (aged 91) Florida, USA Burial Myrtle Hill Memorial Park Tampa, Hillsborough County, Florida, USA Memorial ID 63380569 · View Source ShareSave toSuggest Edits Memorial Photos 1 Flowers 1 Paul Ecenia was born in N.Y.C. on November 19, 1919 to Gregory "Harry" Ecenia and Anna Soroka. Paul was baptized in the Russian Cathedral in NYC.Paul was a W.W.II veteran with two Purple Hearts and seven battle stars. He is a Pearl Harbor Survivor and a retired Captain. He was at Normandy, Bastogne, Midway, the Bulge, and the Rhine Crossing Battle of Germany. He was the World Armed Forces jitterbug Champion in 1944.Paul married Rita Vann from San Antonio, Texas in 1945 . They moved to Tampa in 1954 and owned and operated Allied Fence Company for over 40 years. Rita and Paul celebrated their 65th wedding anniversary. In the 1950's Paul wrote a column called "In My Opinion" for a Tampa weekly paper.Paul was an accomplished singer, dancer and actor with many theatrical and film credits and was known for his large collection of 16 mm full length feature films.He owned and operated The Bowery on Madeira Beach. The Bowery was one of the last venues in the area to have a full floor show nightly with featured entertainers. He enjoyed entertaining, planning shows, and emcee-ing. He participated in many USO shows produced by Tampa entrepreneur Tony Garcia.Paul was a Past President of the St. Patrick's Day Association and the Tampa Community Theatre. He was a member of Actor's Equity, the Greater Tampa Showman's Association, Elks Club 708, St. Gregory Parish Council, the Latin American Fiesta Association, and numerous business organizations. Paul was one of the founders of St. Gregory Russian Orthodox Church, in TampaPaul was a League Bowler and avid fisherman. He collected stamps, coins, WWII patches, antique liquor bottles, Movie Magazines, Matchbox cars, hats, weapons, Elvis dolls, movies, records, masks, and joke books!!He is survived by his wife Rita, son Gregory (Barbara) and daughter Tandova Ecenia-Oberst (Lash), granddaughter Tatiana Baile (Brian), great grandson, Jackson and many nieces and nephewsThe family wishes to thank Mary Bell Hickman and George Spinka, for their friendship and loving care of Paul over the years and also, Father Joseph of St. Philip the Apostle Orthodox Church for his spiritual care of Paul.Visitation will be held Tues. Dec. 28th at 7pm, Panikhinda at 7:30 to 8:15pm and on Wed. Dec. 29, 2010 Divine Liturgy will be held all at 10am at St. Philip the Apostle Orthodox Church 9100 El Portal Drive Tampa, Florida 33604. Interment will follow at Myrtle Hill Cemetery. The family would like to invite everyone back to the church for refreshments. this again... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
268th C.A. Posted March 5, 2019 Share #4 Posted March 5, 2019 photo... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
268th C.A. Posted March 5, 2019 Share #5 Posted March 5, 2019 It looks like he was in Europe and the Pacific ?? I dont know about that one....Pearl Harbor, Midway to Bastogne crossing the Rhine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dirk Posted March 5, 2019 Share #6 Posted March 5, 2019 Great research! And a great photo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
huntssurplus Posted March 5, 2019 Share #7 Posted March 5, 2019 It looks like he was in Europe and the Pacific ?? I dont know about that one....Pearl Harbor, Midway to Bastogne crossing the Rhine. It said he had two purple hearts, maybe he was wounded and then transferred? Hunt Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgee Posted March 6, 2019 Author Share #8 Posted March 6, 2019 Great research & info, David/ Thank you - Bob Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted March 6, 2019 Share #9 Posted March 6, 2019 The only army units on Midway that I see so far were elmts of the 7th Air Force. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RustyCanteen Posted March 6, 2019 Share #10 Posted March 6, 2019 That is a really neat photo! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
iron bender Posted March 7, 2019 Share #11 Posted March 7, 2019 It looks like he was in Europe and the Pacific ?? I dont know about that one....Pearl Harbor, Midway to Bastogne crossing the Rhine. I'd guess it's not common but it definitely happened. 87th Infantry served in the PTO then deployed to Italy December 45. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
patches Posted March 8, 2019 Share #12 Posted March 8, 2019 No doubting he was in Hawaii, and nothing out of the ordinary for a Unwounded soldier after Dec 7th in either the Hawaiian Department, or one of the two divisions formed from the old Hawaiian Division be transferred for whatever reason back to the ZI to another division or an another assignment, say OCS, or assigned as a Drill Sergeant or an Cadre Instructor at one of the many Replacement Training Centers that start to appear in 1941, where in turn he winds up in a unit that would ultimately serve in the Mediterranean or European Theaters. Since in the photo he is an EM, and the OBIT says he left the service as an Officer, a Captain, then perhaps he was sent stateside to an OCS, and afterwards stays stateside in a unit that would be sent to England and or Europe later on. With this guy it's the mention of Midway, doesn't seem to be any ground forces from the Army there save for Air Units, it's possible the "Midway" is an error on the part of the compilers or the family, this sort of thing we've all seen before with OBITS , errors in service listings, even omissions. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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