Hello,

It was truly a pleasure and a wonderful experience in meeting the AfriGeneas Creole Research Forum Manager at the International Black Genealogy Summit (IBGS) over the weekend of 29-31 Oct 2009 in Ft. Wayne, IN. Folks, he is something to behold, a wonderful young man !!!!!

We were discussing surnames from his home area of New Orleans and I mentioned a gentleman who spoke at one of our African American Genealogy Group of the Miami Valley (AAGGMV) of Ohio meetings.

The gentleman gave a brief bio of himself, spoke of his experiences in WW II and displayed his military medals. His presentation was so fascinating that when I got home following the meeting a search began for him and his family on Ancestry in Census records.

The gentleman (Reginald Donato) spoke of his father being being a Doctor, that he was a twin and that he left home at an early age to join the military, prior to WW II, because as he said "I didn't fit into the family lifestyle".

Jari, here is some of what I found on Reginald via Census records and a photo from that meeting.

1930 United States Federal Census
Name: Reginald Donato
Home in 1930: Opelousas, St Landry, Louisiana
Age: 9
Estimated Birth Year: abt 1921
Relation to Head of House: Son
Father's Name: Raphael
Mother's Name: Mary O
Race: Negro
Household Members: Name Age
Raphael Donato 65
Mary O Donato 45
Raphael Donato 23
Felton Donato 19
Italian Donato 12
Robertas Donato 14
****Eldridge Donato 9
****Reginald Donato 9

Source Citation: Year: 1930; Census Place: Opelousas, St Landry, Louisiana; Roll 819; Page: 11B; Enumeration District: 2; Image: 669.0.
and may be viewed on Ancestry.com: La, St. Landry, La, Dist 2, pp 20-21 of 28

See photo below of Mr. Reginald DeNato showing one of several medals he recieved for his WW II military service.

Mr. DeNato was assisted by AAGGMV then V-P Rosalind Osinubo in acquiring his much deserved medals after a lengthy delay by the Dept. of Defense.
Date Taken: 28 Jan 2006
Place Taken: AAGGMV meeting Trotwood, Ohio www.aaggmv.org
Owner: Irita Canady

Jari, Thanks for allowing me to share this story with you and the readers of this Forum

~Art