Otto Bertrand Heacock

From WWII Archives

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Otto Bertrand Heacock
Born14 September 1897
DiedFebruary 1973
Spouses
Children

Before Birth

Childhood

14 September 1897 - Birth

On 14 September 1897, Otto Bertrand Heacock was born[1][2].

His parents had supposedly come up from the south from Alabama to Missouri after the Civil War. His father made his own Whisky. At some point his father had become a functioning alcoholic[3]. He may have even had a temper as well, both factors of which may have begun Otto's path of having a temper and being a functioning alcoholic himself[4].

21 July 1916 - Enlisting into the the US military

On 21 July 1916, before even having turned 18, Otto decided to enlist into the US military. It isn't clear exactly if he was allowed to just enlist despite not being of age, or he faked some documents to get in. Either way, he was seventeen years old at the time. His number was 757979. At first he was a PFC in E Battery, 3rd Field Artillery Regiment[5][2][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18].

Adulthood

14 September 1916 - 18th Birthday

On 14 September 1916, Otto Bertrand Heacock would have turned eighteen years old and in so becoming an adult.

Between 1916 and 1920 - Meeting and Marrying Emely Sieworth and World War I

Between 1916 and 1920, Otto would have met Emely Sieworth, an immigrant from Metzingen, Germany, who was around three years old when she came over in 1898 to the United States and was naturalized in 1905[19]. Emely was part of an Orthodox Jewish family, both her father and mother being born in Metzingen, and so when Otto and Emely got married, she was expelled from the family[19][20]. Given the fact that she was around three years old when she came over with her parents or some people in her family. Given this, her family would have been there to get mad at her when she married Otto and expelled her from the family. If her family didn't want her to marry Otto, the two must have married in secret or in a more discrete way, not with their authorization. Emely would have known German, and probably had picked up English during her time in the States, and probably had a German accent. Of course Otto had to be eighteen in order to marry, which is why this is assumed to be in 1916, or maybe he faked his age in some way, like faking his birth certificate.

14 October 1916 - Part of the Graves Registration Service

On 14 October 1916 he was assigned to GRS (Graves Registration Service) in accordance to his "D/A card"[13].

2 April 1917 - American entry into World War One

On 2 April 1917, the United States of America declared war on Germany and entered World War I. At some point after this, or even possibly before this, Otto joined the US military.

While he was overseas in France, the Germans attacked him and his unit with mustard gas, something he especially remembered from the conflict. How much it affected him isn't known. His experience overseas during the conflict seemed to have affected him to such an extent that he wasn't willing to talk about it other than the fact that he was sprayed with mustard gas[3].

6 April 1917 - Reenlisting for service

According to a source, Otto had actually enlisted on 6 April 1917. This might indicate that he had been in reserve or something like that, and was called back up into service four days after the declaration of war was made[2].

8 June 1917 - Appointed PFC

On 8 June 1917 Otto was appointed as Private First Class BO 19 sd[12].

22 August 1917 - Appointed Cpl for PFC

On 22 August Otto was appointed Cpl (Corporal?) for PFC RSO 128[21].

10 September 1917 - Going on furlough

On 10 September 1917 Otto went on leave[21]. It isn't exactly known where he went, maybe he went home to Missouri or some place else.

17 September 1917 - Coming back from furlough

On 17 September Otto came back from being on leave from wherever he went[21].

15 January 1918 - Reduced to Private at own request

On 15 January 1918 Otto requested to be reduced from PFC to just Private Reg SO in November 1918[14].

28 February 1918 - Listing as absent

On 28 February under a list, Otto was listed with the additional note being[17]:

Transferred to the 6th FA Brigade

Hdqrs, Fort Sam Houston, Texas,

Par. 1. SO#70 Hdqrs ROTC Ft.Ogle-

thorpe, Ga. Apr 9/18: Left Station

April 10/18: Service record furni-

shed. Character Very Good

9 April 1918 - Transferred to a new unit

On 9 April 1918, Otto was transferred to Headquarters Detachment, 6th Field Artillery Brigade per SO 70 Headquarters ROTC at Fort Oglethorpe, Georgia[5].

