The Dukes of Michigan Avenue
Decatur Metro | September 27, 2012 | 9:26 am
Paula writes in…
I have a small mystery for you! When we moved into our house in 2001, I found this wooden board in a closet. I set it aside, and forgot about it. I re-discovered it in a recent bought of Spring cleaning. As you can see from the picture, it seems to be part of a packing crate shipped to Mrs. Daniel F. Duke in Decatur in 1944, from PVT C.K. Duke, apparently stationed overseas. If it is a meaningful bit of family history to someone, I’d love to be able to return it to its rightful owner. The address on the board is Michigan Avenue, although we don’t live at that address. Perhaps one of your many readers knows something about the Dukes of Michigan Avenue?
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That is one of the coolest things I have seen in a while, and it reminded me of going through my grandfather’s WWII journals and souvenirs after he passed away a few years ago, most of which hadn’t seen the light of day in decades. Hopefully you find the Dukes or their children or grandchildren.
Maybe there’s some info in the 1940 census data released earlier this year? Should be able to find more about who lived at that address then.
Private Charles K Duke was an enlisted man in a Marine night fighter squadron. They were deployed on Peleliu, scene of one of the bloodiest battles in the Pacific.
http://178.83.198.61/wings/29-Marines/5/541.htm
http://www.scribd.com/doc/55583450/WWII-Georgia-Navy-Casualties
Shows Private Charles K Duke was wounded in action (shown on page 21). His mother was Mrs. Greta Duke at the same address.
This looks like one of his sons if you want to reach out and see if he’d like his dad’s board
http://www.fticonsulting.com/global2/professionals/douglas-a-duke.aspx
Demonstrating the power of the information age in the hands of diligent researchers. Not sure if it’s cool or creepy.
It’s crool
Thanks, all! I will see if I can contact the son (?).
Very interesting. There is a Duke boy buried in the Decatur Cemetery who was KIA during WWII. I believe he was also a DHS graduate. His grave is north across the street from the memorial/ flagpole in the cemetery. I believe there is a Duke bench nearby.
Charles K. Duke did have a son named Doug Duke but the link above is not the right Doug Duke. My husband (Doug Duke) and his brothers and sisters live in Virginia. Their family is originally from Georgia.