Memorial: Ignacio Baca - POW, World War II

I've written about my maternal grandfather's cousin PFC Ignacio Baca in a previous post. He was captured by the Japanese in the Philippines, forced to march in what is now known as the Bataan Death March, became a prisoner of war in camp in Manchuria, and died in that prisoner of war camp. He is recognized by the Bataan-Corregidor Memorial Foundation of New Mexico.

Recently, I found a few records that pertain to his capture, death and burial. I've downloaded them on to my Evernote database, and share them with you here.

* In April 1943, the El Paso Herald Post published a list of soldiers from the Southwest who were captured by the Japanese. Click here to read the article.

* In June of the same year, the same newspaper announced that PFC Ignacio Baca, the son of Serito Baca, had died of an unspecified disease. Click here to read the article.

*  In 1947, the Albuquerque Journal announced that PFC Ignacio Baca was among the first war dead whose body was returned by the Japanese. Click here to read the article.

* Lastly, I found an application for Ignacio's tombstone on the Fold3 website. Click here to see the document.

All citations are provided in the links.

Lastly, I wish to share Ignacio's tombstone as it is shown on the Find a Grave website. Click here to view.

World War II Draft Cards for New Mexico Zimmerly cousins

The Fold3 website is currently adding World War II draft cards to their database. I found in this database draft cards for certain Zimmerly cousins. In New Mexico, their appears to be only one Zimmerly family: those who were descendants of Samuel J. Zimmerly, Civil War Union soldier. The men listed below are grandsons or great grandsons of Samuel Zimmerly. You can find them on the Fold3 website in alphabetical order beginning with this link for my great-uncle Albert Zimmerly's draft card. You can toggle through the cards by using the arrows on the site. Each card has a back side which is shown on a separate subsequent image. You may need a subscription to the website to see the complete cards. I have free access to Fold3 through the Albuquerque/Bernalillo County Genealogy Center's website.

If you are unable to view these cards online and you want to see any of them, I can email you a copy of the card. My email address is on this blog.

Albert Zimmerly, Jose Maximiano Zimmerly, and Steve D. Zimmerly were the children of Estevan Zimmerly and Delfina Torres. Estevan Zimmerly was the youngest son of Samuel J. Zimmerly. Estevan was my great-grandfather, and his sons were my great-uncles.

Benito Zimmerly was the son of Juan Jose Zimmerly and Isabel Torres. Juan Jose was the eldest son of Samuel J. Zimmerly.

Benjamin *Franklin* Zimmerly, Charles Ernest Zimmerly, Joseph Louis Zimmerly and the younger Samuel James Zimmerly were all sons of Ricardo Zimmerly and Eloisa Stackpole. Ricardo Zimmerly the middle son of the elder Samuel J. Zimmerly.

Justine (or Justin) Zimmerly was the son of Samuel T. Zimmerly and Juanita Torres. Samuel T. Zimmerly was the son of Juan Jose Zimmerly and Isabel Torres. Therefore, Justine Zimmerly was the nephew of Benito Zimmerly.

There are undoubtedly other descendants of Samuel J. Zimmerly who also filled out draft cards. Samuel Zimmerly had three daughters who had children. However, I wanted to just focus on in this post the Zimmerly surname and not any other surnames of other Zimmerly descendants.

Below are my transcriptions of the Zimmerly draft cards. I recommend that anyone interested in these names do your own research. There may be transcription errors and other information that I did not include that are on the cards. Also, I've noticed some discrepancies on the cards regarding birthdates that don't match information that I have from other sources. Remember, these cards are not considered "primary sources" for birthdates as they were written decades after the person was born.

 

Albert Zimmerly of Socorro, New Mexico, born 10 December 1924 in San Antonio, NM, 18 years old. Person who will always know his address: his mother, Mrs. Adelfina T. Zimmerly. His employer: (his brother-in-law) Santiago Baca (my maternal grandfather.) Race: White. He was 5'6" tall, 117 lbs, brown eyes, black hair, light complexion. No obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification. The registrar was his sister Ida M. Zimmerly. Registrar No. 1 for Socorro, NM. Date of registration 28 December 1942.



Benito Zimmerly of Socorro, 35 years old, born 9/8/1905 in Socorro, NM, name of person who will always know his address: Mrs. Emilia P. Zimmerly, his wife. Address: Socorro, NM. Employer's Name: WPA Project. Place of employment: Las Cruces, Dona Anna (sic), NM. Race: White. Height and weight not recorded. Brown eyes, brown hair, dark complexion. No obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification. Registrar: B.J. Vigil, Registrar 1 of Socorro, NM. Date of registration: 16 October 1940.

