A Tribute to Family Veterans
By Deborah LaVallie on Friday, November 11, 2011 at 6:43pm
As I sit here, praying for my cousin, John Belgarde Jr. who is fighting for his life, in Trinity Hospital with double pneumonia, I realized that we are alike, in that we both have Fathers who were “lifers”, in the military. My Father, Sgt. Melvin J. Crasco, joined the U.S. Navy Seabee’s, when he was 18 years old, and, a Senior at Flandreau Indian School. He served in New Guinea, where he was missing in action for 28 days, wounded and lost in the jungle, and fought in the battle for Saipan. Then, after returning home, to the Fort Belknap Reservation for a time, he joined the U.S. Army, where he served 20 years. He served in World War II, the Korean Conflict and in Viet Nam, where he was an Advisor, training South Vietnamese troops, before there was a “war” there. He was shot by a sniper, while there, and, it was then, he decided that he’d finally had enough. He retired, in 1964. John’s, Dad, Master Sgt. John Belgarde Sr., served in the U.S. Army, in the Korean Conflict, fighting in the notoriously violent battle of “Bloody Ridge”. So, today, I will take the time to honor these Warriors’ careers and sacrifices, on Veteran’s Day.
I would like to honor all the Family Veterans…and, recognize their sacrifices and those of their families, which are great. We Gillis/Gillies’, grew up hearing about our Uncle Frank G. Gillies, a family hero, with great leadership qualities. He was also 18, and, a senior in Flandreau when he joined the U.S. Navy, shortly after Pearl Harbor was bombed. He gave his life for his Country, on October 26, 1944, in the Battle for Leyte Gulf. This Battle is considered one of the greatest sea battles in Military History. These men on the U.S.S. Johnston fought valiantly, and actually, “crossed the T”, which is a rare maneuver, before the Destroyer was sunk by the Japanese. They helped to save MacArthur’s’ landing on Leyte. It was from that turning-point that WWII, was eventually, lost by the Japanese. His leadership was lost to the Gillies family on that day, too.
Uncle, Raymond C. Gillies, U.S. Army; Uncle, Bernard Hamley, U.S. Marines, WWII; Uncle Louis Williams, U.S. Army, was in the Bataan Death March and a prisoner for 4 years in a Japanese prison camp; Uncle Alex LaVallie, Sgt. U.S. Army, Korean Conflict; Cousin, Edward LaVallie, U.S. Army, Korean Conflict and, who I personally, believe should be a Medal of Honor Recipient, for giving his life in a foxhole, when he threw himself on a grenade, saving the other crew members. Uncle, Clifford Gillis, U.S. Marines, Korean Conflict; Uncle Joe Gillies, U.S. Marines, Viet Nam War; Uncle Pete Gillis, U.S. Army, Viet Nam War; Cousin, Dan Gillies, U.S. Army, stationed in Japan after the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki; Cousin Rick Williams, U.S. Army, Viet Nam War; Cousin Frank Williams, U.S. Marines, where he was a “tunnel rat”, while serving in Viet Nam; Cousin, Gordon Hamley, U.S. Marines, Viet Nam War; Brothers, Gilbert LaVallie, U.S. Army, serving in Alaska during the Alaska Earthquake of 64; Andrew LaVallie, U.S. Army, Viet Nam War; Albert LaVallie, U.S. Army, Viet Nam War; Pete LaVallie, U.S. Army, Viet Nam War; Cousin, Pete Gillis Jr., who served in the National Guards and U.S. Army, in Iraq; Cousin, Clayton Williams, U.S. Army, served in Iraq, and, Afghanistan; Cousin, Dean Gillis, U.S. Navy for 20 years; Cousin, Joe Gillies Jr., U.S. Marines, and Ken Gillies, U.S. Marines; Cousin, Sandra K. Gillis, U.S. Air Force; Cousin, Pamela Belgarde, ND National Guards; Cousin, Gregory LaVallie, U.S. Army; Brother-in-laws, Elmer Nadeau, U.S. Army, and, Leo Nadeau, U.S. Army; Nephew, Elmer Nadeau Jr., U.S. Army and Duane Morin, U.S. Army; Cousins, Mike Gillis, National Guards, and John Gillis, U.S. Navy, Keith Charbonneau, U.S. Army and Eric Grinnell Jr., U.S. Air Force, now serving in Japan; Cousin, Ken LaVallie, U.S. Army; Cousin, Francis “Cookie” Champagne, U.S. Army; Cousins, Joe, Larry and Ernest Houle, U.S. Army, Viet Nam War; Cousins, Will Crasco, U.S. Army, and Luke Crasco, U.S. Army, Cousin-in-law, Alvin Doney, U.S. Army, Korean Conflict; Uncles, Jim Crasco, U.S. Army, WWII, and Donald Crasco, U.S. Army and Cousin-in-laws, Tom Rowburg, U.S. Army, Viet Nam War, and, Ken Skuza, U.S. Air Force; and, our “buddies”, Robert Old Rock, U.S. Air Force, Mark Schimetz, U.S. Army and Robert “Cowboy Bob” Brennan, U.S. Army, Viet Nam, and, his beautiful wife, Supan, who “trained” U.S. GI’s in her homeland of Thailand, in the “Martial Arts” before they were sent to Viet Nam, and whose Father was a Colonel with the Thai Army, my Godfather, Paul Whiteman, another “lifer”, U.S. Army, WWII, who met the woman of his dreams in Guam, my Godmother, Elizabeth Perez Whiteman, while serving in the South Pacific, bringing her back to the States for a lifetime of happiness, and finally, a man who has been a Mentor/teacher, a friend and family member, Art Raymond, U.S. Army, WWII, serving in Germany, and, Wounded Knee. I learned so much from him about the “true” story of the Native American saga, still waiting to be heard….. .
Sorry if I left anyone out…that’s quite a list though. These are the people who help inspire me and motivate me in my everyday life…our “modern-day “Warriors. I pray for them and their families…many are experiencing health problems and post traumatic stress disorder, while dealing with an inadequate health care system. We owe them. And, even, though, at times, I don’t agree with the government “policy” that creates WAR, I respect and honor your service to our Nation. Thank you, All…
