Veterans Day

Ninety-five years ago today, the Allies signed an armistice with Germany which officially ended the First World War. Around the world, the date is celebrated each year. In some countries it's called Armistice Day, in others Remembrance Day. In the United States, the holiday has been expanded to commemorate not only those who were killed in World War I, but all veterans, living or dead.

As of today, I have about 220 people in my ever-growing family tree who served in the United States military - far too many to list here. So below you will find a list of all of my known direct ancestors, along with siblings and siblings-in-law of direct ancestors, who served in the U.S. military. I'm going to take some time today to remember them and all the other veterans in my family, and I hope you will too.

Normandy American Cemetery at Omaha Beach in France.

living uncle (U.S. Army, 1960s)
living grandfather (U.S. Navy, WWII)
grandfather Henry William Daft (U.S. Army, WWII)
great-uncle Charles Michael Thielen (killed in action; U.S. Army Air Forces, WWII)
great-uncle John Ivan Gauslin (U.S. Army, 1950s)
great-uncle Arthur Christopherson (U.S. Navy, WWII)
great-uncle Earl Arthur Krahn (U.S. Army, WWII)
great-grandfather Elmer Ferdinand Gotsche (U.S. Army, WWI)
great-great-uncle Raymond Campbell (WWI)
great-great-uncle Charles Edward O'Connor (U.S. Army, WWI)
great-great-uncle Daniel Michael Sullivan (WWI)
great-great-uncle Vernon H. Baker (U.S. Army Air Forces, WWII)
great-great-uncle Raymond James Smith (U.S. Army, WWI)
great-great-grandfather John Henry Gauslin (U.S. Army, Civil War)
great-great-great-uncle George Ambrose Gauslin (U.S. Army, Civil War)
great-great-great-uncle William Charles Bruce (U.S. Army, Spanish-American War)
great-great-great-grandfather August Thiede (U.S. Army, Civil War)
great-great-great-grandfather Franklin Bruce (U.S. Army, Civil War; U.S. Navy, 1866-1869)
great-great-great-great-uncle John Thielen (U.S. Army, Civil War)
great-great-great-great-great-grandfather Jonah Moore (U.S. Army, Revolutionary War)