I am Honorably Retired from the United States Army Special Forces as a Chief Warrant Officer and a Disabled Veteran with Iraq and Afghanistan experience, as well as other countries around the globe.

I was born and raised in Chicago, but I come from a long line of Ervins-Cooks within Effingham, Jasper and Macon Counties of Illinois, and Marion and Bartholomew Counties of Indiana, as well as Ohio and Kentucky. I have traced my ancestors back to Ireland and Scotland. My wife hails from the Davis-Duclo-Keith Clans and we have traced her ancestry back to Scotland as well.

A couple of my passions and interests are genealogy and history, especially in locating the final resting place of me ancestors and the part they placed in history, as well as helping others to locate theirs. The history we can learn from our pasts, can help shape our young of the future.

I became a findagrave volunteer through my research and thought it would be interesting. I receive great enjoyment in finding markers of Veterans, then cleaning them up where and when needed. The stories each marker tells of heroic sacrifices made are inspiring and show the great patriotism in the individual families. I also found that this helps with my PTSD....lol.

As a findagrave volunteer, I visit and photograph the cemeteries in my area in order to UPDATE-TOTALLY photograph the individual cemeteries within the County. I receive greater enjoyment in taking pictures, instead of creating records, but will as I find a grave that has not been recorded in the cemetery I visit. If I find Veteran's markers that can't be read, or is covered by erosion through time and weather to the point it cannot be easily read, I clean them so that they can be read and respects can be rendered for the sacrifices they made.

I also enjoy researching veterans of past conflicts who have fallen, creating their biographies of who they are ... and sadly how they died so that their families can know of the heroic actions their loved sacrificed for as they research their family trees. Currently, I am working on veterans in the Manila American Cemetery, Philippines.

REQUESTS: As time permits, I will try and fulfill requests as I receive them. I would ask the specific memorials be checked first to ensure there is not a photo already taken. I do realize sometimes the photo already present, may not be legible.

If you find an error, or have additional information any of my memorials, please use the suggest a correction or provide additional information under the "Edit" Tab. I will research your recommendation and gladly make corrections or additions to any memorial that is warranted. I do not have an ego to bruise. BOTTOM LINE-I believe accurate information is essential in order for family members to be able to locate their relatives.

Concerning Transfers, I will transfer any memorial to family members. I feel that family members can create a better picture (bio) on the memorial page of their relative.

In the words of the Irish, "Slainte!" Translate-"Good Health to You."

I am Honorably Retired from the United States Army Special Forces as a Chief Warrant Officer and a Disabled Veteran with Iraq and Afghanistan experience, as well as other countries around the globe.

I was born and raised in Chicago, but I come from a long line of Ervins-Cooks within Effingham, Jasper and Macon Counties of Illinois, and Marion and Bartholomew Counties of Indiana, as well as Ohio and Kentucky. I have traced my ancestors back to Ireland and Scotland. My wife hails from the Davis-Duclo-Keith Clans and we have traced her ancestry back to Scotland as well.

A couple of my passions and interests are genealogy and history, especially in locating the final resting place of me ancestors and the part they placed in history, as well as helping others to locate theirs. The history we can learn from our pasts, can help shape our young of the future.

I became a findagrave volunteer through my research and thought it would be interesting. I receive great enjoyment in finding markers of Veterans, then cleaning them up where and when needed. The stories each marker tells of heroic sacrifices made are inspiring and show the great patriotism in the individual families. I also found that this helps with my PTSD....lol.

As a findagrave volunteer, I visit and photograph the cemeteries in my area in order to UPDATE-TOTALLY photograph the individual cemeteries within the County. I receive greater enjoyment in taking pictures, instead of creating records, but will as I find a grave that has not been recorded in the cemetery I visit. If I find Veteran's markers that can't be read, or is covered by erosion through time and weather to the point it cannot be easily read, I clean them so that they can be read and respects can be rendered for the sacrifices they made.

I also enjoy researching veterans of past conflicts who have fallen, creating their biographies of who they are ... and sadly how they died so that their families can know of the heroic actions their loved sacrificed for as they research their family trees. Currently, I am working on veterans in the Manila American Cemetery, Philippines.

REQUESTS: As time permits, I will try and fulfill requests as I receive them. I would ask the specific memorials be checked first to ensure there is not a photo already taken. I do realize sometimes the photo already present, may not be legible.

If you find an error, or have additional information any of my memorials, please use the suggest a correction or provide additional information under the "Edit" Tab. I will research your recommendation and gladly make corrections or additions to any memorial that is warranted. I do not have an ego to bruise. BOTTOM LINE-I believe accurate information is essential in order for family members to be able to locate their relatives.

Concerning Transfers, I will transfer any memorial to family members. I feel that family members can create a better picture (bio) on the memorial page of their relative.

In the words of the Irish, "Slainte!" Translate-"Good Health to You."