A few months ago while I was visiting my parents in Joseph City my dad set me to work going through a box of some of my grandpa's things. My dad wanted to put together some pictures for him to bring to a family reunion. I was never real close to my grandpa Joe and have few memories of being with him. I do remember him always walking with a cane and later I discovered why.
As I went through this box I learned so much about my grandpa and explored this man's life. Among the pictures and paperwork was a small envolope with some old cards and letters. They were aged and delicate and the script style was difficult to read. The letters were sent to my great grandmother with from friends and family expressing their condolences for her son who had gone missing in the war. My heart hurts for how she must of felt having a son missing on the other side of the world and unable to do anything about it. After doing some investigation and finding a one page autobiography, I pieced together the life of this amazing person.
My grandpa grew up in Stafford AZ and as soon as he graduated he sighed up to join the army. My grandmother made him wait to graduate first. I read in his year book that the senior trip to Carlsbad Caverns was canceled because of the war. We've moved to New Mexico last year and the Caverns are only about 30 minutes from us.
He was on the 101st airborne division and was a paratrooper on D day June 6, 1944. I've heard that on his jump his pack and plane were overloaded resulting in them missing there target landing place and my grandpa breaking his ankle or foot on landing. It had to be terrifying for him. I can't imagine.
He was later taken and put in a prisoner of war camp. He managed to escape by riding under a train only to be discovered and captured again my German soldiers. He was forced to particiapte in a death march. I've learned this is where the captured soldiers are forced by gunpoint to walk mile after mile with very few rations. Some how grandpa Joe escaped again, I think someone helped him get back??
When he stated the war he weighed 185 pounds and after he was 140.
After the war he married married a lady from Joseph City ( I totally can't remember her name right now except she was a Rogers too) Grandma Charlotte Petersen has told me she met him before at a dance or something and everyone was intrigued by him being a war hero. They had twin babies who were still born and later separated.
His next wife was my Grandma Carol and they had my dad and uncles. It didn't work out because they separated too but if you knew my grandma you wouldn't blame him.... ((Just kidding grandma Love you!!!)) He ended up spending his life with my sweet Grandma Marie. My grandpa had jobs like working at a school and being a truck driver. He enjoyed to garden and had a green thumb.
I'm so great full that I discovered this history of his life. I wish that I knew more and had gotten to know him better. I am so proud to be able to say that Joseph Knight Rogers is my hero and on this memorial day you are not forgotten.
