Searching relatives: Martin, Wells and Manley

But I and 2 adopters of the graves of William Martin and Harvey Manley at US Cemetery Margraten would like to get in touch with their relatives and those of Robert Wells as well.

So please help me if you can.
                                                

Awards

Family
His mother was Mrs. Josephine Davenport from Iowa born around the year 1899. His stepfather was Mr. Gus Davenport from Kentucky born around 1893.
He had 2 brothers: John F Martin (born 1918) and J Robert Martin (1923-2010).
From an article in the Paducah Sun-Democrat I learned he had a sister Mrs. June Martin Findley in Chicago (1943).

Her 1st husband was Wilbert T Findley.
One of their children was James L Findley who died 55 years old on June 13, 1999 in Northbrook-Illinois. He was born on July 23, 1943 in Chicago. Survivors in 1999 are his wife, Beth (née Kelly); his mother, June Findley Wildeman; and two brothers, Thomas C. of Clearwater, Florida, and John H. of Sacramento, California
Mrs June Martin remarried a Mr Wildeman and died herself on July 10 2008 in Tampa Bay(?). Her short obituary was in Tampa Bay Times on 13 July 2008.
Names and birth dates are from information in Census 1940.

Information thanks to mr Matt Jaeger from the McCracken County Public Library and LaDonna Hamontree from Pogue Special Collections Library at Murray State University.

Born September 29, 1920 in Blackwell - Kay County - Oklahoma. In 1930, the Manley family was living in Enid, Garfield County, Oklahoma where Harvey went to public school.
In 1943 his parents Mr. John Manley and (step)mother Mrs. Bertha Manley lived in Alamo - Hidalgo County, Texas.

Partly from The Brownsville Herald of November 24 1943: ‘Second Lt Harvey A. Manley has been missing in action since October 14 the day of the great daylight raid on Schweinfurt. Lt Manley graduated from Donna High School and was attending agricultural colleges at Kingsville A&I college when he joined the air forces on February 26, 1942 in Randolph Field. He was commissioned as a bombardier at Midland Texas on 17 December 1942 and completed a navigation and radio course in May 1943 before going overseas in September of this year (1943).’

Burials
Lt Manley was initially buried in the Forrest Cemetery (now called Lange Hecke) in Merkstein, Germany on October 18th at 10 o’clock in grave 513.

He was evacuated to Margraten on 1 February 1945 and interred in a temporary grave. He was again disinterred on 20 July 1948 and his remains were prepared and placed in a casket on 21 July 1948. He was given his final resting place on 10 January 1949 in grave F/20/17.

Family
His father was John Manley, who was born April 14, 1888 in Halls Summit - Coffey County - Kansas and died April 2, 1952 in Tonkawa - Kay County -Oklahoma.
His natural mother was Arlie Belle Crabb Manley. She was born on March 17, 1888 and died April 2, 1921 as Harvey was not even 1 year old. She was married to John Manley on 19 May 1912.
After her death John Manley re-married Bertha Belle Bittle Manley on April 15, 1922. She was born May 11, 1896 and died May 26, 1986.
From his marriage with Bertha Belle Bittle Manley a third son was born on July 15th 1937 in Hidalgo County: John Edwin Manley.
Harvey’s older brother was Jesse John Manley – born August 9, 1918 and who died May 30, 1989.
All except John Edwin are buried/remembered at Blackwell Cemetery in Blackwell - Kay County/Oklahoma.

Back to Oklahoma

After Mr. Harvey Arlie Manley’s death his parents moved back to their ranch in Ponca City - Oklahoma. As written by his father in the letter to Mrs Henlin. To the ranch Harvey should have taken over after the war ended.
(Source letter: Deborah Henlin).

My last known parental address (1946) is Rural Road # 1 – Ponca City – Kay County/Oklahoma.

