The Map

This is the first entry in what I hope will be ongoing updates in the history of my grandfather Charles F. Hauck. My primary focus will be on his time spent in the Army Air Corps, but as I go on the scope might grow. I will be indexing these on a page over at my website (http://www.alexhauck.com/cfhauck/) for those who want to follow along.

Below is a picture of a cloth map that my grandfather acquired during a trip to Dulag City. My father had it framed and in his office so I while moving it I found a note from grandfather attached to the back of the frame. Underneath the picture I have transcribed the note.


April 8, 2000

After many sunrises and sunsets, if my memory serves me half assed, I think I obtained this map in Dulag City on the island of Leyte. I had a chance to go south of Tacloban one afternoon and I ran into a few Philippinos [Filipinos] who had resisted the Japanese and one of them gave me this map. This was in the spring of 1945.

Charles F. Hauck

Right now I am trying to collect his war records, if possible, from the National Archives along with searching the house to see what other information I can find. Hopefully I can figure out what company he served with so I am better able to track his possible locations during the war. I am also going to try and do some research on the Philippine’s resisted during the war and try to find any information regarding what this map was of.

* Click here for a larger image of the map.

* Click here for my index page.

Hanging In There

It has been awhile since my last blog and a lot as happened since then. As many of you know my father past away over the Christmas Holidays and to be quite honest I have not felt like writing. Usually I try to write funny stories or just give some updates on what the family is doing. Needless to say I don’t really have any funny stories right now nor have I felt about giving family updates since it seems to me I am missing a big part of my family.

While times have been trying I really would like to thank all my family and friends that have supported us. Without all of you I don’t know how we would make it through, it really is a special feeling to know how many of you truly care.

I just want to let everyone know that while it has been very difficult we are getting through. Things are starting to settle down as the whirlwind seems to be winding down, however this starts to leave more time for reflection. Before this all happened I had the below pictures as the feature on my website, and now I can hardly believe there are only two of us left.

Take Three!

Okay, when did reindeer pornography become so popular? I sure didn’t get the memo, and if it is popular why am I not getting a cut of the action since my reindeer seem to be the best at it in our neighborhood? In fact I think my two reindeer are the only light up, mechanical, Christmas deer in the whole neighborhood that fornicate!

For those that haven’t followed my blogs over the years this is the third time in two Christmas seasons that my reindeer have mounted each other. The first time I have to admit I thought it was pretty funny…good one. The second time, hey, I got a picture out of it since I forgot to take one the first time around so okay I’ll give it to them. But a third time…really…a third time? I mean come on don’t you have anything better to do with you time then mess with some light up, lawn, Christmas deer that were put out for a five year old’s enjoyment of the season?

Mary Ellen and I have given up and the deer have come down. We bought a little Christmas snowman and penguin to put out with the light up Christmas presents and the few lights we have on the shrubs. I now must get on my knees and ask forgiveness from my wife for the first blog I wrote on this topic as now I sound old too. The game is not over however as next year I want to figure out how to attach my reindeer to the roof of the house. If I can do that I’ll also put up a sign that reads, “Merry Christmas and try to mount my deer again “expletive!”

- Woman, You Sound Old!

- Someone Call 911 our Deer have been Violated Again

War of 1812: The Battle of Mississinewa

December 18th will be the 197th anniversary of The Battle of Mississinewa which took place in Grant County Indiana. I actually stumbled on this battle through a Facebook post of a reenactment that was taking place on the actual Battlefiled (this reenactment is the largest one held on the War of 1812). I am planning on going up to the battlefield to get some pictures, hopefully sooner as opposed to later, but at least wanted to mention the anniversary now.

The battle was fought between the United States and what was thought to be mainly Miami Indians who were backed by the British along the Mississinewa River. The US’s force of 600 men was made up of largely militia and the 19th Infantry Regiment of the US army. The objective of the army was to destroy the Indian town and villages along the Mississinewa River. General William Henry Harrison thought the town and villages would be staging areas for future operations against Harrison’s supply lines. In reality this exposition was likely reprisals against the Miami for joining with Tecumseh and the British.

