A Soldier in My Family

My family does not have a strong military tradition, but several ancestors and extended family served in the U.S. Army.  My grandmother's brother, Daniel F. Bickerstaff, was one who served.

Daniel's World War I Enrollment Card, transcribed here at FamilySearch, gives this information:

Name:  Daniel F Bickerstaff
Event Type:  Military Service
Event Date:  10 May 1918
Event Place:  Niles, Trumbull, Ohio, United States
Residence Place:  Miner[al] Ridge, Trumbull, Ohio
Birth Date:  9 Apr 1895
Birthplace:  Mingo Junction, Ohio





I do not know what prompted him to do it but twenty-four years later Daniel enlisted to serve in the Army during World War II.

A transcription of his WWII enlistment record is available here at Ancestry.  This is some of the information it contains.

Name:  Daniel Bickerstaff
Birth Year:  1897
Race:  White, citizen
Nativity State:  Ohio
County or City:  Trumbull
Enlistment Date:  1 Oct 1942
Enlistment City:  Cleveland
Grade:  Private


He returned home from both wars without permanent physical harm.

Uncle Dan was a good man and one who served his country during its times of need and I thank him for it.  Uncle Dan was also a thief (in a manner of speaking).  More to come on that topic soon.

This post was written for Amy Johnson Crow's 2019 version of 52 Ancestors.  The post topic for the week was "Soldier."

--Nancy.

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