My grandfather Kenneth Neal had an older brother, Keith, and younger twin siblings, Maurice and Marjorie.
Marjorie Neal married Paul Lenocker in Iowa. They moved to California and had a son, Paul, Jr., born in 1923. So Paul was a first cousin of my dad’s (Warren Neal, Kenneth’s oldest son, born 1917). Marjorie died in 1936, when her son was thirteen.
When Dad joined the AAF in 1942, he was sent to Santa Ana, CA. The Paul Lenockers drove over to see him right away, but he couldn’t spend time with them. But when they didn’t have KP, guard duty or be fire wardens, they were allowed off base on weekends. In a June letter home, Warren wrote that he’d caught three rides (hitchhiked) to L.A. to Lenockers’ home. Paul had remarried, so Cousin Paul had a stepmother, Hilda.
Kenneth and Ruby Neal lived in Southern California when their kids were small, hoping to alleviate Ruby’s hay fever/asthma. Warren’s sister Nadine had been born the same year as Paul Lenocker, Jr., with Bill and Betty between, so the cousins would have spent time together then. They eventually returned to Iowa, but still held fond memories of Cousin Paul and his parents.
When Warren visited them in 1942, they drove him to the area they’d once lived, fed him well, and drove him back to the post. He visited them more than once while he was stationed there.
Warren and his brother Bill both became pilots. So did Paul Lenocker, Jr. Dad and his brother didn’t talk about the war when I was growing up. I didn’t know that they had a cousin who became a B-17 pilot and who was shot down and was a POW of the Germans.
I recently found this information on an 8th Air Force Facebook page: “Sgt Robert B. Roth, Radio Operator, with the 388th Bomb Group/561st Bomb Squadron? He was flying on B-17 44-6582. Shot down on 21 January 1945. The pilot was 2nd LT Winfred Paul Lenocker. The plane was hit by flak and crashed near Heimerdingen, Germany.”
I’ve located Robert Roth’s daughter and hope to learn more about their crash and time as POWs. I know there were nine aboard the B-17, all survived, and were POWs.
Here is Paul Lenocker’s findagrave page.
I did find a page with the full names of the crew, so I’ve added their names as tags and hope to learn more in the future.
UPDATE (three hours later): The internet is incredible! A woman on the 8th AF Facebook page (from overseas) has already posted documents about the crew. They were POWs at Dulag Luft West, so more research.
It’s so interesting to find “new” information after all these years.
Yes! Thanks, Dan! New information from a woman overseas: She already posted documents about the crew. They were POWs at Dulag Luft West, so more research.
Good luck as you chase down more information.
Thanks, Dan. The fun part!
Wow!
New information from a woman overseas: She already posted documents about the crew. They were POWs at Dulag Luft West, so more research.
How are you and Guy?
Exhausted, but Guy is going to try band practice tonight. Last week he was ready to give it up, just too hard, but his neurologist still hoped he’d keep at it. He’ll be increasing his meds soon, which we’re praying will help.
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I love these history lessons within your personal story. Events mean so much more when they are embedded with these very real people. Thank you for doing all thehard work.
How are you feeling, Joy? On a personal note, my shoulder replacement surgery is scheduled for April 7. A little prayer wouldn’t go amiss!❤️🤗🙏🇨🇦
Thank you, Gail. Yes, I’ll pray for your surgery. Hurrah that you finally have a date!
It’s amazing what the internet can reveal about our families’ past experiences.
Yes! I had to request casualty reports through the mail. It seems like the MACRs (Missing Aircraft Reports) came on a microfische so I rented a reader.
With your family’s long and distinguished history, you get to do what you so love – research! I am very happy for you, Joy.
Bless you, GP. I’m thankful to hear from you since I’d just wondered (again) how you’re doing.
“Dad and his brother didn’t talk about the war when I was growing up. I didn’t know that they had a cousin who became a B-17 pilot and who was shot down and was a POW of the Germans.” I’m always torn when I read things like this. On one hand, it shows how our ancestors really were heroes. They did what was needed and never looked back. They understood responsibility and obligation. They just got it. But then a part of me also worries about the incredible stress and emotion that they held onto inside. Those emotions had to take a toll on them. I know I saw it to a small extent with my own father. It helps explain a lot of things that raised questions in my mind when I was a kid. Anyway, so incredibly interesting Joy!!!
I think one of the reason Dad didn’t is because Mom lost her three younger brothers. But Uncle Bill didn’t say much to his daughters either, and he flew over The Hump! Bless you for your note, Brian.
Amazing, Joy! The power of the internet…wouldn’t your family from way back when be utterly mystified (and pleased, of course) by your plucky diligence…bringing stories and voices from the past into present day. Such an honor to read all of these details.
❤️❤️❤️ Keep us posted! 😊❤️😊
You are such a dear, Vicki! I’m thankful to be part of those who make sure these men (and women–Aunt Evelyn, Delbert’s wife. was in the Coast Guard when they met) aren’t forgotten. Yes, mystified and pleased!
Grateful to you for what you do…and how you share, Joy. Little injections of goodness…much appreciated!
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Great discoveries, Joy. Thanks for sharing. I look forward to more information
Thank you, John. Isn’t this amazing!
The year we lived in N. California, we (me, Connie, and both young daughters) visited Aunt Evelyn and Uncle Delbert in Mission San Jose every 3-5 weeks. It was during one visit I first heard that Aunt Evelyn was a veteran. She was a sweet, modest lady, as you know. I am so grateful for those 10+ visits and the hours spent together.
I didn’t know that! How dear. We stayed with them on our big trip “after Vietnam” and they stayed overnight with us when we lived in CO. And when Leora graduated from HS, Gloria and I rode the train out with Grandma to their place. (Leora and I went to Uncle Wayne’s for a few days, then Gloria and I went up to Don and Rose’s before coming home.) I guess I need to do a blog post about that. But what I remember–Evelyn was the first woman I knew who had her hair done every week and what a lovely voice and laugh she had. And Uncle Delbert’s distinctive voice. (Uncle Don’s as well, so I’m thinking that Grandpa Clabe must have had a resonant voice.)
It’s good to learn of your family serving in WWII, Joy, though some of the results were tragic.
Thank you, Tim. At least I’ve been given a chance to make sure they aren’t forgotten.
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Joy! This is amazing news! I can’t wait until you find out more because like most Americans I don’t know much of what it was like to be a POW of the Germans. I have seen the Japanese camps in movies, etc. but for the German POWs the main Image is Hogan’s heroes.
I had just reviewed (last month) two books by daughters of German POWs, one British, one American. I sure didn’t expect to run into one related to me! https://joynealkidney.com/2026/02/06/pow-stories-one-british-one-american/
[…] Joy Neal Kidney, March 21, book review […]
You are doing such wonderful work, Joy. What a beautiful thing to uncover so many important stories about your family. You inspire me!
Thank you, Lori!
It’s amazing all the connections you make through your research!
It’s the fun part, isn’t it, Dennis!