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eriksale 02-02-2011 10:59 AM

Uniform - Eugene B. Heister Reasearch
 
1 Attachment(s)
All
A friend of mine has his Great Grandfathers uniform from the Spanish - American War.
He is hoping for any info on either the uniform or his great grandfather's duties etc during that time. Eugene B. Heister.

I know someone might have some info.
Uniform picture attached

Thank you Dave

BLUEHAWK 02-02-2011 01:42 PM

Here is a little bit:

11th Infantry Regiment - Company E

(wiki)
War with Spain

The Eleventh Infantry left Jefferson Barracks, Mo., April 19, 1898, then to a training camp near Mobile, Alabama, via Chickamauga, and on to Tampa, Florida arriving June 7, for transport to Puerto, Rico.


During The Spanish-American War the Eleventh Infantry saw action under Brigadier General Theodore_Schwan Theodore_Schwan in the Battle_of_Silva_Heights Battle_of_Silva_Heights in the Puerto_Rican_Campaign Puerto_Rican_Campaign.

<sup id="cite_ref-44" class="reference"></sup>
1900 San Juan, Puerto Rico, headquarters, band, and 5 companies Eleventh Infantry.


Their Coat of Arms and Distinctive Unit Insignia:
<table class="infobox vcard" style="width: 315px; border-spacing: 2px; text-align: left; font-size: 90%;"><tbody><tr> <th class="fn org" colspan="2" style="background-color: rgb(176, 196, 222); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">11th Infantry Regiment</th> </tr> <tr> <td colspan="2" style="text-align: center; font-size: 90%; border-bottom: 1px solid rgb(170, 170, 170); line-height: 1.5em;">http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/im...2011/32514.png
11th Infantry Regiment coat of arms</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Active</th> <td>Constituted 3 May 1861;
Organized 6 May 1862-</td> </tr> <tr class="adr"> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Country</th> <td>United States</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Branch</th> <td>U.S. Army</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Role</th> <td>Parent unit for many Infantry School units</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Part of</th> <td>U.S. Army Infantry School</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Garrison/HQ</th> <td>Fort Benning</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Nickname</th> <td>"Wandering 11th"</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Motto</th> <td>Semper fidelis [1]</td> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Engagements</th> <td>American_Civil_War American_Civil_WarIndian_Wars Indian_WarsSpanish_American_War Spanish_American_WarWorld_War_I World_War_IWorld_War_II World_War_IIVietnam_War Vietnam_War</td> </tr> <tr> <th colspan="2" style="background-color: rgb(176, 196, 222); text-align: center; vertical-align: middle;">Insignia</th> </tr> <tr> <th style="padding-right: 1em;">Distinctive Unit Insignia</th> <td>http://www.patriotfiles.com/forum/im...2011/32515.png</td></tr></tbody></table>

eriksale 02-02-2011 02:42 PM

I found alot of this also.
My friend says his dad remembers him talking of being in the Phillippines? Did the 11th go there too?
Also he died in 69 so should make Sgt Hiester one of the oldest surviors.
Dave

BLUEHAWK 02-02-2011 03:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eriksale (Post 881295)
I found alot of this also.
My friend says his dad remembers him talking of being in the Phillippines? Did the 11th go there too?
Also he died in 69 so should make Sgt Hiester one of the oldest surviors.
Dave

It looks to me that the 11th served its time in the Philippines during the Spanish-American War, solely.

Has Sgt Heister's background been checked in Ancestry.com? If not, then that is one place to look for records asap.

I'll check another place and get back as soon as I know something.

BLUEHAWK 02-02-2011 07:09 PM

one more step
 
Here's a fun link on the 11th IR...

http://www.wyomingtalesandtrails.com/russell2.html

I'm lucky to have a couple of colleagues who know how to get to the bottom of such matters, so, stay tuned - I'll pass along everything that gets shared.

Maybe we'll hit a bonanza...

eriksale 02-03-2011 08:45 AM

1 Attachment(s)
Bluehawk
Here is another picture that may help identify
Dave

BLUEHAWK 02-03-2011 10:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by eriksale (Post 881728)
Bluehawk
Here is another picture that may help identify
Dave

Thank you!

I will circulate that immediately.

