About IkesGrunt

As far back as I can remember, I've always had a passion for American History and if you've known me long enough you've probably heard me say that if I won the lottery I'd open up a museum! Growing up hearing the stories of relatives taht served in World War II and collecting the uniforms, photos and equipment that they brought back only intensified this passion. After graduating from the University of Florida, I went on to teach American History to middle school students in Orlando where it became my mission to make history interesting. I would bring in items from my collection, ask guest speakers such as local Civil War reenactors to put on living history presentations, and take students on field trips to local reenactments and museums. In addition, I would have veterans come into the classroom and on one occasion brought students to the VA to spend quality time with the vets. So where did "IkesGrunt" come from? Believe it or not, I'm related through marriage to General (later President) Dwight D. Eisenhower. Interest in Eisenhower was derived from a combination of seeing pictures of my family members at the White House and the fact that my primary area of interest in history is studying the US Army in the European Theater of Operations during WWII in which Eisenhower was in command of. They used to call Eisenhower "Ike" for short and in the army "Grunt" is slang for an infantryman. So combine the two and you get "IkesGrunt". I've always had a website that I could use to both buy and sell items. Believe me I wish I could do this full time but my day job is as a real estate broker. The items on the site are items that I've enjoyed for a while and now must part with to make room something different.

I hope you enjoy the site! - Pat

In the photo above are uniforms of my grandfather and my wife's grandfather. Both served during WWII. They are pictured above their uniforms wearing their uniform! Other family members who served (and some are pictured above) include the following:

Timothy Swindle - Minuteman in the Early Militia serving in the Culpepper Militia in the King Geroge War of 1744-1748. He also saw service in the French and Indian War.

Elias Swindle - Served with the 43rd Alabama Inf. Regiment during the American Civil War. He was killed during the Battle of Chattanooga, TN

William H. Hancock - Served with F Company of the 22nd Mississippi during the American Civil War. He entered service as a Private and was discharged as a 2nd Lt.

John C. Houston - Served with the 3rd Regiment Florida Infantry during the American Civil War

Richard Ellis - Served with the 23rd Alabama Infantry Regiment during the American Civil War

Otey B. Blankenship - Served with the 36th Regiment, Virginia Infantry (2nd Kanawha Infantry) during the American Civil War

Len Gentile - Served witih the US Army Air Corp during WWII. photo

Robert Lawrence Germaine - Served in the United States Navy during WWII

James Montoro - Served with an Engineer Combat Battalion during WWII and was one of the first United States soldiers to land in Normandy on D-Day. photo

Stanley Roddam - Served in the United States Army during WWII

John Roddam - Served in the United States Navy during WWII as a mechanic on aircraft carriers in the Pacific.

Edsel Faught - Enlisted into the United States Army on May 24, 1943 and saw action in Europe during World War II.

Oather Roddam - Awarded the Bronze Star for action while serving in the Philippines during World War II.

Memberships and Affiliations

• Member of the Company of Military Historians
• Member of the Civil War Preservation Trust
• Member of the Central Florida Anthropological Society