The US force left Greenville, OH on December 14th where they marched through the nigh of the 16th and 17th and reached the first village. There were a few warriors in the village who escaped across the river and the army took around 42 prisoners. The infantry stayed and garded the prisoners while the dragoons march two more miles and destroyed two more villages. The camp was set up at the first village and was attacked by the Indians just before dawn on the 18th. The US force was able to hold them off, but over 100 of their horses were killed which seemed to be intentional as the Indians most likely wanted to stop the advance. That afternoon the army started its difficult march back to Greeneville and finally made it on December 24th.

While Harrison spun the exposition as a success none of the major objectives were really completed as the main town of Mississinewa was still twenty miles from their camp on the 18th. The army was crippled badly as about half were suffering from frostbite. The Indians still occupied the main town, and most of their food stores were saved.

If you would like a more in depth account Murray Holliday published a small book (pamphlet) of the exposition for the Grant County Historical Society called The Battle of the Missinssinea, 1812. I was able to get this book through and inter library loan with the Hamilton County Library. Murray also wrote and article that I found online at http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~ingrant/missbat1.htm. A Keith Raynor also wrote and article titled The Battle of Mississinewa that can be found on the web here http://www.warof1812.ca/mississa.htm.

Pumpkin Patch 2009

This past Saturday we took are usual annual trip to the pumpkin patch with Liam. This year he kept complaining that he just wanted to stay home and play because he thought the pumpkin patch was boring. We however told him that we were making him go and making him have fun.

After trying a different patch last year and being disappointed we decided to return to Tutltle’s who still had a wonderful selection of nice pumpkins. After complaining that he didn’t want to go Liam had a wonderful time, and my mother went as well. We got a pumpkin for each of us, and Liam wanted to get a pumpkin for Aunt Angie and Uncle Jason too. All in all another great fall trip to the pumpkin patch, and now we’ll see if Liam will scoop out the pumpkin innards this year when we carve ;)

 

I Love My Cat But...

I love my cat Jake, but he is a little special and probably one of the world’s most annoying creatures. Some things he just can’t help like his bum knee that causes him not to be able to jump like a normal cat or the fact he is just so obese that he cannot reach around to clean himself. I could get into several other issues Jake has but I might save those for another blog.

This morning my cat decides to announce his presence at 4:30 AM (as he does most mornings at this time) with what I like to referrer to as his meow scream that reverberates through the hallway and bedroom. After several practice jumps he finally lands on the bed and walks over me with his 16 pound body in order to get me to turn so he can lay his fat ass down next to me. Today he decides to get up from his spot around 5:00 AM and walk over me to the night stand where he knocked over the lamp while licking the radio. After I chased him off he stopped at the waste basket that had an old plastic wrapper of some kind that he wants to lick as well. Finally after I threw the pillow at him he left the room where I got a few moments of peace before I got up to brush my teeth. Jake then starts howling at me so I will put him on the bathroom sink for his morning drink.

I do really love my cat but wouldn’t you know I get the dirty, filthy cat with behavioral problems while Mary gets the OCD cat that over grooms and has attention issues due to Liam. Now I know cats all have their quirks but I really feel that we got a couple of overly quirky cats which makes for an interesting household if you ask me.

Ten Wonderful Years

This past 18th of September I have been married to my wife for ten years. I really cannot believe it when I say it ten years is a long time, but it has been seventeen years since we first started dated at the end of our freshmen year of high school. I mean what can I truly say that will do this justice, we have practically grown up together and when I think about it probably not many couples can say that.

Mary Ellen is truly my soul mate and I could not possible list all the wonderful things she does for me. I just want to let her know that I love her very much and here is to many more happy years together!