81st Combat Engineers

[jamesgaspero]

My name is Jim Gaspero. I have finally started researching my family history during World War II, specifically my grandfather and his older brother. My grandfather was part of the 1905th in the CBI campaign. His name was Robert E. Porter from Pennsylvania. He never spoke of the war or his older brother to me and he passed away in 1998. His brother was Sgt. Raymond E. Porter, Service # 33588979 from Pennsylvania. He was part of the 81st Combat Engineers, 106th Infantry Division. I have found newspaper articles from the local paper from 1944 and 1945. According to the paper he was listed as MIA on December 21, 1944. An article from March of 1945 indicates there was a newer report of his being a POW. According to other records I have found online he is listed as having died December 24, 1944 with an indication of FOD (which I believe stands for Finding of Death). I also know he received a Purple Heart with an oak leaf cluster. I have found another website (thanks to this one) specifically about the 106th and I plan to post the information there as well. I just thought I'd take a chance that someone would still be out there that would know a little bit more of his story. I also plan on uploading photos shortly. Thank you.