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Terry Mason's Family History Site55,914 names. Major lines: Allen, Beck, Borden, Buck, Burden, Carpenter, Carper, Cobb, Cook, Cornell, Cowan, Daffron, Davis, Downing, Faubion, Fauntleroy, Fenter, Fishback, Foulks, Gray, Harris, Heimbach, Henn, Holland, Holtzclaw, Jackson, Jameson, Johnson, Jones, King, Lewis, Mason, Massengill, McAnnally, Moore, Morgan, Overstreet, Price, Peck, Rice, Richardson, Rogers, Samuel, Smith, Taylor, Thomas, Wade, Warren, Weeks, Webb, Wodell, Yeiser. |
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Billy was enlisted in 112th Calvary unit of the U.S. Army and became a Sergeant. The 112th made many important contributions to the United States efforts in winning World War II. Activated in November of 1940, it was the first of Dallas's national card units to be called to active duty for the war. This unit was the only Calvary unit that still rode horses; all others had converted to tank units. The unit shipped out for New Caledonia in the South Pacific in July, 1942 from San Francisco. Unfortunately, the ship carrying the unit's trained war horses was torpedoed from a submarine and went down. 1500 new mounts were obtained from Australia but were not broken nor rained. Nine months later the horses completed their training but then the unit's mission changed. They were ordered to Northern Australia were they would fight their way through the occupied island's jungles - unsuitable for horses. The 112th became a multi-specialty unit with experts in medicine, communications, ordinance etc. and were nicknamed the "Little Giants of the Pacific" by the New York Times. Woodlark Island was seized by the 112th ring the landing and endured six months of bitter jungle fighting while being constantly bombed by the enemy. Finally, they joined the marines and Calvary having finally taken the western half of New Britain in June. After two weeks of R&R in New Guinea, they were ordered to Atape to support the 32nd division who were desperately holding out against the Japanese. They endured 45 days of intense fighting with very heavy casualty rates. Supplies were dropped into jungle clearings by C-47s. Once they were cut off from the other divisions for 5 days, but were able to hold the line. During this battle there were 3000 American and 9000 Japanese casualties.
The Philippines was the next stop when General MacArthur made his famous "return". They went on to more jungle fighting there, and eventually helped retake Manilla.The 112th's last duty was to help occupy Japan after the Japanese surrendered until 1946 when the unit was deactivated. Being the last mounted unit of the U tank battalions were designated the 112th Armor. After his military career, Billy returned to Dallas and became a Bailiff for the Dallas County justice system. Also, he helped organize the Dallas County Credit Union and was the manager until it reached $2M in assets. He was active in his church and a WWII veteran's organization. He passed on after contracting a quick growing form of cancer.
RESEARCHER-DESCENDANTS: Information sent to T.Mason by Ron & Doris Wilderson on 9 May 2005. "My ggrandfather (Thomas Burden 1859 TN -1938 Grayson Co, KY) listed his parents as Jno. (John) Burden and Sallie White, both born TN on his marriage license found at the Grayson County courthouse. My ggrandfather's family moved to Grayson County from TN about 1866 and seemed to be closely connected to other families that migrated from White Co, TN such as Nethertons, Whites, Odles, Glenns, Earles. I have found a Sarah/Sallie Burden (apparently a widow) on the 1870 and 1880 Grayson Co census and a Sarah Burden family (still no John) on the 1860 White Co, TN census that seems to be the same family. Children William Burden, born abt. 1844, Henry, abt 1849, Francis Marion abt 1856, Thomas 1859, and Cinthia abt 1861. I don't know for sure if the 1860 White Co, TN Sarah Burden family is the same Sarah/Sallie Burden TN family on the 1870 and 1880 Grayson Co, KY census or not, still researching for more proof."
Edward Esquire (Squire) Burden
BIOGRAPHY: GEDCOM from Ed Suder to T.Mason; Dec 1998; ; Notes: Esquire drove horses for a brewery, dug wells and also ran a grocery store.
MARRIAGE: Bob Baker Goff, The Burden Family of White County, Tennessee and their Bourdoon-Borden Ancestry; 1380-1980; ; Knoxville, Tennessee; pg 22; EXTRACT: Moved to Dallas, Texas
BIOGRAPHY: GEDCOM from Ed Suder to T.Mason; Dec 1998; ; Notes: Caroline was reputedly of Welsh descent. She was raised by her grandmother after her brother, Benjamin killed her stepfather over child molestation charges.