From the Families
The families who come to Fortitude Research are looking for someone:
A father who survived the war and never spoke of it.
A grandfather whose records went up in flames in the 1973 fire, and the facts remain unknown.
A great-uncle who never came back, whose medals were kept in a drawer, whose name was spoken carefully, if at all.
These are their words.
SGT Vernon Breen
Headquarters 3rd Battalion
222nd Infantry Regiment, 42nd ‘Rainbow’ Division
Following my father's path through Europe was only possible because of Erin Faith Allen. Her knowledge of the 42nd Division made this far more than a tour, she brings history to life with accuracy, care, and deep respect for those who served. Her ability to research and interpret military records provided context I could not have uncovered on my own. What makes her truly exceptional are the relationships she has built with historians, archivists, and local experts across the US and Europe. Doors opened that would otherwise have stayed closed. I cannot recommend her highly enough.
— Tom, son of SGT Vernon C. Breen
CPT William 'Art' Reynolds
711th Bomber Squadron, 447th Bombardment Group
“Mighty Eighth”, 8th Air Force
I knew there was more out there, and Erin found it. The report she provided wrapped everything into a single, beautiful document I was able to share with my entire family. There were tears and thank-yous for days. But Erin gave us more than a report. She gave my family a chance to know our WWII hero, to live in his shoes for a moment, and finally understand what he truly accomplished in the final minutes of his life. It was a gift.
— Karen, great-niece of CPT Reynolds
PFC William Kane
Co C, 717th Tank Battalion
Growing up, all I knew was that my uncle had been assigned to a tank command in WWII and died from injuries when his tank exploded. Erin continued to research his story, which involved two other men, and arranged for all three families to meet at the cemetery where my uncle is buried. She had even tracked down his original Silver Star, awarded in 1945, which was still with his widow's family. They came together and surprised me by presenting me with his medal at his grave.
I will be forever grateful.
— Danny, nephew of PFC Kane
RdM3c Gilbert E. Mitchell
Survivor of the USS Franklin
Erin unearthed photographs of my grandfather, my great-uncle, my father, and my dad's best friend who perished on the USS Franklin. She found letters my grandmother wrote that had never been seen. Piece by piece, she gave me back a tapestry of family stories that had been shrouded in silence because of the trauma they endured. With each discovery I found answers to questions I had carried for years. She truly has a gift for bringing the past to life.
— Amy, daughter of RdM3c Mitchell
SSG Thomas S. Cottone
424th Bomb Squadron, 307th Bombardment Group
13th Air Force
My father never spoke about his experiences. When he died I tried to research his story but reached a dead end, the 1973 fire at the National Personnel Records Center had destroyed his records. Then I met Erin Faith Allen. Through her perseverance she located his service records and the families of other members of his flight crew. At last I knew what happened to that nineteen-year-old boy who fought for his country. My sisters and I have a sense of peace and pride we never had before. It is part of our story now and will never be forgotten.
— Cynthia, daughter of SSG Cottone
1SG Robert Milodragovich
Anti-Tank Co, 222nd Infantry Regiment
42nd ‘Rainbow’ Division
Reconnecting to my father's WWII service has been a powerful journey. Erin's detailed, honoring connection to his unit's history, and her persistence in pursuing the questions he never answered, has been profound. Her research connected me with a veteran who knew my father personally. The surviving veteran of his company recounted his living memories and allowed me to reach my father again across time. What a gift.
— Stana, daughter of 1SG Milodragovich
PFC Rodolfo Calderon
Co C, 109th Engineer Battalion
34th Infantry Division
When Erin was editing my memoir she immediately wanted to know more about my uncle's twenty-seven months of imprisonment by the Nazis. Through her research and connections with fellow historians, she uncovered his unit, the battle in which he was captured, and accounts of his time in the POW camp from other prisoners who were there. Her passion and her vast knowledge are undeniably the qualities that define her as a brilliant historian.
— Thelma, niece of PFC Calderon
PFC Paul Dean Burnum
Anti-Tank Co, 222nd Infantry Regiment
42nd ‘Rainbow’ Division
When Erin called to tell me she was researching my brother's company, I thought: finally, my brother is going to receive some well-deserved recognition. I learned more from Erin's persistent work than I ever did from my brother himself. The photographs our family had never seen, the information that has continued to surface; I only wish more people could have the experience of learning about the whole company of men their brother served with. They all seem very much like my brother: real heroes.
— Lynn, brother of PFC Burnum
1LT Jack E. Westbrook
Anti-Tank Co, 222nd Infantry Regiment
42nd ‘Rainbow’ Division
Erin led me through the process of editing and producing a book about my father's experiences in WWII with a keen eye for detail and an astute understanding of what I had hoped for. She has vast knowledge of the war and the resources to ensure accuracy. My book is selling well, but most important, it is a badge of honor for my father, thanks to Erin.
— Celia, daughter of 1LT Westbrook
PFC James Hickey
Anti-Tank Co, 222nd Infantry Regiment
42nd ‘Rainbow’ Division
Erin's work has given my family such pride in what my father accomplished with his company during the war. We know more than we ever thought possible about his day to day experiences in combat in Europe. It has been a heartwarming experience to work with her regarding his memory.
— Kathy, daughter of PFC Hickey