Author Topic: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History  (Read 409 times)

Offline Dichotomy

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Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
« on: February 18, 2018, 07:48:28 AM »
https://fi.billiongraves.com/grave/Joseph-Cunzich/2325894

Here's his grave.  If any of you guys can find any records on him my wifes grandmother is curious and I'd like to know.  I just moved her back into her place and and am caring for her full time while we deal with her dementia and family history is important to her.

Thanks in advance
JG11 - Dicho37Only The Proud Only The Strong AH Players who've passed on :salute

Offline horble

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Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
« Reply #1 on: February 18, 2018, 10:33:00 AM »
https://aad.archives.gov/aad/record-detail.jsp?dt=893&mtch=1&cat=all&tf=F&q=joseph+cunzich&bc=&rpp=10&pg=1&rid=694386

I found a transcription of his enlistment.



And here's a casualty list from Allegheny county.  He is listed as DNB, which I believe means 'Died Non Battle'?

I'll do some more digging, don't have much experience looking through American records.
JG11 "Sonderstaffel"

Offline Dichotomy

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Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
« Reply #2 on: February 18, 2018, 01:32:32 PM »
Thanks so much!!!  She's standing here and we're looking at it.  This rocks  :cheers:
JG11 - Dicho37Only The Proud Only The Strong AH Players who've passed on :salute

Offline Guppy35

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Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
« Reply #3 on: February 18, 2018, 09:36:59 PM »
From the WW2 Memorial Registry

S SG Joseph J. Cunzich

ID: 13037333
Branch of Service: U.S. Army
Hometown: Allegheny County, PA
Status: Died Non Battle

From Ancestry

Father:   Michael Cunzich
Mother:   Antoinette Hostik
Birth:   23 Oct 1919 Allegheny
Death:   1943 Pulaski, Arkansas, USA
Residence:   1 Apr 1940 Allegheny, USA

From his high school's  yearbook in 1945

« Last Edit: February 18, 2018, 09:42:37 PM by Guppy35 »
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Offline Guppy35

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Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
« Reply #4 on: February 18, 2018, 09:47:41 PM »
Also from Ancestry

Name    Joseph J Cunzich
Birth Year    1919
Race    White, citizen
Nativity State or Country    Pennsylvania
State of Residence    Pennsylvania
County or City    Allegheny
Enlistment Date    14 Jun 1941
Enlistment State    Pennsylvania
Enlistment City    Pittsburgh
Branch    Air Corps
Branch Code    Air Corps
Grade    Private
Grade Code    Private
Component    Regular Army (including Officers, Nurses, Warrant Officers, and Enlisted Men)
Source    Civil Life
Education    4 years of high school
Civil Occupation    Unskilled foundry occupations, n.e.c.
Marital Status    Single, without dependents
Height    69
Weight    148
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Offline Guppy35

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Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
« Reply #5 on: February 18, 2018, 09:55:32 PM »
Apparently he was killed in an accident while stationed at Little Rock Air Force Base, Pulaski, Arkansas, USA  March 22, 1943, although it states in the form below that he was at Drew Field, Florida, which was a fighter training base.  Wonder if he died in a wreck on the road while traveling?

« Last Edit: February 18, 2018, 09:59:19 PM by Guppy35 »
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Offline Delirium

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Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
« Reply #6 on: February 19, 2018, 05:35:48 AM »
Forgive me for interrupting the research, but how come his death benefits didn't pay out until 1950?
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Offline Mickey1992

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Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
« Reply #7 on: February 19, 2018, 09:24:09 AM »
Forgive me for interrupting the research, but how come his death benefits didn't pay out until 1950?

It appears that the application was not received until 1950.  It also appears to be a lump payment of $500, so it doesn't appear to be a widow's pension.  I am unable to find any info on a one-time death benefit payment to widows in 1950, but it could be something similar.

Offline Mickey1992

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Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
« Reply #8 on: February 19, 2018, 09:37:01 AM »


Northwest Arkansas Times 1943 March 23, page 1

Offline Nefarious

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Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
« Reply #9 on: February 19, 2018, 01:18:36 PM »
(Image removed from quote.)

Northwest Arkansas Times 1943 March 23, page 1

Probably a T-6. Great find. Mystery solved.  :salute
There must also be a flyable computer available for Nefarious to do FSO. So he doesn't keep talking about it for eight and a half hours on Friday night!

Offline Dichotomy

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Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
« Reply #10 on: February 19, 2018, 08:58:13 PM »
OH MY GOD GUYS!!! This is amazing information.  I can't thank all of you nearly enough for digging this information up for me. This is not only going to be important to her but to the rest of the family.  My wife in particular is interested in her family history but my 'patient' really digs on this information.  It calms her.  You guys ROCK  :cheers:
JG11 - Dicho37Only The Proud Only The Strong AH Players who've passed on :salute