December 5, 2006

Researcher Needed

I would like five death records checked in Lawrence. I have volume and page numbers, but being retired, there is no way on earth I can afford to pay $28 per death record! is there someone who does this work that I could pay to go copy the information from the certificates? Any help would be much appreciated.

R Hofmann

Ewan72403@aol.com

December 15, 2006

FITZGERALD, John Joseph

I am searching for sources to research my husband's father, whom he never knew.

My husband is 100% service connected USAF Vietnam veteran. Among his disabilities, he suffers from combat related PTSD. the Iraq War has caused unresolved feelings of not knowing about his father to surface with a vengeance and I am trying to locate information about his father to ease his pain of emptiness concerning his father.

My husband's father was John Joseph Fitzgerald, born 20 June 1917, died 13 November 1951. He was born and lived in Haverhill, MA. at the time of his death, John was a Captain in the US Air Force/Air Corp. He died during the Korean War in a C-82 aircraft accident, on MT. Dore, near Bordeaux, France, 13 November 1951. My husband, Michael Francis Fitzgerald, was two years old. His mother, Lorraine Claire Jermyn Fitzgerald, evidently never mentally or emotionally recovered from John's death and took what memories and information to her grave. I do not know the date of marriage for John and Lorraine. My husband was raised by several families and there are no  living family members left that knew John. there are no personal information or items for John that exist to our knowledge as we do not know of any family on John's side.

The only information I have for John is from his military service records which are very incomplete and sketchy. He was an only child. His father's name was listed as Patrick F. Fitzgerald. On the line for his mother's name, the word "deceased" was entered. This was on the enlistment form of the Army completed 1 July 1936. He attended St. Gregory Grammar School and St. James High School, graduating in 1936. I have not been able to locate information on these schools to request information available. I can only assume that these schools no longer exist.

From John's military records, there is mention of his father being gravely ill at the age of 66, on January 8, 1941. I do not know of the date of Patrick's death.

John resided at the following addresses, with the approximate years:

12 Kimball Street - 1936

364 Main Street - 1939

12 Kimball Street - 1943

60 Highland Avenue - 1950

During the time between his military service, he worked at a Haverhill, MA post office. His duties were listed as : Distribution of mail; was secretary to the Postmaster and handled associated duties of Assistant Postal Inspector. 1937 to 1942 and possibly again 1946 - 1950.

From the information form included with his death certification, it was listed that he was buried at a non military cemetery Haverhill, Essex County, MA. it appears that his body did not reach Dole and Childs Mortuary Company until sometime late in December 1951. I do not know the date for burial or the cemetery where his body is buried.

I am looking for free or low cost sources to work with as we live on a fixed income. Could you recommend ways to help in my search information or at a low cost fee, locate information.

I tried to obtain a birth certificate through the MA Vital records but was told that one could not be found. There was a notarized statement of birth included with his original enlistment to the Army in 1936. Due to the poor quality of the copy, I cannot make out the full names. "CB - Gacy, Acting Postmaster" and "John J Cronin, Post Office Clerk" are the signatures dated June 15, 1936.

I also tried to request his civilian personnel records for the Post Office, at the National Personnel Records Center, Civilian Personnel Records, St. Louis, but received notice that the records needed to respond to my request did not exist in their files.

Any assistance or offer of sources for help will be so graciously appreciated. I sincerely thank you for your response.

Sincerely,

(386) 295-9327

pfitz@clearwire.net