12 April 1918 - Arriving to new unit

Three days later, on 12 April, he joined up his new unit[5].

8 August 1918 - Roster listing

On 8 August 1918 Otto was listed among the members of the Headquarters Detachment[22].

30 September - Roster listing

On 30 September he was once again listed in a roster with his name and number[23].

1 October 1918 - Roster listing

On 1 October 1918 Otto was again listed on a roster for the Headquarters[24].

31 October 1918 - Roster Listing

On 31 October Otto was again put under the monthly listing as Private with the number 757979. Headquarters Detachment was listed as being at HPO 758[25].

30 November 1918 - Listing for Headquarters Detachment at HPO 758 Station for the AEF

On 30 November 1918, a monthly listing was created for Headquarters Detachment while they were stationed at HPO-758 AEF. His name, rank as Private, and number were only listed[26].

1 December 1918 - listing under Headquarters Detachment

On 1 December 1918 Otto was listed in another roster for the Headquarters Detachment.[27]

31 January 1919 - Officer Muster Roll list for 6th Field Artillery Brigade

On 31 January 1919, Otto was listed in the roster for privates in Headquarters Detachment[28].

26 February 1919 - Roster listing

00:00

At midnight 26 February, Otto was listed as a Private with the number 757979. [29]

Between 24 and 31 March 1919 - In CP Hospital

On 24 March 1919 Otto apparently went on absence to the Hospital of the CP of the Headquarters Detachment. He stayed through 31 March and possibly even after[30]. It isn't exactly stated as to why he went on absence to the hospital. It possibly could have something to do with when he was sprayed with mustard gas, ptsd, or maybe something else.

25 May 1919 - Transfer to Segregation Command Post

On 25 May 1919 Otto was transferred to the Segregation Command Post of the Headquarters Detachment, 6th FA Brigade[31].

31 May 1919 - His transfer is recorded

On 31 May the fact of his transfer was recorded[31].

22 August 1919 - Joining L Company, 13th Infantry Regiment

On 22 August 1919 Otto joined up L Company, 13th Infantry Regiment[32].

31 August 1919 - Listing in L Company

00:00

At midnight 31 August he was listed on the muster roll for L Company[32].

30 September 1919 - Listed under L Company, 13th Infantry

00:00

At midnight 30 September 1919, Otto was listed as being under L Company, 757979[33].

31 October 1919 - Listing again under L Company

00:00

On 31 October 1919 Otto was listed again as being under L Company. [34]

13 November 1919 - Claim that he joined 19th FA

On 13 November Otto had been apparently transferred to the 19th Field Artillery Regiment[35]. He may have joined 19th FA at the time but didn't join any specific unit within the 19th FA.

20 November 1919 - Joining D Battery, 19th Field Artillery

On 20 November 1919, under unspecified reasons, Otto joined D Battery, 19th Field Artillery Regiment[36].

30 November 1919 - Listed as having joined 19th FA on 13 November

On 30 November Otto (mistakenly written as Otis so maybe the person was writing from a card and misread his name as Otis) was listed as having joined the 19th FA on 13 November[35].

13 December 1919 - Recorded on Muster Roll

On 13 December Otto and the other members of D Battery, 19th Field Artillery Regiment were recorded on a roll[15].

30 December 1919 - Recorded again for D Battery

On 30 December Otto and the other members of D Battery, 19th Field Artillery Regiment were recorded on a roll[36].

12 January 1920 - Put into the reserve

On 12 January 1920 Otto was put into reserve[37].

31 January 1920 - Listed as being put into reserve

00:00

At midnight on 31 January 1920 Otto was listed as being put into the reserve after around three to four years of service[38].

24 August 1920 - Discharged from service

On 24 August 1920, Otto was discharged from service in Fisk, Missouri, after being in Casual Company 3709[2].

Sometime before or around 1920 - Moving to New Jersey

Otto and Emely moved to a place with her in Newark, New Jersey, on Fifth Street, into a residence headed by James P Longmuir, a 26 year old man who was the head of a home that they were renting. He had a wife named Ethel M, and a four and a half year old daughter named Florence E. In 1920, Otto and Emely were 22 and 25 years old at the time respectively[19].