BLUEHAWK 02-03-2011 02:04 PM

update
 
Here is some professional analysis from a colleague based upon the photos:
------------
"That's a great pix of 1st Sgt. Heister. Compare with the attached crop from the Ft. D. A. Russell site, which enlarges the 1st Sgt. of H Co., 11th Inf. (the company supply sergeant is sitting next to him).
http://thumbp5-ne1.thumb.mail.yahoo....=564&fid=Inbox
Sgt. Heister and the H Co. troops are all wearing the same uniform. This style uniform was authorized from 1902 until WWI. However, I notice from your USMF post that the trim on Sgt. Heister's uniform is light blue, which was the approved color for Infantry for piping, cords, and chevrons on this uniform from 1902 - 1910. The Infantry trim color was changed to white in 1910. So, we know for sure that Heister's uniform was of the type approved for wear between 1902 and 1910. On the other hand, it is impossible to conclusively date either his photo or the H Co. photo as either light blue or white trim would appear as white in these black and white images.

1st Sgt. Heister's portrait answers my earlier question as to whether he was at Ft. D. A. Russell. He undoubtedly was, as the frame of his picture is embossed "Cheyenne, Wyo" which was Ft. D. A. Russell's location.

Another factoid: 1st Sgt. Heister's E Co. was part of 2nd. Battalion, 11th Infantry, along with companies F, G, and H. From the brief chronology related on the Ft. D. A. Russell Web page (see below), it appears that Heister's picture would have been made between 1904 - 1906, or ca. 1909 until ?

"In 1898, War with Spain broke out. The 11th was transferred to Port Tampa for further duty in Puerto Rico where it served until 1900. With the outbreak of the Philippine Insurrection discussed on the preceding page, the 11 was transferred to the Philippines where it served first on Leyte and later at Manila. In 1904, the 11th was stationed at D. A. Russell until it was transferred to Cuba in October of 1906...Following service in Cuba the regiment was returned to D. A. Russell where it remained primarily stationed with the exception that some troops from D. A. Russell were moved to the Mexican border in response to the revolutions in Mexico."

Has Heister's relative attempted to get records from NARA?"
------------
Is that helpful?

BLUEHAWK 02-03-2011 04:12 PM

post script
 
I am reliably informed that if the family wished to complete a NARA request, then there is a high probability of success because SpanAm War files were kept in Maryland, not in St Louis and thus not subjected to the 1973 archives fire.

eriksale 02-03-2011 04:41 PM

WOW Thank you guy's
The link of I believe a pic does not come up?
Also I'm a dumby what's a NARA?

Dave

BLUEHAWK 02-03-2011 05:03 PM

Nara
 
This is the link to National Archives Records Administration (aka, where our government keeps all available veteran documents):

http://www.archives.gov/veterans/

Next of kin can ask for and receive all existing records of a veteran's service, and their medals if still available.

The person requesting will need either a Social Security number, or the military service number for 1stSgt Heister. They will also need to know his EXACT place and date of birth and death (many family members do not actually know these things precisely).

If necessary, go here to find his SSN:

http://ssdi.rootsweb.ancestry.com/

When it comes the moment, in filling out their online or hard copy form, to specify what records are requested, it has been found beneficial to use these exact words (not fewer, not more):

<style>@font-face { font-family: "Cambria"; }p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal { margin: 0in 0in 10pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: "Times New Roman"; }div.Section1 { page: Section1; }</style> “I am seeking all official pages of the official military personnel file and and supplemental pages reflecting service schooling, education, air/sea travel, duty assignments, weapons qualification, special equipment or skill qualifications, awards, medals, decorations and commendations, combat service and injuries and all other military service related entries including medical records and any and all Performance Evaluation Fitness reports.”

They will only provide what is requested. So, if one were to request, for example, "All military service records", NARA would have no clue what was being asked for. Many people make this mistake and are lucky to get a copy of the discharge papers.

It can take some time, and may require more than one request. It may also cost a little money if a hand search must be completed to provide and copy the records.

It is worth the effort, and is really the best way to know what 1stSgt Heister did in the Army. Be mindful, clerical errors are not uncommon.

Tamaroa 09-04-2012 10:19 AM

National Archives and Records Administration. Its been a while since I did it, but there used to be a form NATF-80 that you could fill out and get the soldier's service record and pension files as well. You have a enough information for them to narrow the search fairly quickly. You might be able to get them from DC, that;;s where the Civil War records are. You need to fill out two forms to get both the military records and the pension files. On the form is a space for you to write your mastercard or visa number. It usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to get the records.

Regards,

Bill


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