Tom And Jerry
Tom and Jerry were Creole mules, and they were brothers. They were small in size, sorrel, or light red in color. They stood about thirteen hands tall, (one hand equals four inches) measured at the Withers (a point where the neck meets the body.) Together they worked the fields with Andale, (Au-de-ohl) and Andale’s wife, Mary, and their eleven children. They were sharecroppers in Acadia Parish, just outside of Rayne, La.
Mr. Andrus, the owner of the thirty-acre property, provided everything needed to farm including a house, mules, a wagon and harness, and implements. Whatever Andale made from the crop, half belonged to the Mr. Andrus.
Andale eventually bought the mules and equipment; and now whatever Andale made, he only owed one-third share to the owner.
Andale was very particular, especially about those mules and would not stand for anyone abusing them. Often after a long day plowing the fields, the young boys would want to hurry and return home; but Andale always cautioned them, “don’t rush the mules, let them take their time.”
Tom and Jerry’s foreheads had a small, white, irregular shaped patch, about the size of a small hand. Jerry’s patch was slightly larger than Tom’s. Otherwise the mules were identical.
While pushing a plow, the mules would automatically slowdown when they reached the head row, allowing Andale time to adjust with the turn. Gee or haw were all that was said, to indicate which way to turn, and usually said only once. In teamster parlance, haw meant, “come here,” to the left or gee meant, “Go to the right.”
Mules are extremely intelligent and have amazing memories, once it learns a lesson, it never forgets. Same with cruelty or abuse, it will never forget, or forgive . . . .
After the turn, Tom and Jerry picked up their usual pace in unison. No command was needed. Some mules are startled at the sound of their chains clanging against the implements, not Tom and Jerry, they never spooked.
Andale had just reached the head row and was ready to turn when he noticed his son, Wilson, walking towards him, carrying an envelope. This concerned Andale, for he knew what the letter may contain. “Whoa,“ said Andale and waited for his son to approach.
“It’s my draft notice,” said Wilson, when he finally walked up to where his father and the team of mules were waiting. Andale’s fear was realized, but he didn’t say anything. He didn’t have to; his facial expression said it all. With a heavy heart, the old man and his team continued with their work. Andale knew that freedom wasn’t free; it came with a price.
Wilson was drafted into the Army on October 3, 1943 at 19 years of age.
America entered World War II, the day after Pearl Harbor was attacked. The average age of American soldiers entering WW II was twenty-six.
Wilson was assigned to the 8th Army, 27th Infantry Division. He visited places with names he never heard of before; names like Saipan, New Hebrides and Okinawa.
The battle of Okinawa was the largest amphibious assault in the Pacific campaigns. The land battles lasted eighty-seven days from March 26 to June of 1945.
U.S. casualties in Okinawa were over 72,000 which 12,513 were killed or missing, over twice the number of casualties as at Iwo Jima and Guadalcanal combined. He remembered the air flight on a troop transport plane that lasted four hours and twenty-minutes from Okinawa to Yokohoma, for the “Occupation of Japan.”
Wilson, after serving his time as a combat infantry soldier, was honorably discharged on Feb. 7, 1946, and returned home to help his family.
Andale worked another 3 years then retired, along with his friends, Tom and Jerry.
Note: Wilson lives in Lafayette and is nearly 84 years old now; in the spring of 2007 he enjoyed a trip to Washington, DC with other World War II veterans.
Thanks to the generous donations of grateful citizens, Wilson was on the first Louisiana Honor Air trip from Lafayette to Washington. He visited the National War Memorials, including the World War II Memorial, which was the last memorial built, two years ago. World War II ended sixty-two years ago.
William J. Thibodeaux lives in Lafayette with Elaine, his wife of thirty years He is a son of Wilson and Rose (Menard) Thibodeaux and a Grandson of Andale and Mary (Pepper) Thibodeaux. He enjoys writing short stories.
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