A Civil War Soldier

John G Thrasher

The American Civil War has always fascinated me. I believe as a child, I started wanting to know more about those times, after watching Gone with the Wind, when I was about 10-11 years old. It troubled me that one brother would come against another brother and cousins were divided. Since my dad was from Tennessee, I would ask, if anyone from our family fought in the Civil War. Back then, we only heard stories - didn't have much proof.

It was the same, I am sure in every family. I was looking through my husband's family tree when I came across, John G Thrasher - born July 18, 1844, in Annsville, New York, and died Dec. 11, 1863, in Shell Mound, Tennessee. He was my husband's 2nd great uncle.

Not much is known about the young man, who served his country. (The Union) He was born to Allen and Eloisa Matilda (Savery) Their only son - in the middle of 4 daughters. He did not die in battle - he died from the disease.

The seven most common diseases in army camps were typhoid fever, smallpox, measles, diarrhea, pneumonia, malaria, and tuberculosis. Dysentery was the  #1 single killer among all factors in the Civil War on both the Confederacy and Union. Half of all disease-related deaths were because of dysentery. According to Union records, 1,739,135 cases; 57,265 deaths were recorded on Yankee soldiers while just 44,238 men died in battle. Twice as many Civil War soldiers died from disease as from battle wounds, the result of poor sanitation in an era that created mass armies and did not yet understand the transmission of infectious diseases.

The chance of surviving a wound in Civil War days was 7 to 1; in the Korean War, 50 to 1. About 15 percent of the wounded died in the Civil War; about 8 percent in World War I; about 4 percent in World War II; about 2 percent in the Korean War.

It hurts me to imagine - if he were my 19-year-old son - far away from home, dying from disease and I was unable to help him.

Rest in peace, young soldier.

During the war, Lincoln overheard someone remark that he hoped "the Lord was on the Union's side." Lincoln responded with this sharp rebuke:

I am not at all concerned about that, for I know that the Lord is always on the side of the right. But it is my constant anxiety and prayer that I and this nation should be on the Lord's side.














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Memorial Monday in May - Iwo Jima February 14, 1945

Robert Keith Pieplow was born in 1926 on a farm in Kansas. His father owned a rather large farm. He grew up helping on the farm and from the picture, he enjoyed playing baseball.

He joined the Navy on June 19, 1944, at the age of 18. His birthdate June 29. Earlier in the month, the Normandy Invasion took place, and by the end of August 1944, the Allies had reached the Seine River, Paris was liberated and the Germans had been removed from northwestern France. All eyes were on Europe.


Battle of Saipan 15 June 1944
Battle of the Philippine Sea 19–21 June 1944
Battle of Guam 21 July 1944
Battle of Tinian 24 July 1944
Battle of Peleliu 15 September 1944
Battle of Angaur 17 September 1944
Battle of Leyte 20 October 1944
Battle of Leyte Gulf 23 October 1944
Battle of Iwo Jima 19 February 1945
Battle of Okinawa 1 April 1945


The Landing craft he was later assigned to was the USS LCI(L)-466  (1943 - 1944) The month after he joined the Navy, the USS LCI-466 had completed the Marianas operation with the capture and occupation of Guam, 21 July to 15 August 1944. Young Robert, probably arrived at the ship, a month or two after.

The President of the United States takes pleasure in presenting the PRESIDENTIAL UNIT CITATION to the LCI(G) GROUP EIGHT INCLUDING THE FLAGSHIP OF LCI FLOTILLA THREE for service as set forth in the following CITATION:

"For extraordinary heroism during action in support of beach reconnaissance by Underwater Demolition Teams at enemy Japanese-held Iwo Jima, Volcano Islands, on February 17, 1945. Opening heavy strafing fire as they moved in from two thousand yards off shore, the lightly armored ships of LCI(G) Group EIGHT advanced steadily under sporadic fire of the enemy until they reached the one thousand yard line to blast the heavy coastal defenses with barrage rockets. Almost immediately the shattering counterfire from well concealed and strongly fortified Japanese positions began to exact a terrific toll. One by one their guns were silenced; fires started and spread in ready ammunition; under the sustained deadly blast of hostile fire, their engine rooms flooded and those of the gallant ships still operable towed their powerless companionships clear of the overpowering fire of the enemy. Suffering desperate casualties, the units of this valiant group evacuated the wounded, extinguished their fires and resolutely returned to the firing line. Only when the beach reconnaissance had been accomplished did LCI(G) Group EIGHT retire after absorbing an hour and a quarter of devastating punishment in support of the stout-hearted swimmers of the Demolition Team. Manned by fighting and skilled seamen, these gunboats daringly pitted their fire-power against the overwhelming might of Japanese guns zeroed on them from the shores of Iwo Jima and bravely led the way for the invasion two days later."

LCI - 466 taking enemy fire on Feb 14, 1945

Seaman Second Class, Robert Keith Pieplow, age 19 was among the casualties. He was buried at sea.

I can't image the horrific pain his parents must have gone through when they received notification. Just doing the research, upset me.

In 1959, his parents requested a marker - to be laid at a cemetery in Kansas.

Robert K Pieplow received the Purple Heart for his heroism.

BORN: 29 JUNE 1926 • Kansas, USA

DIED: 17 FEB 1944 • South Pacific aboard ship in WWII Iwo Jima

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Little Boy on Tinian Island.

This month I wanted to devote to those ancestors that died in the war - with the exception of the one guy, who died in the battle of the bulge, so far I am unable to find any.

My husband works for California Veterans- so does my son, his SO and my father-in-law lives at one of California'sVeteran Homes. I know, one time they helped my father-in-law find out about more of his service in WW2. Like he helped unload "little boy" off a ship on Tinian Island. Of course, what was in the sealed crate was top secret. He never knew but there was talk.

The veteran caseworker wanted to research it more fully, since he has skin cancer - and wondered if there was some radiation coming off that crate, however, there is no way to prove it - and at 91 years old, it doesn't matter anymore.

Duane worked on a Navy salvage tugs out in the Pacific. When planes crashed or ships, they would go to the scene and tow it back to shore, sometimes right in the middle of battle.

We are trying to find out more - apparently many military files were destroyed in the Oklahoma City bombing of the Murrah Federal Building in April 1995.

 I joined Fold3 but so far I am not impressed. Maybe I don't know how to exactly use it. So far, I have found NOTHING.

In searching military records, what websites are your favorites?




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