Aces High Bulletin Board

General Forums => The O' Club => Topic started by: Dichotomy on February 18, 2018, 07:48:28 AM

Title: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
Post by: Dichotomy 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
Title: Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
Post by: horble 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 (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.

(https://nara-media-001.s3.amazonaws.com/arcmedia/media/images/29/17/29-1628a.gif)

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.
Title: Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
Post by: Dichotomy on February 18, 2018, 01:32:32 PM
Thanks so much!!!  She's standing here and we're looking at it.  This rocks  :cheers:
Title: Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
Post by: Guppy35 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

(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/43135_b169657_00122_zpsx6aonhvv.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/guppy35/media/43135_b169657_00122_zpsx6aonhvv.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
Post by: Guppy35 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
Title: Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
Post by: Guppy35 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?

(http://i152.photobucket.com/albums/s199/guppy35/pay_zpsmnpzuob4.jpg) (http://s152.photobucket.com/user/guppy35/media/pay_zpsmnpzuob4.jpg.html)
Title: Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
Post by: Delirium 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?
Title: Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
Post by: Mickey1992 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.
Title: Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
Post by: Mickey1992 on February 19, 2018, 09:37:01 AM
(http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee344/mickeyphoto_bucket/cunzich.jpg)

Northwest Arkansas Times 1943 March 23, page 1
Title: Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
Post by: Nefarious on February 19, 2018, 01:18:36 PM
(http://i534.photobucket.com/albums/ee344/mickeyphoto_bucket/cunzich.jpg)

Northwest Arkansas Times 1943 March 23, page 1

Probably a T-6. Great find. Mystery solved.  :salute
Title: Re: Need A Little Help Findng Out My Wifes Family Military History
Post by: Dichotomy 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: