McMurray Family (Click for Family Tree)

Today, Memorial Day in the United States, we solemnly remember those who sacrificed all to protect our freedom and our democracy. While none of our direct ancestors gave their lives in war (that we know of), some returned with injuries, and some had brothers who did not return home. This quote, source unknown, makes one pause and be ever grateful to our men and women who died in service, and their families who have borne that pain ever since:

“Our flag does not fly because the wind moves it.
It flies with the last breath of each soldier who died protecting it.”

Following are some images of aircraft from World War II. These pictures were taken by Edward A. McMurray, or are pictures of Edward A. McMurray with aircraft he worked on as a mechanic while stationed in the South Pacific from 1944 to 1946. Ed, or “Mac” as he was more commonly known, was stationed in the Pacific theater in Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, possibly the Philippines, and some small islands such as Biak; he ended his time in the war in Japan, at the surrender of Japan on V-J Day. Mac served in the 3rd Engine Over-haul Squadron, 4th Engine Over-haul Squadron, and the 13th Depot Supply Squadron per his 1949 State of Iowa WW II Service Compensation application. (He was paid $345 for his service in the US, which was training, plus his time overseas. Today that amount is approximately equal to $3,700.)

These images are some of the planes that were flown by our men and women- yes, women ferried planes from place to place during WW II- and some air crews may have died in them to protect freedom around the world. Mac told of the grisly tasks of those in the aircraft engine overhaul department- sometimes there were body parts and blood in a plane, needing to be removed for proper burial and before the plane could be overhauled and repaired. It was a painful reminder of how fleeting a life could be, especially in times of war, for those who were so young and should have still felt immortal.

Please let us know if you can help with identification of the aircraft or the places.

Nose art was really big in World War II. Images on the nose of a plane were great identification on the ground or in the air, a part of the crew’s ego, and a boost to morale for male soldiers, especially if a pretty or scantily-clad woman was involved:

“Overshot” Nose Art, World War II aircraft in the Pacific theater, circa 1944-1946. Note image similar to W.C. Fields, a curmudgeon of a comedian who played up drinking a lot of alcoholic ‘shots.’ The crew of this ship likely had other types of shots in mind, at least until they were back safely at the airfield- then it was time to celebrate survival with the liquid version of ‘shots.’

And then there is this last photo- what could be going on here? There are two planes side-by-side- maybe a B-24 bomber and a fighter?- and the soldier on the ladder is probably taking pictures. Maybe it’s an air show, since at least one child is in the crowd and people are looking up. That seems a somewhat dangerous event during the days of World War II on a Pacific island, and a waste of fuel and flight hours on a plane… Maybe a new aircraft is showing off flight capabilities, or a VIP is headed to the base? Or a group of heroes who just successfully completed a strategic flight that helped to turn the tides of war is doing a victorious fly-by before they land… What do you think?

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. Family treasure chest of photos.
2. See also the following posts about Edward A. McMurray, Jr. in World War II:
3. “Military Monday: Memorial Day and Edward A. McMurray, Jr.”– http://heritageramblings.net/2017/05/29/military-monday-memorial-day-and-edward-a-mcmurray-jr/
4. “Veteran’s Day: Honoring Edward A. McMurray, Jr.”– https://heritageramblings.net/2014/11/11/veterans-day-honoring-edward-a-mcmurray-jr/
5. “Military Monday: Edward A. McMurray, Jr. in the Pacific Theater of WWII”– http://heritageramblings.net/2014/09/08/military-monday-edward-a-mcmurray-jr-in-the-pacific-theater-of-wwii/
6. “Edward A. McMurray, Jr. at the Surrender of Japan, 02 Sep 1945”– http://heritageramblings.net/2014/09/02/edward-a-mcmurray-jr-at-the-surrender-of-japan-02-sep-1945/
7. “Sorting Saturday: Armed Forces Day”– http://heritageramblings.net/2016/05/21/sorting-saturday-armed-forces-day/
8. “Military Monday: Memorial Day and Edward A. McMurray, Jr., again”– https://heritageramblings.net/2021/05/30/icymi-military-monday-memorial-day-and-edward-a-mcmurray-jr/

Click to enlarge any image. Please contact us if you would like an image in higher resolution.

Original content copyright 2013-2021 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

In 2017, we posted a Memorial Day tribute to Edward A. McMurray, Jr., one of the “Greatest Generation” and my favorite soldier. Ed went from a small-town Iowa boy to a world traveler on Uncle Sam’s dime, stopping in ports in Australia, New Guinea, New Caledonia, Japan, and tiny islands like Biak in the South Pacific. He would only tell his family that there was a ‘ceremony’ that occurred for those who had never crossed the equator before, but he would not give details… He was in the Army-Air Corps, and worked as an airplane mechanic, possibly because he had some mechanical experience with working at a gas station as a teen.

Like others of his generation, Ed did not talk much about the war, though he was truly disappointed that it did not end all wars, as they had hoped. Although he wanted to go to college to become a doctor, and was an only son, he did not seek a deferment- in fact, the attack at Pearl Harbor made him want to join up right away.

As was said in our previous posts, we are so grateful that Ed made it through World War II and came back to his family and friends. So many were not fortunate enough to come back, some that Ed knew and called “friend.”

Today, on Memorial Day, we honor these soldiers and all the other military personnel who served our country and paid the highest price for our freedom. “Thank you” will never be enough to say for their sacrifice.

Notes, Sources, and References:

1. Family treasure chest of photos.
2. “Military Monday: Memorial Day and Edward A. McMurray, Jr.”– http://heritageramblings.net/2017/05/29/military-monday-memorial-day-and-edward-a-mcmurray-jr/
3. “Veteran’s Day: Honoring Edward A. McMurray, Jr.”– https://heritageramblings.net/2014/11/11/veterans-day-honoring-edward-a-mcmurray-jr/
4. “Military Monday: Edward A. McMurray, Jr. in the Pacific Theater of WWII”– http://heritageramblings.net/2014/09/08/military-monday-edward-a-mcmurray-jr-in-the-pacific-theater-of-wwii/
5. “Edward A. McMurray, Jr. at the Surrender of Japan, 02 Sep 1945”– http://heritageramblings.net/2014/09/02/edward-a-mcmurray-jr-at-the-surrender-of-japan-02-sep-1945/
6. “Sorting Saturday: Armed Forces Day”– http://heritageramblings.net/2016/05/21/sorting-saturday-armed-forces-day/

Please contact us if you would like higher resolution images. Click to enlarge images.We would love to read your thoughts and comments about this post (see form below), and thank you for your time! All comments are moderated, however, due to the high intelligence and persistence of spammers/hackers who really should be putting their smarts to use for the public good instead of spamming our little blog. 

Original content copyright 2013-2021 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

Family history is meant to be shared, but the original content of this site may NOT be used for any commercial purposes unless explicit written permission is received from both the blog owner and author. Blogs or websites with ads and/or any income-generating components are included under “commercial purposes,” as are the large genealogy database websites. Sites that republish original HeritageRamblings.net content as their own are in violation of copyright as well, and use of full content is not permitted. 

Roberts Family (Click for Family Tree)

If memory serves, the above picture was taken in Florida, where George loved to go fishing. As one who had been a farmer and stockman through cold Illinois and Iowa winters since he was a boy, it is no wonder he loved Florida. George had suffered with severe sciatica and rheumatism as an adult- in fact, at one point it was so bad that he had to re-learn how to walk. So the warm Florida sun must have felt great for an old farmer’s bones, and spirit.

George travelled frequently to Florida with his second wife, Lucy L. (Cadwalader) [Frank] Roberts. They married three years after his first wife, Ella V. (Daniel) Roberts, died in 1922. (He lost both his wife and his father, John Roberts, that year.) His grandson, Edward A. McMurray, Jr., spoke of how much “Daddy George” enjoyed those trips, and how many fish they caught.

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. “If memory serves…”- please, write it down- NOW! Memories get conflated with other things and just float away…
2. Photos from family treasure chest- thank you, family, for sharing!

Click to enlarge any image. Please contact us if you would like an image in higher resolution.

Original content copyright 2013-2019 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

McMurray Family (Click for Family Tree)

[This photo is poorly retouched- sorry, but still better than the original with a gash across his eye. Need to learn to restore photos…]

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. From the family treasure chest of photos and other gems.

Click to enlarge any image. Please contact us if you would like an image in higher resolution.

Original content copyright 2013-2018 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.

McMurray Family, Payne Family (Click for Family Tree)

It is with great sadness that our flag today flies at half mast*- our country has lost a military hero and a man who has given most of the years of his life to service for our country, its values, its preservation, and its people.

Whether or not you like the politics of John McCain doesn’t matter, and yes, he was not a perfect human- none of us are. But he loved this country and its citizens, and did his best to honor them, whether it was his resolve to survive honorably as a downed Navy pilot enduring the horrors of the Hanoi Hilton (North Vietnamese POW camp for you young’uns) or negotiating across the aisle in the halls of Congress to enact legislation that would better the lives of everyday Americans. John McCain is a true American Hero, and it is good that we honor him.

This is not meant to be a political post, but the feelings of his passing weigh heavy on many hearts, mine included. These feelings have also made me think of our own ancestors who devoted their energy to preserving our freedoms, helping us all to be better souls, and even those who braved a wide, unpredictable ocean and the unknown to start a new and better life in America for their families and descendants. They too are American Heroes- our ‘quiet’ heroes.

All of our immigrant ancestors fit into the hero category, in my not-always-so-humble opinion. The very earliest, in the 1600s, would have known little about this country before they came. (And yes, some of our lines go back that far!) Later immigrants would have had more knowledge, though probably little about the conditions on board ship, or the terrible way many immigrants were treated once they got to our shores. Some came to build a new civilization where men (literally- only men like them) would be free, some were fleeing persecution due to religion, and others came to enrich their fortunes, help their families to survive, and have some land to leave their children. They braved unbelievable circumstances to get here and to settle here, and leave us an incredible legacy- the United States of America.

Our ancestors of the McMurray-Payne-Burnell line are a great example of those who chose to serve in various ways. Robert Burnell (1669-1737) was born in Essex, Massachusetts, so his father (still a question to this researcher) may have been our immigrant ancestor before 1669. Both families would have been involved in protecting homes, farms, and businesses, theirs and their neighbors. They would have lived through the Salem Witch Hysteria of 1692- wonder if they had any involvement? (There were also other cases of accused ‘witches’ in other parts of Massachusetts and Connecticut, where other early family lived.) It would have been hard to speak up against the hysteria without being accused yourself- there are always such considerations when taking a stand.

Robert’s grandson, Capt. Joseph Burnell (1725-1807) was a volunteer to the American Revolutionary War in 1775, and participated in the Siege of Boston. He is also noted as being on duty during the war at West Point Military Academy, working as an ‘artificer’- someone skilled in working on artillery in the field. He likely was teaching others those skills so that our rag-tag Revolutionaries would at long last win the war against the British, giving us freedom from king and tyranny.

Capt. Burnell’s son John Burnell (1750-1837), another of our ancestors,  was 26 in 1776, and he too served his country as a Continental soldier. There are quite a lot of documents for men named John Burnell from Massachusetts, so we will need more research to determine his actual service.

Rufus Burnell (1796-1875) was the son of John Burnell and Mary Bannister (1752-1838). (“Rufus” is from the same Latin word that means ‘red’ or ‘reddish hair’- without color photography can you get a sense of what he looked like?) Rufus was a Deacon in the church, and was serving his neighbors in a spiritual manner. Nancy Kingsley (1792-1839) was his first wife of three- sadly, he buried the first two. Their son, Kingsley Abner Burnell (1824-1905) spent his own life spiritually ministering to others. He travelled around the world with his brother, Thomas Scott Burnell (1823-1899), also a missionary. Both men were very involved with the American Missionary Society, and Kingsley, also known as “K. A.” journeyed through the United States promoting the Young Men’s Christian Association, or Y.M.C.A. Soldiers during the Civil War throughout the South were served by K. A. as well. The stories of these two Burnell brothers is an incredible one, and we will tell much more in upcoming posts.

