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Post by Tom McHale on Feb 26, 2008 9:38:23 GMT 8
My name is Tom McHale and I am the son-in-law of Pfc James J. Kennedy (deceased), HQ 2nd BN, 503d. Jim was wounded April 19, 1945 on Negros.
It's been a while since I've communicated with you. Since we spoke last, I purchased photos of my father-in-law & others from Mr. Fred Hill.
Yesterday my mother-in-law found a couple of photos & a mag. article. One photo is a group photo (small) of Jim and approx 45 other men in front of the Taj Mahal. The photo is dated April 2, 1944. If you or others are interested I could try to have it copied and enlarged. Let me know.
This is confusing. I have a magazine page dated June 1955 (page 43 & 44). The article is about the 82nd. One photo is a group shot of troopers (incl. Sgt & Major) on board a plane. The caption reads "Officers and men of the 82nd Division, in full battle regalia, take off from England for the airborne invasion of Holland." According to my mother-in-law, Jim identified himself in the photo (sitting on the left). It sure looks like him. Was the 503rd in Holland? Or could it be a photo of the 503rd with the wrong caption? Other photos are of Jim posing with his machine gun and in his dress uniform.
Anyway, I hope all is well and let me know if you are interested in copies of these photos.
All The Best, Tom McHale
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Post by EXO on Feb 26, 2008 9:46:44 GMT 8
Dear Tom, I am glad to hear that Fred Hill is still alive. His assistance to the 503d via his old photographic archives, and his expertise in saving the 'Troopers by their States' photographs, has been invaluable. No WWII 503d unit ever saw the Taj Mahal. I sure would like to know what identifies it as such.. There does seem to be a bit of false information put around at that time - eg photographs given much press prominence of 503d men undergoing ski training, is what I am referring to. A battalion of troopers who thought they were 503d PIR when they were sent from England to jump in Africa as part of the Torch invasion, were administratively renamed after the episode. It's a bit of administrative magic that these men changed from 503d to 509th, particularly after the event. So you may find the answer in a book I reviewed at corregidor.org/heritage_battalion/book_review_1.htmlThat will be a good place to start googling. Jim wouldn't be the only paratrooper who fought in both the ETO and the Philippines, and thereby hangs a very interesting story, if you can rediscover it. Regards EXO
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Post by Tom McHale on Feb 29, 2008 14:29:09 GMT 8
Mr Whitman,
I am so sorry to hear about Mr. Lindgren's passing. He helped me out tremendously by finding the log records of Jim being wounded in battle.
As I stated before, the photo has writing on the back: "Taj Mahal, Agra, India. April 2, 1944. One of the seven wonders of the world" On the front of the photo there is an arrow drawn pointing to my father-in-law. There are about 40-45 men in the photo.
According to Jim's Enlisted Record & Report of Separation, he departed the US, 6 Dec 43 Destination PTO arrived 14 Jan 44. Then he departed 27 Nov 45 for USA and arrived 14 Dec 45. Is it possible that the 503d stopped over in India?
Thanks for the help and again my deepest sympathy to the Lindgren Family and the 503d.
Tom McHale
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Post by EXO on Feb 29, 2008 14:52:19 GMT 8
It's hardly possible that a unit of the 503d operated in India.
It might have been possible that after he had served in the ETO, your father-in-law was being reassigned or posted to the 503d in the course of which he took the tourist opportunity to see the Taj Mahal. Had he been home on leave, or was he sent directly from the ETO?
I don't think the 503d Taj Mahal picture is a case of disinformation, as those 503d paratroopers pictured in their ski uniforms seem to have been.
It might well have been that after he had served in the ETO, Jim found himself en route to the Pacific by air, as an individual, being routed via India. Those pictured with him may well have been just fellow travellers, heading towards the Pacific and their respective postings, by various and sundry trans-continental transport flights. Who wouldn't have taken a quick side trip to the Taj Mahal, had the opportunity presented itself!
Of course, this is speculation, but I should like to think that it is at least an informed speculation.
EXO
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