Memorial Day Tribute to My Family - A Week Late

Find Your Ancestors In Civil War Documents 

I saw a number of other bloggers post articles about their family's military history and I decided I wanted to do it too.  This is what I came up with, a week late, but I figure it's never too late to honor family members who served their country.

Sidney R. Cone (1847-1931)

Sidney R. Cone is one of my maternal great - great grandfathers.  He began his service in Company C, 7th Kansas Volunteer Cavalry in June 1864.  He was 17 at the time, and like most young men who have never seen war, probably looked on it as a grand adventure and couldn't wait until he was old enough to join.  Sidney's Civil War Pension file says he was present at the battle of Tupelo, Mississippi in July of 1864 where he "received sunstroke affecting his head and general system."  This was the basis for years of struggle to get the government to grant him a pension.  According to the Report of the Adjutant General of the State of Kansas, 1861-1865, Sidney's unit was on the right flank of the Union forces at the battle of Tupelo, but was not heavily engaged.  From the unit history, it appears the 7th Kansas Cavalry was involved in multiple small engagements during the remainder of the war, but was not involved in any major battles.   The photo is from a Colorado Springs, Colorado newspaper that shows the local post of the Grand Army of the Republic in 1926.  Sidney is in the middle of the first row (seated).  (Click the image to see the full sized photo.

Franklin E. Zaring Sr. (1899-1964)

Franklin E. Zaring Sr. was my maternal grandfather.  Franklin had a very dark side and I don't know that much about him.  I have discovered through secondary sources he actually served in the military 2 different times.  He married my grandmother in July of 1920 when she was 16, and my mother was born in December of the same year - count the months and you'll understand what happened.  In 1922 they had a son, and shortly after that, it appears they split up with Franklin disappearing.  He resurfaces in the 1930 census where he is living with his married sister, her family and his mother in Pennsylvania.   This census shows he was a veteran of the World War.  The first photo was probably taken in 1918 shortly after he joined.  I can find no official record of his service during this time.

I learned about his second stint in the military from an interesting source - his prison record.   This record indicates he joined the Navy in 1918 and received an honorable discharge in 1919.  It also shows he again joined the Navy in 1943, served for 14 months, and received an honorable discharge in 1944.  Efforts to find an official record of his military service have so far been unsuccessful.  The only document I have that confirms he was indeed in the military is his death certificate that states he died in the Fort Lyons, Colorado Veterans hospital after a 2 year illness. I also have the fact he's buried in the Fort Logan National Cemetery near Denver.  The second photo was taken during the World War II era while in uniform.  I thought I'd throw in the mug shot since I learned about most of Franklin's military service from his prison record.  Plus, I find the contrast of photos interesting - from a fresh faced patriotic 18 year old to a 56 year old convict.  I wonder what happened along the way?  (Click on all three images to get the full sized photos.)

Dominic Agazio (1914-2001)

Dominic Agazio is my father's oldest brother.  He was probably one of the nicest men I've known.  He was a big man who grew up in the rough mining camps just north of Denver.   The stories I heard were that because he was such a big man, others were always challenging him to fights.  Even though he never started these problems, Dominic always finished them.  He died before I began my interest in genealogy so I don't know much about his service.  What I do know is he joined the Army in 1941 before Pearl Harbor and remained for the duration.  I do remember him telling me he was an Army Signal Corp radar operator.  He served in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, and briefly in Germany.  I love the photo of him at the left in Sicily because he looks like Soldiers I'm very familiar with - tired, dirty, and determined.  (Click the image to get the full sized photo)

Louie Agazio (1921-1972)

Louie Agazio is my father.  I did order his military file, but unfortunately his records were destroyed during the Saint Louis fire.  The only record that remains is his discharge paperwork.  It shows he joined (was drafted) in July 1942 and was discharged in December 1945.  He served in the Philippines as a Military policeman in the 799th MP Battalion (it could also be the 999th - it's not clear).  He also attained the rank of Sergeant.  My father never talked much about his service and unfortunately I was too young when he died to think about asking all the questions I have now.  I haven't yet tried to find the unit history, but I'm sure it would give me at least an idea of his service environment.  I do have an album with scores of photos of his Army time in the Philippines, but with little to no explanation about what's inside.  There are many great photos in his album, but in this one he looks like the typical MP that I'm familiar with.  My father was very proud of his service.  One memory I do have when I was a young child, and I don't know why I remember it, but I recall he was very sad when "his commander" died in 1964.  He was mourning the death of Douglas MacArthur.  (Click the image to get the full sized photo)

Mary J. Zaring (1920-1971)

Mary Zaring is my mother.  When I was growing up I always had the understanding that both of my parents served in the military during World War Two.  It wasn't until she died, and I got older, that I learned her military service was not the norm.  I know thousands of women did serve, but out of a military that grew to 8 million, it was really a small number.  My mother served in the Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service (WAVES).  Fortunately for me the Navy didn't keep their records in the same place as the Army and Air Force, so I have her complete service record.  I'm also fortunate that she kept a well documented photo album, and a couple of scrapbooks that contain every letter she wrote and received during her two years of service.  Also in these scrapbooks are little souvenirs she acquired along the way.  My mother Served in the Navy from January 1944 until February 1946.  She traveled by train to her initial training in New York, then did the bulk of her service at Camp Elliott, San Diego where she received an honorable discharge.  She reached the rank of Yeoman First Class and she was an administrative assistant to a Navy chaplain.  My mother died before I could really ask her questions about her life, but she left behind more information then anyone else in my family.  I still haven't examined all of it closely, but hopefully I will do that soon.  One thing I do recall was she was always very proud of her service during a critical period in our nation's history - I'm proud of her service too. (Click the image to get the full sized photo)

Comments

[Tim Agazio]

Miriam and Blaine,

Thank you both for the kind words. It was fun to write and I plan on updating these stories as I discover more info.

[Blaine]

Tim, this was a fantastic post! I loved reading about these amazing family members. This was a great idea, I think I'm going to have to remember this for next year.

[Miriam]

Tim, this is very lovely and touching! I'm so glad you didn't put off writing this post just because it wouldn't be up in time for Memorial Day. You have much to be proud of in your ancestors' military service.

Miriam