Of course, we must, “remember the ladies” as Abigail Adams wrote to her husband John Adams as our new republic was being organized. There is very little that survives of their lives, unfortunately, but we know that they would have been beside their husband, supporting him in his efforts to serve, while raising their children, maintaining the household and garden, etc.- they served their families and communities in their own quiet ways.

The only daughter of Kingsley Abner Burnell was Nancy Maria Burnell (1847-1898), who married Edward Biron Payne (1847-1923). Edward was the son of a minister, Joseph Hitchcock Payne (1810-1884), became a minister himself, and even founded a short-lived Utopian colony in California. He wrote as well as lectured, and was a Christian Socialist who stood up for the rights of “the common man.” Edward gave up a pulpit in a wealthy church in New England in order to minister to others who needed him more because of their life situations in the mill towns of the Northeast. He may have contracted tuberculosis there, or possibly earlier, when he and Nanie (Nancy’s nickname) were in Chicago, Illinois, working in the poorest areas with Dwight L. Moody. Despite going blind in her early 20s, Nanie worked alongside Edward, and was involved with women’s groups in his pastorate.

Lynette Payne (1879-1968) was the only child of Edward and Nanie, and she grew up in the liberal town of Berkeley, California. As a teen she read a paper of her father’s to a Socialist group, and she likely attended meetings and lectures of socialists during her teenage years. She also probably attended lectures of the leading as well as local Suffragists who spoke in Berkeley and across the bay in San Francisco. (There was no Golden Gate Bridge back then!) Her father gave a series of lectures on female suffrage, and Lynette was 17 years old in 1896 when California voters decided not to ‘give’ the vote to women. Lynette moved to small-town Iowa after her high school graduation in 1897. She was outspoken there on women’s rights too- she was the first woman to ride a bicycle in Newton, Iowa, and even wore the scandalous new “bloomers.” Lynette was a devout Episcopalian and served her church with work done at St. Stephens in Newton.

Lynette married William E. McMurray (1874-1957) who owned a grocery store and meat market in Newton, always serving his customers  with a kind attitude. They had three children, and the two sons, Edward A. McMurray (1900-1992) and Herbert C. McMurray (1911-1989), both became doctors, serving their patients with kindness and understanding.

Dr. Edward A. McMurray’s son with Edith Roberts (1899-1982) served his country in World War II. Edward A. McMurray, Jr. (1924-2010), was an aircraft mechanic in the South Pacific. Our Marines would take a small island from the Japanese, the Seabees would go in and bulldoze a landing strip, then Ed and other Army-Air corp members would be taken in to set up the mechanics shop for the airplanes. His enlistment lasted the duration of the war, and their ship was in Tokyo Harbor on 2 September 1945 when the Japanese signed their surrender. He always was so proud to have served, and helped preserve, the freedom of our country and of those around the world.

Ed served his community as a trusted pharmacist for many years after the war. Some of his customers called him, “Doc,” showing the respect they had for his knowledge and loving care.

These are just some of the people in our McMurray-Payne-Burnell family lines who are “quiet” American Heroes. There are so many more who have served others throughout the years. These Heroes have served as role models for their children and communities, and we can never know the true extent of their legacy.

You can read more about the above persons in other blog posts- there are too many to reference- just put their name in the search box, or click on the tagged name that is a part of this post to find other stories about these fine people.

There are many more blog posts planned to tell the stories of these quiet American Heroes.

A heartfelt thank you to them all, and to John McCain. May they all Rest in Peace.

Notes, Sources, and References: 

1. * Half-mast vs. half-staff- technically, flags are flown in the US at half-staff, as the staff is the flagpole. Only on Navy ships is ‘half-mast’ technically appropriate, as flags there are flown from a mast. Since the Honorable John McCain as well as this writer are Navy veterans, we shall let it be ‘half-mast’ for today.By the way, the flag should always be raised to full height first, then lowered halfway, in honor of the fallen- not just raised to half-way up.
2. Please check out other, more detailed stories of our “quiet” American Hero ancestors on this blog.
3. Subscribe to the blog to be notified of new posts.

Click to enlarge any image. Please contact us if you would like an image in higher resolution.

Original content copyright 2013-2018 by Heritage Ramblings Blog and pmm.