finding Ted

Immediately after finishing the Blackhawks Recollections, I emailed the publisher and asked for contact information for the author. Then I realized that they wouldn't just give out information! So I called them, and asked if they could pass on a message to Austin Goodrich, telling him that I am a family member of one of his fallen comrades from World War II. They said they would be happy to forward my information. As soon as I hung up the phone, I realized this could take a while, and I guess I'm too impatient! So I started googling Goodrich's name, and the Blackhawk's website came up again! He is a member of the board of the Blackhawk Association, and his email was listed next to his name! Wow, I was so excited by this point. I typed up an email explaining who I was, and how thankful I am for his book. I asked him if he knows Alfred Goodwin, and if so, could he please connect me with Goodwin? I told him that my Uncle Jack was mentioned in Goodwin's memoir, and that I have been searching for more information on Jack's military service.

I received an email from Goodrich the next day. The next day!!! In it he said he would be happy to connect me with Ted Goodwin. He actually copied the email to Goodwin, so in reality, I now had the email address of the man who said he knew John Seaton. I decided that I would wait only 2 days to hear from him, and after that I would email him directly.

While I waited, I googled. I found Alfred "Ted" Goodwin! But surely it couldn't be the same person, as this person was a senior judge for the US Court of Appeals 9th Circuit! Read here. Though when I read more, it did say that he served in World War II.

As it turns out, I didn't have to wait long. Ted replied to my email the next day, as he was nearly as eager to find me as I was him.

I hit the "jack-pot" (pun intended?)

The day I received my copy of Blackhawk Recollections I read it cover to cover...115 pages. The book was divided into sections about being soldiers, the fighting in Europe, and the end of the Blackhawks tour in the Philippines. The first entry was written by Alfred "Ted" Goodwin of the 342nd Bn Hqs Co (I think this means Battalion Headquarters Company). It was titled "Survivor's Guilt." Ted explained how many of the young officers who joined at the end of the war were called "90 day wonders"--college student ROTC members...just a year or two older than the ASTP trainees who joined them as rookie Blackhawks during the fall of 1944 (all Goodwin's words). While training at Camp Livingston, Louisiana, Goodwin was typing a letter home when he was spotted by Major Ward. Apparently typists were needed at the Ammunition and Pioneer Platoon, so Ward transferred him from I Company, where he was currently serving. He credits his high school typing teacher for saving his life.
With tears clouding my vision, I read the last entry of Goodwin's memoir. I will quote:
"Sixty years later, I still carry a burden of survivor's guilt. The lieutenant who took my place in I Company was killed in the German mortar barrage that greeted the first platoon's crossing of the Danube. Lt. John Seaton was a class of '44 ROTC student from the University of Montana. Whenever someone brings up World War II, I think of John, the Big Sky he never got to see again, and of the random craziness of assignments and deployments when a nation goes to war."
This is my Uncle Jack! Someone knows my Uncle Jack! I cried as I shared this news with my Mom on the phone. I'm not sure what the tears were from--excitement, grief for this young uncle's brief life, or compassion for my Mom, who responded to this news with tears as well.

the search begins

Jason and I raced through the Band of Brothers DVD series. Oh wow. It is historically accurate, and fascinating. The producers interviewed the original soldiers at various points, which lends such an authentic feel and leaves you completely breathless and grateful. While I was watching the episodes, I kept thinking about Uncle Jack, wondering if his experience and death was the same as I was viewing. Hungry for information, I started devouring the Blackhawks website. Soon I was looking on ebay for anything related to the 86th Division "Blackhawks". Jack was a 2nd Lieutenant in the 342nd Infantry, Rifle Company I. I searched with any of these words, and finally found something.

On ebay, I bought a book titled Blackhawk Recollections: 86th Infantry Division Members Remember by Austin Goodrich. My hope was that I would find something related to Uncle Jack. Maybe someone who knew him. The wait until it arrived was long...

Band of Brothers

This journey was officially launched by a mini-series called "Band of Brothers"--a story about an infantry division fighting its way from Normandy through Europe during World War 2. Let me explain. Last summer, while on vacation, my Mom (hereafter referred to as Ginger) and Dad (Dave) watched this series of DVDs. When they got home, Ginger started looking into information on her Uncle Jack, as the series reminded her of his story. She found his name on an internet site for his infantry division, The Blackhawks. There, she read the history of this division and found some amazing information:
"Meantime a few yards away, Lt. John F. Seaton, in attacking another enemy position, fell mortally wounded when struck by an enemy shell." (taken from Blackhawks Over the Danube by Richard Briggs)

Wow, this was exciting information! We spent the night pouring over the internet site, emailing links to the family, and just being in shock about this amazing find!

Why this blog?

I'm going to attempt to provide information I have found on John Frank Seaton, son of Frank and Theodora Seaton, who was killed in action during the final days of World War II. John, or Jack as I will refer to him from now on, was my grandmother Margaret (Seaton) Mitchell's younger brother. Therefore, he is my Great-Uncle Jack! Stay tuned...