23 February 1920 - 1920 census

On 23 February 1920, the census taker for the local area of their residence came around to record their residence. They were all listed as being in the residence number 107 on Fifth Street, house number 595?. Everyone was listed as such[19]:

  • Longmuir, James P, Head of the residence, renting the residence, Male, White race, 26 years old, married, able to read and write, born in New Jersey, his mother tongue is English, his father is born in Scotland and mother tongue being English, his mother's place of birth being in Ireland, her mother tongue being English, splator?, unknown industry, on his own assessment.
  • Longmuir, Ethel M, Wife of Head, Female, White, 25 years of age, married, can read and write, born in New Jersey, unspecified mother tongue, father born in New Jersey, unspecified mother tongue, mother born in New Jersey, unspecified mother tongue, no trade of any kind.
  • Florence E, Daughter of Head, Female, White, 4½ years of age, single, not specified whether can read or write, born in New Jersey, unspecified mother tongue, father born in New Jersey, unspecified mother tongue, mother born in New Jersey, unspecified mother tongue, no trade of any kind.
  • Heacock, Otto B, Boarder to head of residence, male, White, 22 years of age, married, can read and write, born in Missouri, Father born in Indiana, Mother born in Indiana, trade is Motorman, industry is Struct RR, worker.
  • Emily, Boarder to the head of the house, female, white, 25 years of age, married, immigrated to the US in 1898, Naturalized, Naturalized in 1905, can read and write, born in Metzingen, mother tongue is german, father born in Metzingen, german is mother tongue, mother born in Metzingen, german is mother tongue, Emily is able to speak English, no trade of any kind.

Between 1 April 1929 and 1 April 1930 - Birth of Claudie Heacock

Between 1 April 1929 and 1 April 1930 Claudie Heacock would have been born[39].

Between 1 January and 1 April 1935 - Death of Emely, breakup of family, and marriage to Bertha

In the year 1935, Emely Sieworth, passed away from unknown causes[40]. Afterwards the family broke apart, Paul, Evelyn, and Pauline going into foster care, based on either Otto's, the state authorities, or both's decision[40][41]. Paul didn't really care much about having to go into the Missouri Foster Home Program, having just two pairs of pants and a pair of shoes, as his personal belongings[40]. It appeared that Edward decided not to separate from the family, staying with his father and Claudie who apparently didn't go into the foster care program as well. At around the same time Otto decided to remarried to a Bertha Heacock (unknown what her original last name was), who was born in around 1895 in Illinois, having completed up to 7th Grade in school, and was the lady who worked at the Heacocks' house, having no other job [39].

The fact that They had married not very long after Emely passed away indicates that Otto already knew Bertha, and possibly had some sort of relationship with her and/or was attracted to her in some way.

3 November 1939 - Official marriage with Bertha Moore

On 3 November 1939, Bertha Moore and Otto Bertrand Heacock were down in Clay, Arkansas. It isn't known exactly why they married down in Arkansas, maybe it had something to do with some family from either of them living there or something else like that[42].

2 April 1940 - 1940s US Census

On 2 April 1940 a US census taker came to the residence of Otto and his family in Missouri. He asked Otto to give him the information about him and the people in his residence. He gave him the following[43]:

The house was rented, five dollars per month of rental, house is not on a farm, Otto Heacock being the head who was asked about the information, male sex, race is white, 43 years of age, married, had not been going to school or college since 1 March 1940, highest grade of school completed was 7th grade born in Missouri, same house lived in on 1 April 1935 which even back then didn't have a farm, wasn't at work for pay or profit or nonemergency governemnt work during the week of 24 March 1930, the work that week of 24 March 1930 was not at work or assigned to public emergency work (such as the WPA, CCC, etc), was searching for work that week of 24 March 1930, not specified if he had a job or not, not indicating if doing housework, unable to work, working at school, or other work, code 3, working as Carpenter in the Building Construction industry, New Worker, worked for 23 weeks in 1939, 50 dollars received in wages, did not receive income from other sources

