<p>Jeunesse Baartes-Voges couldn't help but be inspired when listening to her grandfather's stories about hiding Jewish refugees from the Nazis in his butcher shop during World War II.</p><p>The tales motivated the 37-year-old woman from Heemskark, Netherlands, to adopt the grave of an American soldier buried in the Margraten Cemetery near her home. Baartes-Voges and her husband now want to further honor Pvt. Herbert L. Carter of Lindale by reaching out to any living relatives he may have in Georgia.</p><p>"I just want them to know that we're taking care of his grave and putting flowers on it for Christmas and all the other occasions," she said in a phone interview from Heemskark with the Rome News-Tribune. "Maybe he has children, and they don't even know he's buried here."</p><p>Baartes-Voges said she was moved to action after visiting the sea of white crosses at the cemetery in August and wanted to repay those who died for her country's freedom.</p><p>"We always felt this connection to the history of the war," she said. "It's really just an honor (to adopt the grave). Without the American soldiers, we would be Germany today."</p><p>To find out more about Carter's family, the couple has enlisted the help of their American friend, World War II veteran Jim Verdolini of South Carolina, whom they met in an online military chat room 12 years ago.</p><p>So far, they've learned that Carter, a member of the 23rd Infantry Battalion, 7th Armored Division, was believed to be 37 when he was killed in Germany on April 14, 1945, according to U.S. Census information.</p><p>He likely died in the Reduction of the Ruhr Pocket in central Germany, one of the last battles of World War II, Baartes-Voges said.</p><p>Carter was the son of Herbert E. and Della Carter and, in 1945, was survived by nine siblings: brother Hubert and sisters Aline, Eula, Mary, Evie, Faynell, Eunice, Josie and Roxie. Many of the family members worked in the Lindale cotton mills as spinners and weavers.</p><p>Verdolini said he was heartened by the couple's gesture of gratitude.</p><p>"I think it's wonderful they're taking care of one of our guys' graves," he said. "It's too bad more people aren't like that."</p><p>___</p><p>HASH(0x2865894)</p>
