#2405958 - 05/31/11 08:01 AM
A Memorial Day tribute to a fallen WWII soldier
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birddog
12 Point
Registered: 02/21/02
Posts: 6073
Loc: Seymour, TN
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I debated whether or not to share this but I decided you guys might like to read it. This past weekend my Uncle was asked to speak at a service to honor my grandfather. I will be receiving a copy of the 200 letters he speaks of soon and look forward to reading them. Below is an out line of his speech. Annette is my mom.
WW II Museum
Memorial Day
May 30, 2011
1. Introduction/Acknowledgement of opportunity to speak
a. Samuel Andre Guillot enlisted in the US Army and reported for training to Camp Beauregard, LA in May 1944. His first latter home is post marked May 27, 1944, three days before my 3rd birthday. I have two younger sisters, Annette & Cathy. We, obviously, do not have clear memories of our father considering our very young ages at the time of his separation from his family and eventual death in combat.
2. Impact of Daddy’s death on Mama
a. At some point we three Kids became aware of his absence and of his death in combat. Although, it seems I have always been aware of these circumstances, I do not remember when or how I actually developed a consciousness of them. I do remember once seeing one of his younger brothers at a distance, confusing him with daddy whom he resembled and for a brief moment feeling a sense of elation thinking my uncle was daddy. Even though this was a very long time ago I take solace now in the thought I had awareness at a very young age of who he was.
b. It is important to mention here that daddy was the first boy and 4th oldest in a family of 11 siblings since our aunts & uncles contributed significantly to our welfare and joy as children.
c. The years went by and Mama said little of Daddy or his memory. It appears in hindsight that after his death was confirmed by the Army she deliberately locked his memory away deep within her inner most self. In her latter years before her death the circumstances and consequences of daddy’s death on her life were very troubling for her.
d. Mama died in Aug 2007. After we returned from her burial we began to rummage through her belongings and discovered a box of letters in her Hope chest. A note was attached that simply but emphatically stated, “Letters from your father to me. Read!” They had remained hidden there in the chest for 63 years. After all the years and after her own death it appeared that Mama was ready to unlock the close doors to her memories.
3. The significance of the letters
a. There are 200 letters from Samuel Andrea to Catherine Manale Guillot. They are the only source of information we have of Sam, the soldier or mental images, albeit, of Sam, husband and father.
b. Sam was in training from May to October 1944, first at Camp Beauregard, LA and then Camp Fanning, TX. He came home on leave in Oct 44 and met his recently born daughter, Cathy. After his two-week visit he was sent to Camp Mead in Maryland and apparently shipped to Naples in late Nov or early Dec 1944. He was a replacement in the Fighting 36th Division from TX, a unit that had sustained many casualties. The men of this Division as are so many others are distinguished for their service and sacrifices through many battles in WWII.
c. From his letters it is clear that Sam was an ordinary, simple man who had a deep appreciation for the gifts life offered him. Although he occasionally mentioned having a “case of the blues” or the “red___”, he was not one to dwell on the difficulties in training or later the devastation he saw and the horrors he experienced in war-torn Europe.
d. In his own uncomplicated words to his wife & children it is clear he possessed self esteem; he was a resilient and unselfish man. He saw in his manhood a very deep responsibility for the welfare of those he loved. Not being home to be a husband and a father was at the depth of his pain of separation. Nonetheless, throughout his experiences in training and eventually combat he did not abandon expressing his love and fidelity to his wife and children; He continued to express hope of being reunited for the “good times” and to offer encouragement to his sweetie, his sweetheart name for mama. He wrote to her in this vain undetered to the very end.
4. His last letter is dated February 2, 1945. He begins as he had in all the others. “I love and miss you very much. How are you and the kids? I hope well and happy. My darling, I miss you more than anything in the world. Pray hard for this war to be over so we can all come home to the one we love.” He goes on to ask about “papa”, his father-in-law and speaks highly of the people he meets in France. He closes with “Well good by my Darling and sweet dreams. I love you very much. Pray hard and I will be home soon. One kiss for you and one for each of the kids, kiss, kiss, kiss. Love, Sammy” This letter was written 6 days before his death.
5. Our Prayer for Sam & Catherine
a. His three children are now senior citizens. They provided him and Catherine with 12 grandchildren and now there are 21 great-grand children and one great-great grand child. Our prayer for him and Catherine is that they now share for all eternity, in the Divine presence, the happiness and joy of being together that he so longingly desired.
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#2405977 - 05/31/11 08:27 AM
Re: A Memorial Day tribute to a fallen WWII soldier
[Re: birddog]
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JandSCattleCo
6 Point
Registered: 11/01/10
Posts: 743
Loc: Murfreesboro, TN
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Amazing. My great grandfather's brother wrote letters home. My grandmother typed them all to disk, it was the last thing she did before she passed away. It seems that the art of letter writing is quickly becoming obsolete, and with the passing of our former generations, it moves by faster.
_________________________
JandS Cattle Co.
-Breathe Easy
The power of good is shown not by triumphantly conquering evil, but by continuing to resist evil while facing certain defeat. - Norse Myth
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#2406070 - 05/31/11 10:30 AM
Re: A Memorial Day tribute to a fallen WWII soldier
[Re: JandSCattleCo]
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Bambi Buster
12 Point
Registered: 01/29/04
Posts: 6056
Loc: Middle Tennessee
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Thanks very much for sharing. The same poignant stories, complete with millions of equally moving messages are being lived all around us every day by members of the Latter Day Greatest Generation. The difference is that today's "letters" take the form of emails, online chats and Facebook posts. I hope that someday someone can figure out a way to document and save at least a few of them before they disappear into cyberspace to be lost forever.
_________________________
"The American military is like a finely crafted sword. To be effective, it must be wielded by a discerning, skilled and merciless hand."
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#2406286 - 05/31/11 01:53 PM
Re: A Memorial Day tribute to a fallen WWII soldier
[Re: Bambi Buster]
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birddog
12 Point
Registered: 02/21/02
Posts: 6073
Loc: Seymour, TN
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BB I agree. it will be a shame if memories like this cant be shared with the future generation.
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#2406351 - 05/31/11 03:30 PM
Re: A Memorial Day tribute to a fallen WWII soldier
[Re: birddog]
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RutMan
16 Point
Registered: 09/18/00
Posts: 15135
Loc: Atoka ,TN - USA
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Thanks for sharing !!
_________________________
I believe in the sun....even when it isn't shining
I believe in love....even when I don't feel it
I believe in GOD....even when HE is silent
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#2407372 - 06/01/11 06:41 PM
Re: A Memorial Day tribute to a fallen WWII soldier
[Re: RutMan]
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birddog
12 Point
Registered: 02/21/02
Posts: 6073
Loc: Seymour, TN
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im looking forward to reading the letters. hopefully i will get a copy soon.
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#2407631 - 06/02/11 04:55 AM
Re: A Memorial Day tribute to a fallen WWII soldier
[Re: RutMan]
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Snake
16 Point
Registered: 05/03/09
Posts: 15484
Loc: McMinn Co.Tennessee U.S.
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X2 !
_________________________
No matter the storm , when you are with God , there's always a rainbow waiting .
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#2407650 - 06/02/11 06:22 AM
Re: A Memorial Day tribute to a fallen WWII soldier
[Re: Snake]
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DUCK37101
"Link" Police
16 Point
Registered: 08/29/05
Posts: 18867
Loc: McEwen, TN.
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X3
_________________________
You Can't Take It With You.....So Don't Go.
IN GOD WE TRUST!
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- Ted Kennedy
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