WI WI - Rothschild, WhtMale pre-50s, UP131512, possibly WWI veteran, lavender checkered tie, tattoos, Sep’30

[lightofmine99]

Rothschild John Doe (1930)
a.k.a "Sailor John Doe”
UP131512 (NU)​

Circumstances:
An unidentified male was recovered in Rothschild, Wisconsin. Prior to, he had arrived to the community via train. He had left a note that mentioned his time in the war. Despite efforts, no one was able to identify him. He had a Statue of Liberty tattoo on his left arm, an American flag and initials "PR" and "USA" on his left arm, he also had a sailing vessel on his right arm. (per NamUs).

Spoiler: INFORMATION

Case Numbers:

• NamUs: UP131512
• Doe Network: N/A
• ME/C: 1930-256
• NCMEC: N/A

Overview:

• Location: Rothschild, Wisconsin (Marathon Co.)
• Date Body Found: September 24, 1950.
• NamUs Created: October 17, 2024.
• Tribal Land: NO
• PMI: N/A
• State of Remains: Not recognizable - partial skeletal parts only.
• Cause of Death: UNKNOWN

Physical:

• Sex: Male
• Race/Ethnicity: White/Caucasian
• Age: Adult, pre-50).
• Height: 5' 8" (68 in.), est.
• Weight: 160-200 lbs., est.
• Hair: BROWN
  • Male pattern baldness.
• Eye: UNKNOWN

Identifiers:

• Dentals: UNKNOWN
• DNA: UNKNOWN
• Prints: UNKNOWN
• Marks / Features:
  • Statue of Liberty tattoo on left arm.
  • American flag tattoo on left arm.
  • Initials “PR” and “USA” tattoo on left arm.
  • “Sailing vessel” tattoo on right arm.
  • Male pattern baldness.

Personal Effects:

• Clothing:
  • Dark blue serge double breasted suit.
  • Blue work shirt.
  • Lavender and white checkered tie.
  • Gray “soft hat,” size 7 ⅛.
  • New 8 inch top brown “work shoes,” size 8.5.
• Jewelry: UNKNOWN
• Add'l Items: UNKNOWN

Links:
NamUs: UP131512 (ARCHIVE)
Doe Network: N/A
NCMEC: N/A

Notes:
As of October 21, 2024 there are no public exclusions.

This John Doe from 1930 was not added into NamUs until October 17, 2024.

 

[MarziPanda]

PR may be his initials. Or it may be PA and they just thought it was PR, and PA may be for Pennsylvania. Boat tattoo could mean navy but he might have just liked boats. If he was ever reported missing, it's unlikely the report still exists.

Hoping he's been added to NAMUS because they're exhuming him and doing genetic genealogy.

 

[lightofmine99]

I don’t have an account with any online newspaper archive so I am limited with what I can search for. I wonder if he ever was buried somewhere or if his remains are stored in a lab warehouse somewhere. The remains are described as skeletal and incomplete, but they could not have been a full skeleton otherwise we wouldn’t know about his hair or tattoos.

 

[victoriarobinson642]

Rothschild, Wisconsin - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Seems like a train from S Wisconsin went through there. I'll see if I can dig up the route.

https://marathoncountyhistory.org/gallery/photo-collection

https://flic.kr/p/XyC2uG

This Flickr page suggests one route was Wausau to Stevens Point.

 

[cenazoic]

They found him 5-6 hours after he hanged himself. Lots of details:

UiDrothschildWI1930

Clipping found in Wausau Daily Herald published in Wausau, Wisconsin on 9/24/1930. UiDrothschildWI1930

www.newspapers.com

UiDrothschildWI1930p2

Clipping found in Wausau Daily Herald published in Wausau, Wisconsin on 9/24/1930. UiDrothschildWI1930p2

www.newspapers.com

 

[cenazoic]

Buried September 30th; someone thought to be him appears on the scene:

UiDrothschildWI1930burial

Clipping found in Wausau Daily Herald published in Wausau, Wisconsin on 9/30/1930. UiDrothschildWI1930burial

www.newspapers.com

 

[cenazoic]

Throughout the ‘30s the VFW and town of Wausau WI had a Memorial Day event and always mentioned him.

By 1978, the existence of his grave, and how it got there, were forgotten.

Wisconsin Unknown SoldierTom

Clipping found in Wausau Daily Herald published in Wausau, Wisconsin on 11/11/1978. Wisconsin Unknown SoldierTom

www.newspapers.com

 

[cenazoic]

From 2022:

‘He should be known’: The unknown soldier died in 1930. A ceremony was held last week in Wausau to honor him.

The man, who died by suicide in 1930, is thought to be a World War I veteran. He was never identified, and was buried with military rites in Wausau.

www.wausaudailyherald.com

 

[cenazoic]

Likely related history:

The 1932 Bonus Army: Black and White Americans Unite in March on Washington

Today’s post comes from Alice Kamps, a curator at the National Archives in Washington, DC. It would not be Gen. Douglas MacArthur’s last act of insubordination. Decades later, his recalcitran…

prologue.blogs.archives.gov

 

[lightofmine99]

Given that the NamUs was added so very recently, maybe they will be adding more context and any available files to the profile soon.

Heartbreaking to learn he died by suicide and no one seemed to remember his name. But it’s also very heartwarming to see that he was “well taken care of” so-to-speak after death and people don’t want to forget him. I was worried that he would be yet another Doe whose remains were lost to time or disaster. MOO.

 

[MarziPanda]

Gosh, his note is so sad. Poor guy. Sounds like he was desperate and couldn't find a job anywhere, I guess The Great Depression was in full swing.

His belt buckle also had the letter R, so that lends more credence to the theory that P.R were his initials.

 

[cenazoic]

Yes, the note is heartbreaking.

"[To be] In the land of plenty and then starve is too much for me. I have been looking for work all over until my last cent went too. I cannot see any other way out with the exception of either begging or stealing and they will put you in the jail for both and it would kill me to be there, so I may as well do it myself. All during the war everybody called me lucky because I didn't get killed, but I see now that I would sooner have stayed in France with a bullet through me than to put a rope around my neck. I do not want any of my friends to know I am doing this. Please put me in the ground somewhere. Yours truly, tired of life."

 

[doublestop]

I thought perhaps PR stood for Puerto Rico--maybe one of his ports of call if he were in the navy.

 

[doublestop]

I wonder if they could get DNA from his remains.

 

[Keiri]

I spent all day tracking down ww1 vets who had the initials PR. I found and eliminated them all.

 

[Keiri]

Clarification: I mean Wisconsin vets only. I different check other states.

 

[lightofmine99]

I have submitted the "Unknown Soldier" John Doe to the Doe Network.

 

[Teamir]

I spent all day tracking down ww1 vets who had the initials PR. I found and eliminated them all.

That’s an epic effort - great work!

 

[Teamir]

Since he mentioned France, and had a ship or boat tattoo, I suspect that he was a Marine. I found this website that confirms US Marines served in France during WW1.

“During World War I, the US Marine Corps was included in the American Expeditionary Forces and fought in France and on the high seas against the German U-boats in Anti-submarine patrols. ”

And I agree that his initials were likely P. R.

 

[Teamir]

I spent all day tracking down ww1 vets who had the initials PR. I found and eliminated them all.

Army or Marine or both? I think he was a Marine or Navy.

Edited to add “or Navy”