Was Finding the Past, Ment to Be?

In 2009 after starting my research on My Uncle Steve, took me to a very surpiseing eye opener. I had found threw some Army story archives, of the 509 PIB 82nd Paratroopers. These story archives we of entries of some soldiers, and there journeys, and then there was the stories, of there journey's in general. Reading them stories and watching some of the video archives, of the 509 PIB, I began to understand, and think to my self what my uncle must have endured, during that time. I still think about that today. One night while reading some of these stories, and looking at maps that was displayed, I began to think to my self, "Is this just a coinsadance? or is this fate"? To me being the niece of Pfc. Shaposka Steve,I began to realize, right were I am living...
I thought OMG.... this has to be fate, maybe I was ment to find out about my uncle, and maybe there is more for me to know, so i took this as a sign. My uncle steve, was and 82nd Paratrooper, of the 509 PIB. As far as I know, from information i read, he did train at Fort Bragg NC, for a short period of time, to train on jumping out of planes. The 509 PIB from what I read, then deployed to France. I know they crossed Bastone, into the Ardens Forrest, during the Battle of the Buldge. As I was reading, I was realizing all these names, that I had become acustome to hearing growing up from what my dad always talked about. Normandy, Bastogne, Rhine, Ardens, Douve, Luzon, ninemegen,
as it turns out, the area were I live on Fort Bragg, or housing area rather, is Ninemegen, the main rd, into the houseing area, is Luzon to the right and Douve to the left, followed by Rhine, main crossing streets to get to my nabourhood, is Normandy, and Bastogne,as you drive down Normandy, you come to Ardens. Not only had I realized all of this, but not far from were I live once stood the old barrick buildings, in wich housed the 509 PIB, at one time. I have yet in the last four years, that I have lived here, to visit both Musiums. This summer I have made it a point to visit them, as I want to see first hand how our great men serverd our country, to read more, about there times in service, I also one day want to visit Belgium, to visit the Henri-Chaplle Cemetery. I know this all seems clache' but to me, for a man I know only as my Uncle, and one of the most amazing Hero's, and to have never met him, but only threw stories, for what ever reason, I feel that this was ment to be part of my own Journey, to make sure that one particular soldier, to my family will never be forgotten.
The Generation of that time, in my family are now gone, and only few family memebers of that time, remain. There's not much I can do, to get information on my uncle, but I am hoping for the few generation's before me, (cousins) might beable to one day help me on information I so desperatly look for. One of my most recent missions in my research is not only finding information, and stories, and so on, but is to find the one photograph, that is of my uncle. and I am hopeful that one day I will find what I am looking for.

Reaserching is so much harder then i really thought it would be. I have always thought, hay the internet every thing you want to find is there. so I have learned that is not exactly to be the case. I have stared out looking for my uncle, Pfc. Shaposka,Steve. He was my Father's older brother. I guess you can say I felt compelled to start doing research on my uncle, when I and my children moved to NC, to be with my husband, who is an 82nd Paratrooper. Granted they were no were near the same unit, but both had and does serve as an 82nd Paratrooper. When I started initially doing research on my uncle, I had actually been doing family tree history research. I knew as a kid from what my father told me growing up, about my uncle being in the WWII. And how he was killed during the "BATTLE OF THE BULDGE". And as I was researching more into my family tree, every time I searched from the last name "Shaposka" there would always pull up a page from "Henri-Chapelle American Cemitary, Belgium", this really got me curious in finding out more about Pfc. Shaposka,Steve. I now have several documents, including a certificate from a friend who awsomly adopted my uncle's grave. The certificate is from the "Henri-Chapelle Cemetery". How wonderful it was of Frenk to send that to me. I opened up the envelope that Frenk sent to me, and was so delighted, I teared up, with joy. Every now and again, Frenk sends me photo's when he goes to the "Henri-Chapelle Cemetery", Were he lays flower's down, and the only exsiting photo that we know of exsist of my uncle Steve.
I have recently met a few more WWII friends, who's father's or cousin's were in WWII. and buried in the same cemetery. I talk to them online often, as it gives me geat joy, knowing that there are other family member's of WWII soldier's who are wanting to talk and discuss and help other's to find what they need to keep those who fought for Freedoms alive. As I often hear, "They may have fallen, but they will never be forgoten".