Dick Waits Letter

Dear Paul, Betty, Sue, an P.J.

Well I got your package today an it was swell, we really ate that cake up an we are on the candy now. I also got one from your mother too so we can eat most of the night we don’t do much at night so we can eat all the time.

Well does Paul know when he is going to the army I hope he never has to go an if you do Paul try to stay on that side. I’ll tell you the truth the boys over here really hated to hear that they were taking men with children an that is something, because the boys over here don’t have pity on very many people.

Well try to have a nice Christmas an show the kids a nice Christmas I sure would like to see them xmas day I suppose you are going to have a tree an all that. That is when Christmas is nice when there are kids.

Yours as always

Dick

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits/ sister of Charles Richard Waits)

Charles Richard Waits and Margaret Anne Phillips Portrait

My research this morning has centered around my great grand uncle, Charles Richard “Dick” Waits.  Dick was born in 1919 in Lancaster, Ohio. He attended Lancaster High School and married Margaret Anne “Peggy” Phillips on 6/16/1941. Dick enlisted with the United States Army on 12/9/1941. He was KIA on 4/6/1945 in Mockmuhl, Germany as a corporal in Company C of the 753rd Tank Battalion. He is buried in the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, France. Dick was 25 years-old when he was killed. The picture above is of Dick and Peggy Waits. I believe his sleeve patch signifies United States Army ground forces. If you look closely, you can see the tank pin on his hat.

Peggy remarried a few years after his death. I have recently contacted her nephew, Paul, niece, Sue, and daughter, Lisa. After I compile all of their contributions, I will post them here. 

This morning, I have sent requests to the American Battle Monuments Commission for a floral arrangement to be placed at his grave marker. They also provide a photo of the marker after placement, along with a lithograph of the cemetery. I will post the picture after I receive it (probably in several weeks.) Chris Bradford, who runs a website dedicated to the 735rd Tank Battalion (Dick’s picture is in the KIA Gallery Two), has requested Dick’s Deceased Persons File on my behalf. The file should include how he died, where he was buried, reburial details, communication with his kin, etc. I hope to receive this in the near future as well.

Thank you to everyone who has helped with my research on this fallen hero.

Brian Davis – Christine Davis (Williams) – Ralph Scott Williams Jr. – Nellie Ruth Williams (Waits/ sister of Charles Richard Waits)

Welcome to my new blog, dedicated to my family tree research.  I’ll do my best to keep everyone updated on my progress (as well as trying to keep things straight in my head!)  I hope you check back often.  Please send any suggestions to my email address, davis-brian@att.net.