Papa Bear
Bronze Member
I know its a late entry and it wasn't dug out of the ground but I figured after finding that MIA bracelet, it deserved a mention. Plus, aren't all of us here interested in history, no matter how obscure it may seem to the rest of the world?
Back in mid 2011 I found this birth certificate in a pile of papers in an auction. It was for a Raymond Schrecengos born in 1916. I Googled, Zabasearched for a relative to no avail. All I had been able to find out was that Raymond had died in Onslow County, NC in 2001. I took a weeks break and then readdressed it.
I looked at how many different ways the name was spelled and decided to try it spelled with an K in the middle after the C (Schreckengos). Bingo! I found a website dedicated to Marines stationed in China back the 1930's. There was a posting from a woman that her dad (Raymond) has passed away. I Googled the lady's name and found a blog site of hers. In the blog site was her husbands first initial. A quick Zabasearch revealed a phone listing in Onslow County, NC. I made the phone call....
An hour later I was knocking on their door. I met the daughter and her husband. The daughter showed me photos of Raymond and told me his history. He had retired in 1957 and worked at the Camp Lejeune Commissary for another 20 years. When Raymond had died, his family had auctioned everything off except for close family items. The daughter had no idea that Raymond's birth certificate had been overlooked after his death and she was so grateful for its return after almost 10 years.
So after a beer and a cigar were pressed into my hand, I left the daughter in possession of her fathers birth certificate which to her, was treasure.
There was closure here for this family and I am sure for Raymond too.
Back in mid 2011 I found this birth certificate in a pile of papers in an auction. It was for a Raymond Schrecengos born in 1916. I Googled, Zabasearched for a relative to no avail. All I had been able to find out was that Raymond had died in Onslow County, NC in 2001. I took a weeks break and then readdressed it.
I looked at how many different ways the name was spelled and decided to try it spelled with an K in the middle after the C (Schreckengos). Bingo! I found a website dedicated to Marines stationed in China back the 1930's. There was a posting from a woman that her dad (Raymond) has passed away. I Googled the lady's name and found a blog site of hers. In the blog site was her husbands first initial. A quick Zabasearch revealed a phone listing in Onslow County, NC. I made the phone call....
An hour later I was knocking on their door. I met the daughter and her husband. The daughter showed me photos of Raymond and told me his history. He had retired in 1957 and worked at the Camp Lejeune Commissary for another 20 years. When Raymond had died, his family had auctioned everything off except for close family items. The daughter had no idea that Raymond's birth certificate had been overlooked after his death and she was so grateful for its return after almost 10 years.
So after a beer and a cigar were pressed into my hand, I left the daughter in possession of her fathers birth certificate which to her, was treasure.
There was closure here for this family and I am sure for Raymond too.