Bertha Heacock, wife of Otto, Female, White, 45 years of age, Married, did not attend school or college since 1 March 1940, highest grade completed in school was 7th grade, born in Illinois, lived in same house since 1 April 1935, not on a farm, no kind of public job or work, was doing housework, received no salary from any job, no received any other source of income outside of housework

Edward Heacock, son, Male, white, 18 years of age, single, had not been attending school since 1 March 1940, highest grade completed in school was 8th grade, born in New Jersey, lived in same house since 1 April 1935, house was not on a farm, was not at work for pay or profit in private or nonemergency government work during week of 24 March 1930, not assigned or at public work during week of 24 March 1930, was seeking work, currently working as a Farmer in Farming, a New Worker, worked for 26 weeks work in 1939, 220 amount of wages or salary received, did not receive extra source of income outside of job.

Claudie Heacock, son of Otto, Male, white, 10 years of age, single, had beem attending school since 1 March 1940, in 4th grade, born in Missouri, same house lived in since 1 April 1935, not on a farm

This shows that Since 1 April 1935 Otto had remarried to a Bertha Heacock. By this time it seems that all the other siblings had left the Heacock family, with only Edward remaining and for some reasons Claudie as well, despite being 10 years old. The census also indicates that Emely had to have passed away between 1 January and 1 April 1935 if she passed away in 1935[40] and he was already married and moved into a new home by 1 April 1935. It also indicates that Otto during that time had been jobless and in search for a job. It also means that Claudie was born between 2 April 1929 and 2 April 1930.

February 1973 - Death

In February 1973, Otto passed away at the age of 76. His last place of residence was in Poplar Bluff[1].

Citations

  1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 Heacock, Otto B (February 1973). "Otto Heacock, "United States Social Security Death Index" • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 "Veterans Affair Master Index 1917 1940, Prior War File | 76193916| Record Group 15: United States. Military Record Indexes 1917–1940 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  3. ↑ 3.0 3.1 "Paul Henry Blackmon". WWII Archives. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  4. ↑ "Paul Henry Blackmon". WWII Archives. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  5. ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 "World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  6. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  7. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  8. ↑ "85713803 | RG-64 | World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1912–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  9. ↑ "85713803 | RG-64 | World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1912–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  10. ↑ "United States, Enlisted and Officer Muster Rolls and Rosters, 1916-1939". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  11. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  12. ↑ 12.0 12.1 "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  13. ↑ 13.0 13.1 "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  15. ↑ 15.0 15.1 "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  16. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  17. ↑ 17.0 17.1 "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  18. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  19. ↑ 19.0 19.1 19.2 19.3 "New Jersey. Census 1920 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. 23 February 1920. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  20. ↑ "Paul Henry Blackmon". WWII Archives. Retrieved 25 October 2023.
  21. ↑ 21.0 21.1 21.2 "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  22. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  23. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  24. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  25. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  26. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  27. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  28. ↑ "United States, Enlisted and Officer Muster Rolls and Rosters, 1916-1939". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  29. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  30. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  31. ↑ 31.0 31.1 "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  32. ↑ 32.0 32.1 "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  33. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  34. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  35. ↑ 35.0 35.1 "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: St. Louis. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  36. ↑ 36.0 36.1 "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  37. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  38. ↑ "85713803|RG-64|World War I Rosters of enlisted men: United States. Military Records 1916–1939 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 29 October 2023.
  39. ↑ 39.0 39.1 "Otto Bertrand Heacock". WWII Archives. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  40. ↑ 40.0 40.1 40.2 40.3 "Paul Henry Blackmon". WWII Archives. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  41. ↑ "Paul Henry Blackmon". WWII Archives. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  42. ↑ "Clay. Marriage Records Dec 1938–May 1941 • FamilySearch". FamilySearch. Retrieved 7 November 2023.
  43. ↑ "Butler. Census 1940 • FamilySearch". WWII Archives. Retrieved 7 November 2023.

Bibliography

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Contributors: Paul Sidle