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Helvetia History
·Hello all,
While browsing eBay a couple of weeks ago I came across a Helvetia with some initials and a military service number engraved to the back.
Due to the condition and shipping fees from the US I decided I wasn't going to bid on the watch but did a bit of research for my own interest. From looking up the service number I found the watch was owned by Koichi Hirashima, a Japanese citizen, born in Hawaii who joined the US Army in 1946.
I put the serial number at 1946 so this enlistment date was a good confirmation that the serial number date is probably correct.
I had a quick look on Ancestry and while I couldn't access everything some US census records are available and that from 1940 showed him living in an internment camp.
There was also one family tree with only 7 people in it and I thought I'd let the tree owner know about the watch, better it go to the family than to someone for spares I thought. I've done this a couple of times before with some medals and other effects that were for auction I noticed that were tangentially connected to my family tree but with no response from the tree owners.
This time, after perhaps not surprisingly being wary of a scam, they sent me the replies below.
If this is correct, Kolchi would be my father in laws father. I have to be honest, this feels like some sort of scam..if you don't mind telling me, why are you reaching out? Are you just being kind?
'Wow.. what a great heart you have. My father in law was estranged from his father at an early age, but he is very excited about this news. I can't say thank you enough'
Unfortunately they failed to win the watch by one bid so, even though I know it's a very long shot, I thought I'd try posting the relevant information in a couple of places and perhaps find who bought the watch and see if I can get it back to the family.
Many thanks in advance for any help. Carl.
While browsing eBay a couple of weeks ago I came across a Helvetia with some initials and a military service number engraved to the back.
Due to the condition and shipping fees from the US I decided I wasn't going to bid on the watch but did a bit of research for my own interest. From looking up the service number I found the watch was owned by Koichi Hirashima, a Japanese citizen, born in Hawaii who joined the US Army in 1946.
I put the serial number at 1946 so this enlistment date was a good confirmation that the serial number date is probably correct.
I had a quick look on Ancestry and while I couldn't access everything some US census records are available and that from 1940 showed him living in an internment camp.
There was also one family tree with only 7 people in it and I thought I'd let the tree owner know about the watch, better it go to the family than to someone for spares I thought. I've done this a couple of times before with some medals and other effects that were for auction I noticed that were tangentially connected to my family tree but with no response from the tree owners.
This time, after perhaps not surprisingly being wary of a scam, they sent me the replies below.
If this is correct, Kolchi would be my father in laws father. I have to be honest, this feels like some sort of scam..if you don't mind telling me, why are you reaching out? Are you just being kind?
'Wow.. what a great heart you have. My father in law was estranged from his father at an early age, but he is very excited about this news. I can't say thank you enough'
Unfortunately they failed to win the watch by one bid so, even though I know it's a very long shot, I thought I'd try posting the relevant information in a couple of places and perhaps find who bought the watch and see if I can get it back to the family.
Many thanks in advance for any help. Carl.