Benjamin Zimmerly of Socorro, NM. 30 years old, born 20 July 1910 in Socorro. Name of person who will always know your address: Mr. Richard M. Zimmerly, his father. Employer's name: Riley M. Edwards. Employed in Socorro, NM. Race: White. Height: 5'7", weight 138 lbs. Brown eyes, black hair, ruddy complexion. No other obvious physical characteristic that will aid in identification. Registrar: Max Gallegos, registrar 1 of Socorro, NM. Date of registration: 16 October 1940.

Charles Ernest Zimmerly of Socorro, NM. 34 years old. Born 7 November 1905 in Socorro, NM. Name of person who will always know his address: Mr. Richard M. Zimmerly, his father. Address: Socorro, NM. Employer's name: A.T. & S.F. (Railroad), place of employment: Socorro, NM. Race: White, height 5'9 1/2", 160 lbs, hazel eyes, black hair, light complexion. No other obvious characteristics that will aid in identification. Registrar: Max Gallegos, registrar no. 1 of Socorro, NM. Date of registration: 16 October 1940.

Jose Maximiliano Zimmerly, place of residence: Mt. Carmel Ave., Socorro, NM. 20 years old. Born 8 March 1922 in San Antonio, NM. Named of person who will always know your address: Mrs. Delfina Torres Zimmerly (his mother.) Employer: (his brother-in-law) Santiago Baca. Place of employment: La Bajada Grocery, Socorro, NM. He signed his card as "J. Max Zimmerly". Race: White. Height: 6' 2". Weight: 157 lbs. Brown eyes, black hair, dark complexion. No other obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification. Registrar: Nellie A. Tallmadge (?.) Registrar No. 1 of Socorro, NM. Date of registration: 30 June 1942.

Joseph Louis Zimmerly. Address: Rt. 4 Box 546, Albuquerque, Bernalillo County, NM. 39 years, 4 months, 9 days old. Date of birth: 7 October 1902 in Socorro, NM. Name and address of person who will always know your address: O.S. Parrish, Las Vegas, NM, At & SF Rr. Employer: AT & SF Rr. Place of employment or business: Telegraphic clerk (sic) Bernalillo, Sandoval County, NM. Race: White. Height: 5' 11 1/2". Weight: 162 lbs. Brown eyes, brown hair dark complexion. Registrar's name is hard to read. Registrar No. 4 of Albuquerque, NM. Date of registration: 16 February 1942.

Justine Zimmerly, address: 711 S. 7th Albuquerque, NM. 20 years old. Born 1 August 1922 in Albuquerque, NM. Named and address of person who will always know your address: Jennie Zimmerly (this may be his mother Juanita), 711 S. 7th, Albuquerque, NM. Employer's name: Junk (sic.) Place of Employment or Business: E.N. York, Albuquerque, NM. Race: White. Height: 5'8". Weight: 165 lbs. Brown eyes, brown hair, dark complexion. No other obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification. Registration: Mrs. Homer Lawrence, registrar no. 2, Albuquerque, NM. Date of registration: 16 February 1942.

Samuel James Zimmerly, place of residence: Socorro, NM, 41 years old, born 30 December 1900 in Socorro, NM. Named and address of person who will always know your address: Mrs. Felice A. Zimmerly (his wife) or RM Zimmerly (his father), Socorro, NM. Race: White. Height: 5'11". Weight: 185 lbs. Brown eyes, black hair, dark complexion. Registrar: Mrs. Henry Del Curto (his sister Alice (Zimmerly) Del Curto.) Registrar No. 1, Socorro, NM. Date of registration: 16 February 1942.

Steve D. Zimmerly of Socorro, NM. 23 years old, born 7 April 1917 in Socorro, NM. Name of person who will always know your address: Mrs. Steve D. Zimmerly, his wife. Address: Socorro, NM. Employer's Name: New Mexico Public Service Co., Socorro, NM. Race: White. Height: 5'9 1/2". Weight: 140 lbs. Brown eyes, black hair, light brown complexion. Other obvious physical characteristics that will aid in identification: little scar on left wrist. Registrar: Julius L. Fraissanet. Registrar no. 1, 24th ward, Socorro, NM. Date of registration: 16 October 1940.