Please see the attached photo. It is from the personal effects of my father, who served in the 26th Infantry Division, 101st Infantry Regiment. As far as I know, this picture is unique and has not been seen by any of the men pictured and named in the photo or by any members of their families.
Based on other photos of the same vintage, I believe that this photo was taken very close to the end of the war, perhaps even on May 7th, 1945, or perhaps a day or two after the war ended. The 101st Regiment had moved south and east along the Danube battering the German army, crossing into Austria just before entering Czechoslovokia. I have a captured P-08 (with capture papers) that my father gave me. He said he was sitting on the steps of a farmhouse in Czechoslovokia on May 7th 1945
and scribed that date into the holster when they received the word that the war was over. I wonder if this is the same farmhouse he was referring to.
The names of these GIs are quite clear, although the spellings may be off by a letter or two. The names I can read are (front row, left to right) Jim Allen, Joe Esswin (Esswein?), and Pete Hammond, and (top row, left to right) Jim Cryar (Cryer?) and Milt Lazansky. My father is not pictured.
I have tried searching the internet for family connections buy have come up empty (e.g., I did find a Milt Lazansky in Wisconsin who is my age and may be a son, but the contact information is out of date and I made no contact). If anyone can offer any advice on how to proceed or has the means to make a connection, I am in a receive mode. Perhaps the sons and daughters or grandsons of granddaughters of these heroes will find value in having a copy of this picture and I will be glad to send the image along.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice that you may be able to render.
Based on other photos of the same vintage, I believe that this photo was taken very close to the end of the war, perhaps even on May 7th, 1945, or perhaps a day or two after the war ended. The 101st Regiment had moved south and east along the Danube battering the German army, crossing into Austria just before entering Czechoslovokia. I have a captured P-08 (with capture papers) that my father gave me. He said he was sitting on the steps of a farmhouse in Czechoslovokia on May 7th 1945
The names of these GIs are quite clear, although the spellings may be off by a letter or two. The names I can read are (front row, left to right) Jim Allen, Joe Esswin (Esswein?), and Pete Hammond, and (top row, left to right) Jim Cryar (Cryer?) and Milt Lazansky. My father is not pictured.
I have tried searching the internet for family connections buy have come up empty (e.g., I did find a Milt Lazansky in Wisconsin who is my age and may be a son, but the contact information is out of date and I made no contact). If anyone can offer any advice on how to proceed or has the means to make a connection, I am in a receive mode. Perhaps the sons and daughters or grandsons of granddaughters of these heroes will find value in having a copy of this picture and I will be glad to send the image along.
Thanks in advance for any help or advice that you may be able to render.
