Company F, 39th Aircraft Repair Squadron, United States Air Force - Order and Roster

I recently discovered an order dated November 20, 1952, addressed to "F" Company, 39th Aircraft Repair Squadron of the United States Air Force. This particular company was situated at Elmendorf Air Force Base in Anchorage, Alaska. The order includes a comprehensive roster of the members in F Company. I am sharing this information here with the intention of aiding genealogical research. My hope is that someday, a relative of one of the individuals listed on this roster might come across it through a Google search. This would provide them with insights into their relative's service in the Air Force.

HEADQUARTERS, 12TH BATTALION, FORCE “A”

APO 942, U.S. Air Force

SPECIAL ORDERS)                             20 November 1952
NUMBER 11)                                      EXTRACT

X             XX           XXX        XX           X

5. Eff only upon the sounding of an alert or when ordered into field positions for tng by CG, AAC, the folg Amn, USAF, 39th Acft Rep Sq, Depot, are asgd the folg dys w/Co "F", 12th Bn, Force "A":

THIRD PLATOON

M SGT THADDEUS J. LEMANSKI  AF69777140      Platoon Ldr         Carbine
T SGT WILLIAM C. RITTER            AF13030903      Platoon Sgt         SMG
A/2C GENE H. LIMPF                       AF15434420      Runner                 Carbine
A/3C JAMES B. HOUSE                    AF15449766      Runner                 Carbine

1ST  SQUAD

S SGT WILLIAM H. JOHNSON       AF13279719      Squad Ldr            M1
L/2C ROBERT D. SLADER                 AF16354129      Rifleman              M1
A/2C DONALD L. LAWRENCE        AF15457041      Rifleman              M1
A/B HARRY G. SIENKIEWICZ         AF16224491      Rifleman              M1
A/2C GORDON L. O'BRIEN             AF12382993      Rifleman              M1
A/2C RICHARD G. WILLIAMS        AF19400537      Rifleman              M1
A/2C WILSON J. ELDER                    AF16327463      BAR                        BAR
A/3C DUANE H. FELDEUREGGE    AF16394665      Asst BAR              M1
A/1C DONALD R. RATHEURN       AF16372930      Asst Squad Ldr   M1

2ND SQUAD

S SGT CHARLES J. MCGEE              AF16331600      Squad Ldr            M1
A/3C WHAYNE T. WISNER              AF15258700      Rifleman              M1
A/2C MEVI N G. DI DEUM             AF19418974      Rifleman              M1
A/3C JAMES B. ZIELINSKI               AF13391093      Rifleman              M1
A/3C ORBIE L. CULPEPPER            AF14454148      Rifleman              M1
A/3C CLIFTON R. SMITH                 AF19405410      Rifleman              M1
A/2C DONALD E. WEST                   AF17322095      BAR                        BAR
A/3C MAURICE R. GRASSO           AF11235890      Asst BAR              M1
A/1C BARNEY M. CALVERT            AF18390563      Asst Squad Ldr   M1

3RD SQUAD

S SGT JAMES L. REYNOLDS            AF44106650      Squad Ldr            M1
A/B BOB L. BLACKWELL                  AF27505575      Rifleman              M1
A/3C DONELL TAYLOR                     AF16392673      Rifleman              M1
A/3C HERBERT DAVIS JR                 AF35202174      Rifleman              M1
A/3C KENNETH A. STIEHLER         AF12393992      Rifleman              M1
A/2C RUSSELL D. PETERSON         AF12344865      Rifleman              M1
A/3C JOHN R. MASNIC                   AF17233577      BAR                        BAR
A/2C BERLYN R. SCHMIDT             AF16376273      Asst BAR              M1
A/1C PAUL D. DEADMOND           AF17274609      Asst Squad Ldr   M1

Par 5, SO 11, Hq 12th Bn, Force "A", dtd 20 Nov 52 (Cont'd)

THIRD PLATOON, COMPANY "F"

4TH SQUAD       

A/1C RICHARD A. POWELL            AF17275932      Squad Ldr                            Carbine
A/2C BILLIE L. JOHNSON                AF19388705      Gnr .50 HMG                      Pistol
A/2C MAURICE C. WOOLF             AF17298775      Asst Gnr .50 HMG            Carbine
A/3C NICHOLAS J. SIMONETTA   AF12409937      Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
A/2C EVERETT S. KILDOW              AF19400614      Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
A/2C ROBERT A. SCOTT                  AF18382057      Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
A/2C ROBERT J. SUFFILL                 AF11226242      Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
A/2C MAURICE M. STONE             AF17291604      Gnr .30 LING                       Pistol
A/2C ROY L. NORRIS                        AF19422539      Asst Gnr .30 LMG             Carbine
A/30 JAQUIN CORONA                   AF19421973      Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
A/2C FRANK M. MORELLI              LF15457490       Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
A/1C JAMES R. TREADAWAY         AF14394600      Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
A/3C RICHARD L. HENES                AF15459718      Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
A/3C ROBERT C. PINSON               AF23439942      Gnr .30 DIG                         Pistol
A/2C THADIOUS OZLANSKI          AF12345581      Asst Gnr .30 LMG             Carbine
A/3C RICHARD E. OWEN                 AF11228057      Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
A/3C HARRY F. MCGINTY               AF14338650      Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
A/2C DAVID H. HENDRICKSON    AF17334078      Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
A/2C JACK C. HARRIS                       AF18378316      Ammo Bearer                     Carbine
S SGT FREDERICK BRUCE               AF14353827      Asst Platoon Sgt                 SMG

Par 5, SO 10, cs, this Hq, is rescinded.  

