The American WWII Orphans Network is an organization of
sons and daughters of Americans killed and missing in World War II.
The Network was founded in 1991 by Ann Bennett Mix, daughter of Sydney Bennett,
who was killed in Italy on April 19, 1945.
More than a million fathers served in World War II. Leaving their wives and children,
they traveled overseas, where many paid the highest price in service to their country.
Some are still there, buried in foreign cemeteries. Others are still missing or were
never recovered. Many are memorialized on the Wall of the Missing, examples of which
may be found at a number of overseas cemeteries and in home town cemeteries across the USA.
The deaths of more than 406,000 men left an estimated 183,000 American children
fatherless, and totally unaware that so many others share the same condition. Some
have already found the American WWII Orphans Network, and some have not. It is those
people we seek, as they (possibly you?) are the people who can most benefit from such
a worldwide support group.
Most of these fatherless children are now in their fifties, and whether they found us
or we found them, they are being brought together for the first time by the American
WWII Orphans Network.
Here are some of the comments from members who have already
found AWON, and who have shared their stories.
"My father was just a name among a row of crosses on the edge of the town cemetery.
I can't recall anyone speaking of the men those crosses represented as individuals.
They were always addressed collectively. The 'Great Silence' was not just a thing
my mother subscribed to, the whole war-weary town developed the same habit."
"Now that the 'code of silence' is broken, I can deal with my grief openly and help
others face their hidden hurt and abandonment. Ann, thank you for your dedication,
genuine caring and love in helping us all toward completion and appreciation of our
precious gift of life defended so dearly by our fathers."
-- Brenda K.
"Since our most wonderful time in Seattle at the Commemoration, I've been searching
my mind for the words to express how very meaningful this was. Being with different
ones at various times and hearing from their hearts their feelings and sometimes
frustrations brought closeness and new friendships. It's amazing how many offers
of help were given -- a genuine sign of kinship." -- Val B.
"My father's death three weeks after my birth in 1945 altered my life forever and
contributed to an innate and sometimes confusing state of sadness and loss. I have
examined this throughout my life and have realized the source of those feelings was
that early loss. Considering the casualty count in WWII and subsequent wars, there
must be many of us who understand that myriad of feelings." -- Sharon T.
"It has been almost one year since our first correspondence. Since that time I have
received, through your help . . . information about my father's death. I received more
than 50 pages of information from one particular source." -- David K.
"I got your return message with my Dad's service number, etc. and I can't tell you
what this means to me. I have had so little from him and about him all my life. He
was a Yale graduate, and a good man. But I think my family thought that since I was
so young when he was killed (4 months old) that they'd leave well enough alone, and not
fill my life with memories of him that would just make his loss that much harder for me
to understand." -- Rik P.
"I have reflected that when I was born in July of 1943, my father was already stationed
overseas. We never lived on the same continent. Our lives overlapped one another's for
only fourteen months; the first fourteen months of my life and the last fourteen months
of his. While flying on a mission, he was killed in France on September 11, 1944. There
are no memories of him for me to cherish, no hopes of ever seeing him in this life, but
he remains a beloved part of my life which though gone is always held dear. How good it
is to know that he and the other fathers will be remembered as we, the children come
forward and join together." Anne O.
If you'd like to become a member of AWON, please fill out the on-board membership Application
you'll find in the Membership Section. To request a free copy of THE STAR -- the AWON
Newsletter, Just click the button below, and make your request in an Auto E-Mail -- but remember
to include the information listed below the button.
Please include the following information when you E-Mail us with a Newsletter request:
Tell us your Name, your Organization, Address, City, State, Zip, Phone, FAX, and E-Mail.
Then tell us whether you are an American WWII Orphan (including your father's name). If
you are not an orphan, just say why you'd be interested in seeing our Newsletter.
Meanwhile, from all of us,
we're glad to have you aboard!
