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henkgerrits


Hi,


Beneath you can read the reason why I'm searching for information about John J. Kudla. This letter is already sent to Jennifer Kudla because she has the same lastname and is living in Cuyahoga county, were John J. lived. She did not give a reaction yet.


The reason I'm placing a topic is because on the internet I have found that his unit was 112th Engineer Combat Battalion. Maybe someone on this site can tell me more about John J. Kudla. It would be great to have a face and a short story of John J. when we pay our respect next year. I thank you in advance for taking the time for reading my letter!  


In memory of John J. Kudla.


As of 2004 every year in june, and sometimes in august, I go to Normandy to pay my respect to those who have liberated Europe from the nazis.


I visit every year  the British cemetery in Bayeux and the American cemetery in Colleville sur Mer. On the British cemetery I always visit the grave of J.W. Collins to thank him for his sacrifice for our freedom and to lay flowers on his Grave. On the internet I could find some information of James Washington Collins. I know where he is coming from, who his parents were and where and when he got injured and died on the 7th of june 1944.


All those years I also visit the American cemetery in Colleville sur Mer. For years I, most of the times it’s we because almost every year friends of mine come with me to Normandy, we laid flowers by an unknown soldier to pay our respect to all 9385 American soldiers who are buried in Colleville sur Mer.


Because of the fact that most visitors only visit the first 15 to 20 rows of the cemetery  we have decided to do something different. To our opinion all soldiers have earned our respect and attention so we decided last year to pay our respect and lay flowers on the grave of a soldier in the very last row. We did choose 2 graves.


These two graves are of Daniel J. Knapp and John J. Kudla. John J. is the reason why I am writing you. John J. died on july 11th 1944 and the reason why we chose his grave to pay our respect was that the son of a friend of my, who were both with me last year, is born on the 11th of july.


We have searched on the internet but could only find a little information about John J.. We would like to know who John J. was, how he looked like etc. His hometown was Cuyahoga County, Ohio. You have the same lastname and come from or are living in Cuyahoga County. We hope that you are related to John J. if not we apologize for the disturbance. We hope that you can tell us something about John J.


And I have to apologize for my poor English! I hope that this letter makes sense to you!


With kind regards,


Henk Gerrits, Jos en Daan Kersjes


Dionysius de Karthuizerstraat 30


5643 RX Eindhoven, the Netherlands


Hgerrits30@hotmail.com


Jennifer Kudla  jennifer.kudla@tri-c.edu


2018_Grave_John_J._Kudla_1.jpg


Hi...


 


Thank you for your work honoring the fallen.


Have you contacted the US National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) on line?    Ask NARA what records they hold on the 112th Engineers for the month/s you are interested in seeing.  These records could include the S-3 message log (JOURNAL) and after action summaries (AAR's)as well as misc reports etc.  These records would at least provide information about the BN the day John was killed.


Also, on line, check the U.S. Army in WWII series:  "Cross Channel Attack."  I cannot remember the URL, but it is on-line.  


Hope this little helps.


theron


 


 


 


 


 

Yes, but that is NARA in Maryland, not St Louis. Here's the direct link. :-) 

https://www.archives.gov/college-park/researcher-info

Your English is just fine. I can understand you without a problem. Glad you stopped by. I will see what I can find out too!

And maybe a family member or friend will see this post and get in touch with you. That is my hope. We've had many pleasant surprises on this forum.  :drinkin:


Hi Marion,


Thank you for sending me the direct link. I wil send them a message in the hope that they have more information about John. Thanks and have a nice day :waving:

Happy to help!


Hi Marion and Theron,


I just want to let you know that I, as of 10.01.2018, am in contact with a niece of John J. Kudla. We allready send each other messages and she has send me all kinds of information and photo's of John and his family!


So my search of months was succesful. Next year we will put a photo of John in front of his grave. So everybody can see not only a grave (one of many) but also the person who gave his life for our freedom!


Thank you for your kindness!


Greetings from Eindhoven, the Netherlands,


Henk Gerrits    

That is absolutely wonderful news. Thank you for sharing your happiness.  :clappin:


Hi Marion,


On june 7th 2019 we visited the grave of John J. Kudla again to leave a picture of him at his grave. We paid our respects and left an American flag and flowers too. As promised. He is not forgotten.


I will visit Normandy again next year. Let me know if I can do something for you. Do you want a picture(s) of a special grave, building, town, beach, monument........ I will try to do it for you. 


Thanks again for your kindness to make the effort helping me.


Greetings from Eindhoven, The Netherlands


Henk Gerrits


John J. Kudla june 7 2019 B.jpg

John J. Kudla june 7 2019.jpg

You are so welcome. So glad that my forum could be of help to you. Tons of smiles!