Monday, May 28, 2012

In Memoriam: Mary Ruth Ball Perkins

My Mother passed 52 years ago today, 28 May 1960. Her birthday is June 14th.

Memorial Day, 28 May 2012

This is a revision of my post from 8 June 2011:


Decoration Day, now called Memorial Day, started to remember the war dead from the War Between the States and later was expanded to include all United States military actions. 

To obtain Veteran Service Records go to http://www.archives.gov/veterans/

Vietnam Era:
I served in the Army Security Agency during the Vietnam War. I was stationed in Ft Devens, Massachusetts; Ft. George G. Meade, Maryland; Shemya Air Force Station on Shemya Island, Alaska; and TUSLOG Det-4 in Sinop, Turkey.

In Memoriam: 
 TEDDY EUGENE MIDDLETON, Army - CPL - E4 Age: 19 Date of Birth: Oct 29, 1949 From: MASON, OH
Length of service 0 years, 7 months in country; His tour began on Dec 16, 1968; Casualty was on Jul 15, 1969 In BINH LONG, SOUTH VIETNAM; HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY, GUN, SMALL ARMS FIRE; Body was recovered.

 MARTIN STEVE GRUBER, Army - SP4 - E4 Age:19 Date of Birth Feb 13, 1949 From: MASON,OH
1st Infantry Division; Length of service 1 years, 4 months in country; His tour began on Mar 28, 1968; Casualty was on Aug 8, 1968; In BINH DUONG, SOUTH VIETNAM; HOSTILE, GROUND CASUALTY, MULTIPLE FRAGMENTATION WOUNDS; Body was recovered.

Korean War and World War II:
My father, Denval "Dennie" or "Dick" Perkins, served in the US Navy and saw combat in WWII and the Korean War. He was on several ships that were sunk, one being the USS Preston DD-379 which was sunk during the Second Battle of Guadalcanal or Third Battle of Savo Island. He served 17 years in the Navy. His younger brother, Ralph Carl Perkins, served 25 years in the Navy and retired as a Master Chief Petty Officer. He served in the Korean War and later was a Recruiter.

Two of my maternal Uncles served in WWII in the US Army, Arnold Dow Ball, and Homer Darus Ball. Both saw combat in France and Italy.

World War I:
My paternal grandmother's first husband, James Francis "Frank" Inman served in the US Army during WWI. I do not know if he saw combat. I haven't found any others with service during WWI.

Spanish American War:
None known.

Indian Wars:
None known.

US Civil War:
Several of my ancestors and their siblings fought for the Union during the US Civil War: my paternal great grandfather, Jesse Perkins; my paternal great great grandfather, Nathaniel F. Walker; my maternal great great grandfathers, James Ball; Jesse D. Swain; John Kidd.

Mexican-American War:
My maternal second great aunt's fiance, Reuben Meadors, was killed in the Mexican- American War.

War of 1812:
None known.


American Revolution - 
Paternal lines:

My fourth great grandfather, Timothy Perkins, and his brother, Joseph Perkins, who were from New Haven, Connecticut and lived in Ashe and Wilkes Co., North Carolina, were Loyalists in the American Revolution and they served in several South Carolina Militia companies, one of which was commanded by a Captain Benjamin Perkins. It is not known if he was a relative. Timothy was killed during the War. During the War the Perkins brothers supposedly captured a notorious American officer, Col Benjamin Cleveland, and locked him in an out-building while they went to get other Loyalists. It is said that their wives let him escape.

Fourth great grandfathers Henry Porch served from Virginia; and William Bishop; Samuel Wiatt served from North Carolina; James Sullivan, who later became a Methodist Circuit rider, served from Virginia as did his brothers, John Sullivan, and Charles Craven Sullivan; as did fifth great grandfathers John Bennett of North Carolina; James Whitecotton of Virginia; Joshua Moses served from North Carolina, was captured for nine months and escaped from a prison ship in Charleston Harbor, his brothers John Moses and Samuel Moses also served.

Maternal Lines:

The brother of my fifth great grandfather, Lt. James Ball of Virginia; fifth great grandparents Lt. Joshua Phipps of Virginia at Battle of Guilford Courthouse; Jeremiah Burnett of Virginia; James Harvey May of Virginia; Thomas Stephens of Virginia.