Information thanks to Cynthia M. Kennedy PhD, Librarian at the San Antonio Genealogical and Historical Society.
Photo Manley from Fields of Honor.
Photo Memorial at Blackwell Cemetery from Judy Mayfield (Find a grave).

                                               

Robert G Wells
Right waist gunner: Sgt. Robert G Wells

He helped Ben Roberts out of his ball turret, but was fatally injured before bailing out (Roberts and Crawford in MACR 1034). However Mr Lepore stated that ‘he had no bullet wounds but all his bones were broken, presumably when the ‘ship’ hit the ground’. Mr Lepore also stated that Wells his parachute was open in the tail (MACR 1034).

Family
Born January 16, 1923 in Webster County, Kentucky, USA. His father was Samuel C. Wells, his mother Ruth Marie (Simpson) Wells. Their last known address was Rural Route 2 in Clay.
Robert had one older sister Nancy who married Bernard Musgrave. Nancy died in Evansville Indiana age 86 on 6 May 2006 and is buried at Sunset Memorial Park in Evansville with her husband Bernard.

Bob’s father Samuel C. Wells died March 19, 1973, at St. Mary's Hospital in Evansville, Indiana. Bob’s mother Ruth Marie Wells died before his father on November 18, 1971, in Webster County, Kentucky. Both are buried in the Pythian Ridge Cemetery at Sturgis, Kentucky, the same cemetery as Bob is buried at. 
Photo Robert G Wells from Michel Beckers / Ron Putz at ‘Finding a Grave’.

Mr. and Mrs. Sam C. Wells, near Wheatcroft, were notified Monday that their only son, Sgt. Robert G. Wells, 20, previously reporting missing, was killed in action on October 14.

Sgt. Wells, a waist gunner on a flying fortress, was killed in a raid somewhere over Germany. The young man volunteered for service on November 2, 1942. He received his training at Atlantic City, N.J., and received his gunner's wings and the rating of Sergeant at Ft. Myers, Florida, in January, 1943.

Sgt. Wells was a graduate of Wheatcroft High School, where he played on the basketball team, and had attended Murray* Teachers College. The last letter his parents received from him was written on Oct. 11, and in it, he said, "Above all, I don't want any of you to worry about me, for I am only doing what thousands of others are trying to do, make this a better world to live in."

Surviving are his parents; one sister, Miss Nancy Wells, of Evansville, Indiana; a number of Aunts, and other relatives.

Mr. and Mrs. Wells have received from Gov. Keen Johnson a certificated stating that their son has been commissioned posthumously as an aide-de-camp on the staff of the Governor with the rank of Colonel, in recognition of valor and heroism displayed.

Training buddies?

From Debbie Henlin I also got a photo with Bob Wells (right) and Frank Willis (left) on it; the three - Roy, Bob and Frank - were probably trained together.

First letter - to the War Department

After the war ended, Mrs and Mr Wells wrote in October 1945 to the War Department for information on

- details on the death of their son,

- where he was now buried, and

- when they could get his body back home?

By then he was buried at the US Military Cemetery of Margraten.

Two disinterrements, transport and final burial in the US

After his burial in Maastricht in grave CC 112 by the Germans Bob Wells was reburied on 10th of July 1945 in Margraten plot LL - row 1- grave 22.

Letter from his mother

In November 1948 Mrs Wells still had no answer after her filling in the request for repatriation of her son’s remains. So she wrote this letter to the Quartermaster General.

But they were on their way and on 28 December 1948 Robert G Wells remains were back home for a final burial at the Pythian Ridge Cemetery - Sturgis/Union County - Kentucky.

                                               

* Both Martin and Wells attended Murray State Teachers college before joining the USAAF.
Did they know each other before they entered service?

                                                    

Back to the story I started to find out why and how Donald Paul Breeden could get missing.

    The tumult and the shouting dies;

The Captains and the Kings depart:

Still stands Thine ancient sacrifice,

An humble and a contrite heart.

Lord God of Hosts, be with us yet,

Lest we forget—lest we forget!

R. Kipling