Brothers in Arms

Happy Memorial Day to all of our veterans! This year, Dixie Roots shall make a concerted effort to complete a veteran-related project. Namely, to restore, research, and publish the images and stories from my grandfather, George T. “Buddy” Mariencheck’s World War II scrapbook.  It is overflowing with scotch-tapped pictures of Buddy and his buddies – many of them inscribed with dates, names, ranks, home states, and even addresses.  Our goal is to find the families of these soldiers and share the pictures with them. To begin, we found the son of SGT Earl PeQueen, shown here. We were happy simply to make the connection. Then we learned that years ago, the PeQueen home burned to the ground, destroying everything, including their family photographs. Buddy’s scrapbook photo is the only one the family has of their father from the war! The research will continue. Meanwhile, the following are the brave men who fought alongside Buddy and whom are included in his album.  Perhaps the magic of the internet will help us make more connections and share more photographs. Thanks to these men and to all who have done their part to build and defend our nation! *Buddy trained at Camp Hood, TX and deployed as a member of  the 6th Armored Division, 50th Armored Infantry Battalion, Headquarters Company.	Harold Franke, Buddy Mariencheck, and Alfred J. Hoffman. Eisenberg, Germany. June 17, 1945
	Earl J. PeQueen, Camp Hood, Feb 27, 1944
SGT Shirley SGT Marino SGT Shelton Dick Raines Lt. Hook Pat / John McGinnis Lt. Wilson Cpl Collier Paul Leikerum Alex Latin David Freedman Jim Henderson Marion Ben John Klein	Gorinski Red LaPalme (Putnam, Conn.) Harold J. Franke (Weaver, Minn.) Robert Vinovich Norman Saunders Dave Kloodt (New York, NY) John Killough (Bessemer, AL) Joe Lenich/Levich (New Jersey)  Richard Grant Clarence Jackson A.J. Champagne (St. Martinville, LA) “Moon” Mullins Capt Wade H. Admire (MO) “Speedro” Lorenson (Rhode Island)	Alfred J. Hoffman (Dallas, North Carolina) Alexander V. Elia (Boston, MA) SGT Petigo Doug Granelle Tyler Strand William Gray SGT Paul Kishenensky James A. George (Birmingham, AL) Francis Ariel James Pattison Chester Pluciennick Charlie Cherry Andrew Kadel Tony Killian

Inscription reads: "Some of the boys talking it over. Buchenwald."