From roots-in@bl-12.rootsweb.com Mon Dec 30 17:55:14 1996 Received: from bl-4.rootsweb.com (root@bl-4.rootsweb.com [204.212.38.29]) by bl-12.rootsweb.com (8.7.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id RAA24929; Mon, 30 Dec 1996 17:55:14 -0800 Received: from bl-12.rootsweb.com (roots-in@bl-12.rootsweb.com [204.212.38.28]) by bl-4.rootsweb.com (8.6.12/8.6.9) with ESMTP id RAA10525 for ; Mon, 30 Dec 1996 17:56:51 -0800 Received: (from roots-in@localhost) by bl-12.rootsweb.com (8.7.5/8.7.3) id RAA24920 for roots-approved@rootsweb.com; Mon, 30 Dec 1996 17:55:12 -0800 Received: from bl-12.rootsweb.com (slist@bl-12.rootsweb.com [204.212.38.28]) by bl-4.rootsweb.com (8.6.12/8.6.9) with ESMTP id RAA08684 for ; Mon, 30 Dec 1996 17:14:57 -0800 Received: (from slist@localhost) by bl-12.rootsweb.com (8.7.5/8.7.3) id RAA01589 for roots-in@rootsweb.com; Mon, 30 Dec 1996 17:13:19 -0800 X-Envelope-From: KathrynB@ix.netcom.com Mon Dec 30 17:13:17 1996 Received: from bl-4.rootsweb.com (root@bl-4.rootsweb.com [204.212.38.29]) by bl-12.rootsweb.com (8.7.5/8.7.3) with SMTP id RAA01578 for ; Mon, 30 Dec 1996 17:13:17 -0800 Received: from dfw-ix2.ix.netcom.com (dfw-ix2.ix.netcom.com [206.214.98.2]) by bl-4.rootsweb.com (8.6.12/8.6.9) with ESMTP id RAA08676 for ; Mon, 30 Dec 1996 17:14:53 -0800 Received: from pas-ca23-52.ix.netcom.com (pas-ca23-52.ix.netcom.com [207.92.191.116]) by dfw-ix2.ix.netcom.com (8.6.13/8.6.12) with SMTP id RAA14940 for ; Mon, 30 Dec 1996 17:11:53 -0800 To: roots-l@rootsweb.com (Roots-L (Direct to prescreeners)) Subject: WWI musician - how do I find out more? Date: Tue, 31 Dec 96 01:08:44 GMT Message-ID: From: KathrynB@ix.netcom.com (Kathryn Bassett) X-Mailer: Quarterdeck Message Center [2.00] Sender: roots-in@rootsweb.com THE FACTS: Gilbert Haven WILSON 5 Apr 1875 - 18 Oct 1964 According to his obit "In WWI days, the musician was in the United States Marine Corps as musical director and song leader. On convoy battleships anchored at secre base at Norfold Va, he inaugurated teh custom of community singing on dreadnaughts." Another part of obit says that on 4 Jul 1918 he led the singing on the plaza of the capital in Wash DC. WHAT I'VE DONE: I sent a copy of the obit with a cover letter requesting his service record and his pension record to NARA in St Louis and got back a Return of Inquiry form with a checkmark by "We are unable to identify a record of military service from the information provided." WHAT NEXT? Any suggestions on how to proceed in getting more info on his military/music history? He also sang opera in NYC during the 1900's 19teens, and I'd like to find more on that as well. -- Kathryn Rhinehart Bassett (Pasadena CA) kathrynb@ix.netcom.com "genealogy is my bag" "GH is my soap" ac948@lafn.org is permanent alternate address if 1st gets closed for some reason. No need for duplicate messages.