Alyshia Barragan, Alexander Ronquillo, Candice Lefevre

Alyshia Barragan, Alexander Ronquillo, Candice Lefevre

Corona

U.S. History P.4

Due 4/02/10

Gerald M Seymore Rough Draft

Gerald M. Seymore was a man who lived working hard and embarked on a journey of unforgettable memories. On June 9th, 1925, Gerald was born well into the roaring twenties. Times were good and prosperous in the United States until October of 1929 when the Great Depression would shake the core of the United States and devastate the economy and the lives of most of her citizens. He is now called a Talladega sailor that earned everything he worked for to protect our country.

When the depression came the Seymoers had lost their home and moved to several houses but then settled down in an abandoned Boy Scout log school in Arkansas in 1935. Life was difficult as a ten year old boy. Gerald had to do chores around the farm and walk to three miles just to get to school. Growing up was more like a job because he had to balance school with helping his father with farm work. After the start of World War II in September 1939, and Gerald’s High School Graduation in May of 1942, Gerald went to work for a Mr. Higgins at a local store just three miles away from home. The store sold hand-pumped gas, food, tobacco, and other assortments such as soda, beer, and sandwiches. “I never realized that I was working in an AM-PM” said Gerald in reflection of his first post-graduation job. At the time when you turn 18 you’re given a ticket to join the Army. Gerald didn’t want to be drafted into the Army, so he joined the Navy.

When Gerald enlisted into the Navy, he was sent to a Boot Camp to learn basic training, an AmphibianSchool to learn to live at sea, and a Diesel school for advanced training; then finally to the U.S. Naval ship Cheleb AK 138 for duty. While aboard, he and his crew made a trip to KwajalinIsland with equipment that was used to build a new base. During his time at KwajalinIsland, he injured his right leg falling through the hatch of the LCM. When they got back he was sent to the NavalHospital in Long Beach due to the infection. On Easter Sunday in April 1944, Gerald met the girl of his dreams from the local high school who he would later marry.

When his leg healed, he was sent back to the Amphib base and was assigned to the U.S Naval Talladega Boat Group to train Marines at CampPendleton. Once their boat group was ready to board the Talladega, they set off to Pearl Harbor to train and assemble with a battle group in Ulithi.

Gerald and the Talladega landed elements of the Fifth Marine Division at Iwo-Jima.During this drop-off, Gerald was in the vicinity of the historic United States Flag rising at Iwo-Jima to hear the proud and victorious roar of thousands of enlisted men applauding the flag. After this, Gerald and the Talladega traveled to the Philippines to load army personnel, train, and prepare to carry troops to Okinawa. When speaking to Gerald, he had told us that he remembered Japanese forces trying to destroy cruisers. The Allied Navies would use fog screens to conceal their ships and make their large cruisers seem like smaller, less threatening targets. He was rewarded with badges on his uniform for his services at Iwo Jima, Okinawa; he was rewarded with a motor machinist for electrical and stern with three stripes for being a Chief Warrant Officer and having a victory medal that took him a decade to get.

They trained the first Marine Division for the invasion of Japan after training in the Philippines. They arrived on September 2nd and sailed near the USS Missouri as the treaty to end the Second World War was being signed. Gerald and the Talladegadisembarked the first postwar ground troops in Japan, soon after he made several trips with the “Magic Carpet”. His last trip of his military life was to Pearl Harbor to pick up a load of women and children, and return them back to San Francisco. Gerald was honorably discharged in March and went on to marry the girl of his dreams.

Gerald found a job as parts counter man for a Ford dealership and enlisted in the Reserves. During this time he made 1st Class, Chief, and three grades of Warrant Officer. He retired from the reserves with twenty-one years, one month, and one day of service. He would also retire from the Ford Parts Business after 40 years of his service. His wife had passed away in an auto mobile accident, but before her death they had always dreamt of traveling the world. Two years after his wife’s passing, Gerald got a Ford Ranger Pick-up and traveled the United States for nearly a year. He traveled in thirty-seven Eastern States, claiming that the most memorable sight was the Rededication of the Statue of Liberty in New York City on the Fourth of July. Despite his travels, he made it home in time for Thanksgiving. Gerald toured the remaining eleven states in 1987.

Gerald attended his first reunion of the Talladega in 1992; at that reunion he met the widow of a former Talladega Sailor. He and she hit it off well and reunited with each other in 1993, 1994 and even went on a trip to Alaska. The following year, they decided that they made a nice couple and decided to get married in November, just after a San Antonio reunion. Unfortunately, tragedy struck the war hero and his family once again. In December, the following year after the marriage Roberta died of a massive heart attack during a visit to the cardiologists’ office. Gerald stayed in Missouri for almost a year before returning back to California to live in a house that his son-in-law bought for him in Sun City. He has been living humbly in this house ever since. From listening to his story, we became inspired to do positive things in our lives, and to never regret choices and to live every day like it’s your last.