Dad's Merchant Marine Days Part 4 Family Photos

Family photos were affixed throughout dad's 'Merchant Marines' album.  They followed no chronological order and I've put them basically in the same order here as they were in the album.  Identities provided are either known by me or they were included on the reverse sides of the photos.  Years were included on some photos and a couple others were estimates shared with me by family members.

My dad about 1945

Russell Westcott 1944

Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope

Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope

Marie Linnaberry

Marie lived next door to Grandma and Grandpa Schnack in Milford.  It's my understanding that my father had somewhat of a 'thing' for her before he met my mom.  Marie was no relation to the family but I included the photos because they were in the album.

Marie Linnaberry

Marie Linnaberry

Edward and Daisy's 25th Wedding Anniversary

This photo would have been made about 1948.  Kneeling in front from left to right is Jochim Walter Schnack, Edward Alexander Schnack, Katharine Rose Schnack Hammon, Anna Catharine Ella Schnack Mower, Helen Schnack Westcott.  Standing from left to right is Charles Mower, Olive Letha Rose Schnack, Edward Schnack, Jr., Marcia E. Schnack Hodges, Daisy D. Montana Schnack, and Marianna Ellen Schnack Hodges.

Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope

Charles Elbert Rose and Walter J. Schnack 1944

Charles Elbert Rose 1948-1949

Elizabeth Ann Olmsted Rose 1952-1954

Charles Elbert Rose and Elizabeth Ann Olmsted Rose 1952-1954

Charles Elbert Rose 1952-1954

Olive Letha Rose Schnack

Is this Katharine Rose Schnack Hammon?

Do you know who this is?

Do you know this dog or this toddler?

Olive Letha Rose Schnack with Thomas Alan Cope        August 1952

Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope with Thomas Alan Cope  August 1952

Harry Donald Cope with Thomas Alan Cope   November 1952

Harry Donald Cope and Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope

Katharine Rose Schnack Hammon

Olive Letha Rose Schnack

Edward Alexander Schnack

The following is a group photo and I've included a scan of the reverse side of the image.  The names written on the reverse side have no meaning to me.  Does anyone know who they are?

I recognize Harriet Julia Camp Baird on the far left and Milton George Camp is peaking around from behind a young woman standing beside Harriett.  The tall man is Leonard George Camp and the woman on the far right is Beatrice May Rose Camp.  Any help with other identifications is appreciated. 

Written on the reverse side is the location of the photo.  Secret Caverns and Howe's Caverns at Howe's Cove were, and still are, popular recreation areas in Schoharie County, New York.  I linked to both because I thought this group might have visited one or the other while in Howe's Cove, New York.

Beatrice May Rose Camp

I recognize a John Deere tractor when I see one but does anyone know whose house is in the background?

Lorraine 1945 

I have a Lorraine Hastings (born in 1936) in the family tree.  She is the sister of Donald Hastings who married our cousin Doris (Rose) Hastings. Could this be the same Lorraine?

left to right: Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope, Edward Alexander Schnack, Walter J. Schnack 1940

Doris Van Husen 1946 

I don't have Doris Van Husen in my family tree.  Can anyone tell me if, or how, she's related?

top photo from left to right: Jochim Walter Schnack, Olive Letha Rose Schnack, Vivian Eleanor Schnack Cope, Edward Alexander Schnack in Montreal, Canada

Harriett Julia Camp Baird

Milton George Camp

Milton George Camp

Leonard George Camp and Beatrice May Rose Camp

Jochim Walter Schnack

Updated 9 Mar 2014, 1:41pm, with additonal positive identifications.

1967 6 18 Walter J. Schnack to Olive Schnack

I begin this post with a newspaper clipping about the 196th Light Infantry Brigade being airlifted to Chu Lai.  Following that is the last letter that I have from my father before he left Vietnam.  I finish with miscellaneous photographs without dates or locations noted.

Family names in this letter and their relationship to my father are:

• 'Mom' was Olive Letha Rose Schnack, his mother
• 'Dad' was Jochim Walter Schnack, his father
• 'Chuck' is Charles Elbert Rose, his cousin
• 'Irene' was Irene Orvetta Cole Schnack Speer, his wife
• 'Jake' was Walter J. Schnack, himself and author of this letter

 

18 June 1967

Hi Mom and Dad,

Gee, you shouldn't feel bad about not writing.  I think I'm the one who should feel bad.  I'm not much at letter writing and I have been busy enough to keep a couple people going.  I try to write Irene every day but sometimes I don't even have time for that.  I am now at Chu Lai which is on the coast in the northern part of Vietnam, not too far south of Da Nang and the DMZ.  The Brigade came up here in April and I stayed in Tay Ninh till the 8th of June.  Its a lot worse up here - nothing seems secure.  I am now in charge of the bunker line which surrounds our little camp.  Its a very tiring job because they keep you awake at night 

with mortar and small arms fire.  Nothing too bad but harassing and never from places you can see and return very much fire.  I am waiting on reassignment instructions and then I'll be on my way home.  If they get here soon, I'll be home in July.  I sure hope they get here soon.  Gee, I've been going over your letters that I haven't answered and find three of them.  I'm real glad you got a chance to talk to Chuck.  I'm sure he was able to put your mind at ease about things here.  I'm glad to hear you're trailering even though its early.  Irene said you had a touch of virus.  Be careful.  I'm also glad you can use my old sleeping bag.

Well, keep your fingers crossed and maybe I'll be asking for the trailer in July.  Until I see you, I remain as ever

Your loving son,

Jake

P.S.

I mailed some stuff to Milford just in case I don't get assigned to Devens.

Following are miscellaneous photographs that I found in my family memorabilia collection that are obviously from my dad's year in Vietnam.

I was thinking this might be Father Du with my father, but its more wishful thinking than fact. 

 This looks like it could be the rear view of the Cao Dai Temple near Tay Ninh.