X             XX           XXX        XX         X                                            

BY ORDER OF LIEUTENANT COLONEL BRUMFIELD:                                            

                                               

OFFICIAL:                                           

HAROLD L. FURLOW                                       
Captain, USAF                                   
Adjutant

DISTRIBUTION:

110 - 39th Acft Rep Sq, Depot                              

Exploring the Story Behind a Stately Residence: Unveiling the Legacy of 206 East 44th Street

Delving into the history of a building is like turning the pages of a captivating novel, each layer revealing intriguing tales and hidden gems. People embark on this historical journey for various reasons, whether it's to breathe life back into a structure through restoration, secure its place on the esteemed National Register of Historic Places, or simply satisfy their curiosity. Imagine the allure of unraveling the secrets woven within the walls of a place frozen in time.

Picture this: a grand, two-and-a-half-story, eight-bedroom house stands tall at 206 East 44th Street, nestled within the Southmoreland Historic District in Kansas City, Missouri. This dwelling, known as the B. C. Christopher Residence, beckons us to uncover its rich past. Designed by the prominent architectural firm Root & Siemens, which was spearheaded by Walter Clarke Root and George M. Siemens, this house embodies the architectural finesse that shaped Kansas City's skyline. The same firm is also responsible for iconic structures like the John Deere Plow Company Building, Studebaker Brothers Manufacturing, and the Country Club Christian Church.

A masterpiece born in 1903, the B. C. Christopher Residence was lovingly crafted under the watchful eye of Charles F. Ettwein. Its Richardsonian Romanesque style captivates with a façade adorned in textured square stones, crowned by a grand Romanesque arch embracing the main entrance. The house boasts a distinctive red tile-hipped roof adorned with eight charming dormers, while wide-rounded Roman arches grace the first-floor windows and alternate entrances. A short tower, complete with a Balistreri-window and conical roof, adds an enchanting touch, while a stone balconet and stately chimneys complete the visual symphony.

Benjamin Campbell Christopher

Enter the protagonists: Benjamin Campbell Christopher and Ada Stanley Christopher, the original occupants who embarked on their residence's journey in July 1904. They left behind their previous abode, possibly marred by the 1903 flood. Benjamin, a respected businessman, held the reins of B. C. Christopher & Co., Kansas City's oldest securities brokerage. The torch of ownership passed from Benjamin to Ada and then to their daughter, Lelia Christopher Harris, upon Ada's passing in 1937.

A portrait of Judge Harris Brown hanging in his former court room.

Lelia and her husband, Harris Brown, breathed life into the residence, with Harris presiding as the judge of Division 4 of the Circuit Court of Jackson County, Missouri. A remarkable connection led Harris to this prestigious position through none other than the political powerhouse Tom Pendergast. Harris, a close friend of President Harry S. Truman, held contrasting roles, navigating politics while shaping legal landscapes. Interestingly, he authored a decision in 1928, using the doctrine of separate but equal, to bar African-Americans from the Swope Memorial Golf Course. This contentious verdict was later overturned, underlining the evolving societal landscape.

The pages of history turned, and Lelia continued to grace the residence until her departure in 1964. The house then embarked on a new chapter under different ownership, becoming a living testament to the narratives it carries.

In the end, this tale of the B. C. Christopher Residence is more than bricks and mortar; it's a tapestry woven with stories of success, friendship, legal prowess, and societal change. As we trace the footsteps of its inhabitants, we're reminded that each structure we encounter has a life all its own, waiting to be explored and celebrated.

Sergeant James Henry Nokes' WWII Grouping

James Henry Nokes was born on August 25, 1916, in Winnipeg, Canada, to Walter Harold and Agnes Jane (Gillespie) Nokes. With the exception of his first year, which he missed due to illness, James received his primary and secondary education in the Winnipeg School System.

After completing his education in 1932, James enlisted in the Royal Canadian Army Service Corps (RCASC) of the Non-Permanent Active Militia (NPAM). As this was just a part-time commitment, James acquired a full-time job as a steward at the St. Charles Country Club in Winnipeg. James remained in this civilian position until the fall of 1940 when he joined the RCASC's active component in the newly formed Canadian Army. The entirety of his active service took place in Canada and by the time he was discharged in 1941, James had attained the rank of Acting Sergeant.

With World War II still raging abroad, James continued to contribute to the war effort as an arc-welder for the Service Station Equipment Company (SSEC). He remained with SSEC until December 1950, when he went in to business for himself. In October 1955, James began working as an arc welder for the Steel Company of Canada and a month later he joined the 133 Company RCASC of the Canadian Army (Militia). When he left the service on October 23, 1962, at the rank of Sergeant, he had earned a Canadian Volunteer Service Medal; War Medal 1939-1945; and Canadian Forces Decoration (April 17, 1961).

In his free time, James enjoyed bowling in two separate organized leagues, playing on the 133 Company's championship volleyball team, golf, stamp-collecting, butterfly-collecting, and hunting. He also served on the Board of Stewards for the St. Christopher's United Church in Hamilton, Ontario. James married his wife, Jessie, in about 1941 and the couple had four children. James died in 1973 and was buried in Woodland Cemetery in Hamilton, Ontario.