Thursday, December 29, 2011

Jerry's Clan - Christmas 2011

Jerry's clan gathered on Wednesday to celebrate our Christmas for 2011. A good time to get some family photos. We went outside to take advantage of the good lighting. It was brisk with a breeze so each family didn't stay long but we did get some good photos.

In order of eldest to youngest, the siblings lined up for their family pictures

Steve's group

Sherlock Christmas

Bob's group

Sherlock Christmas

Mike's group (missing Kathy)

Sherlock Christmas

Eileen's (missing Mike)

Sherlock Christmas

Joan's group (missing Frank)

Sherlock Christmas

Patti's group

Sherlock Christmas

And Jerry's 13 grandkids posing once

Sherlock Christmas

and twice

Sherlock Christmas

and airborne!

Sherlock Christmas

Jerry surrounded by his grandchildren

Sherlock Christmas

Jerry surrounded by his kids

Sherlock Christmas

Enjoy!

Sunday, December 25, 2011

Merry Christmas and a health update




letter M Foam letter  e letter R letter R letter Y

letter C letter h letter R Junior Scrabble letter i letter S letter t lovely blue M letter A letter S

An update on Jerry:

All went well with Jerry's last of the series of scheduled brain radiation treatments on Wednesday morning. The treatment was followed by a meeting with Dr. Hepel, the radiation oncologist.

Dr. Hepel was clearly surprised (in a good way!) how well Jerry has held up through the radiation treatments. He noted that, based on how Jerry was a few weeks ago, he couldn’t see Jerry tolerating anything more than the recent course of treatment. However, from the man who could hardly sit up… to now not arriving in a wheelchair, walking a few times a week, good appetite and eating well, minimal symptoms… he has bounced back much better than Dr. Hepel expected.

They will let Jerry have a couple of weeks to recover and enjoy the holidays. Then their tentative plan is to use radiation and low-dose chemo to treat Jerry’s lungs. Dr. Hepel says that he can see the two specific areas to treat in the lungs, and that they haven’t seen tumors outside the brain and lungs. He said that in a hopeful tone. He didn’t say it directly, but we can infer that radiation for the lungs is now a part of the lung treatment plan because he tolerated the brain radiation better than expected.

Enjoy the holidays!

Monday, December 12, 2011

Brouillard's Christmas (video)


The Brouillard's extended family gathered for their annual Christmas party featuring a special appearance by Santa Claus.



Enjoy!

Sunday, December 11, 2011

Lunch with Jerry And Pat

Jerry attended the recent MARINE Birthday Ball.  He was introduced to Placido "Pat" Femino a Combat Engineer with the 5thMARDIV.  

Jerry said that he'd like to have lunch and spend some time with Pat.  Thanks to Ed Malloy and Paul DiPalma that meeting came together yesterday.

I picked up Jerry and then drove over to North Providence and picked up Pat.  Several choices were thrown out for lurch and we settled on Blackies on Rte.  116 in Smithfield.

Jerry and Pat were pretty happy to see each other.  The initial meet and greet was emotional for an outsider.  Two seemingly older Gentleman  who have mellowed with age.  The years were torn by back to a simpler time when life was defined in moments of survival in close combat.  They gave each other the Warrior Abrazo.  

The one thing I realized is that both of these guys have a keen sense of humor and you can quickly become the target of buffoonery by either. 

Carl Weston stopped in and he quickly became a target of Pat.  Carl had a previous engagement but sat in for a beer with these two Elder Statesmen of the MARINE CORPS veterans of RI.  Before Carl left Pat engaged in alittle buffoonery at Carl's expense.   Carl and I will be chuckling over that one for some time.

Pat and Jerry spoke of there times in the Marine Corps Recruit Depot and of time spent on Iwo.  Jerry and Pat both spent approx 37 days on Iwo and spoke of the only Banzai attack which took place on the Airfield at the end of the campaign.  They spoke of Harry Kizirian another MARINE from Rhode Island.  Both recounted meeting Harry Kizirian on different occaisions.

Pat travelled back to the US via aircraft and ended up at landing at Logan and then up to the Portsmouth Naval Yard.  Jerry as you may know came back by troopship and across the USA by train.  Ending up in Bainbridge, MD.

They spoke of the Bomb being dropped and the end of the War.  Mustering out and their experiences with doctors and young 90 Day Wonders.  Most of the officers stateside had very little clue what these men had experienced.

Pat and Jerry both have six children.  Three boys and three girls as they both said in stereo!

When we were leaving  Blackies a young man approached them.  He said," I want to thank you for your service.  I saw your Jacket and just wanted to say thanks."  Pat was wearing a windbreaker with the Flag Raisers embroidered on the back.  Both Pat and Jerry had Iwo Covers on. Pat immediately introduced the young man to Jerry'  "Please meet my friend Jerry who was also on on Iwo Jima."

The young man shook hands and reiterated his thanks to both MARINES.  Pat said to Jerry;  "Jerry this makes it all worth it doesn't it!"  Jerry replied with a grin; "It sure does."  I hesitate in putting this to words but the moment was defined by both Pat and Jerry getting quiet.  Giving each other a knowing look...  I  have watched the interviews of vets like Dick Winters, Babe Heffron, and Bill Guarnere they get quiet when remembering things long ago.  The jaw lines become taught and the eyes take a set.  I've noticed it is a common occurrence.  It will pass quickly and they move forward.

I don't care to describe anything else as it was a moment of reverence.  We all moved to the vehicle and the talk moved to politicians and things typically Rhode Island. 

Pat and Jerry
We were met back at Pat's home by his son Leon.  Leon was introduced to Jerry and I.

Jerry and Pat have agreed to meet in the future.

There is nothing particularly glorious about sweaty fellows, laden with killing tools, going along to fight. And yet — such a column represents a great deal more than 28,000 individuals mustered into a division. All that is behind those men is in that column, too: the old battles, long forgotten, that secured our nation... traditions of things endured and things accomplished, such as regiments hand down forever; and the faith of men and the love of women; and that abstract thing called patriotism... all this passes into the forward zone, to the point of contact, where war is girt with horrors. And common men endure these horrors and overcome them, along with the insistent yearnings of the belly and the reasonable promptings of fear; and in this, I think, is glory.
Fix Bayonets! by Capt John W. Thomasen, Jr., USMC





Thursday, December 8, 2011

Jerry and some of his grandchildren


When Jerry's grandchildren took a couple of minutes to pose on the Thanksgiving weekend, this was one of the results.

Sherlock cousins

Jerry, don't think your cap would pass muster that way!

Wednesday, December 7, 2011

Health update - 2

Further tests to confirm the initial diagnosis have been completed. We just received word that Jerry will be starting radiation treatment for a tumor on his brain on Thursday, Dec 8th.

Jerry is approaching this treatment in true Marine fashion, there is no retreat, just forward motion.