Andy's Story

Steve,

I love getting the updates on "Jerry's Story".

One of my favorite times with your Dad is one of my favorite stories to tell. My brothers Richard and Ray and I took your Dad to see the movie "Letters from Iwo Jima". We felt so honored to be sitting with a survivor of that famous battle, especially since our dad Del also fought there.

When the movie was over, we all commented on how "realistic" it was.

Jerry very soft spokenly said it brought back a lot of memories and that the makers of the film had done a great job recreating the scenes of Iwo Jima. As far as realistic, Jerry said it wasn't very realistic. The only way to recreate the realism of the day would be to have live ammunition fire flying by you from all sides and know that at any moment you could be dead!!!

He said this with such calm and authority that it has stayed with me every since. Only those who have lived through combat can really know the "realistic" fears and feelings that come with it.

Hope all is well with you and your family.

I miss your Dad and feel blessed that I got to know him the last few years of his life.

Sincerely,

Andy Brouillard



Andy,

Thank you for sharing this. And thank you for taking Dad to the movie. I know he talked of it frequently.

Steve

"make up for his lack of accuracy"

Jerry's son Bob recalls a conversation with him from Sep 2007. Jerry had recounted some of his Marine training in the conversation.

He is in good spirits, and told me some things about being in the Marines that I never knew - that he graduated from boot camp without having passed his marksmanship test on the M-1 Garand rifle that was the basic weapon for Marine infantrymen in WWII. He later qualified on it, on the 30 caliber machine gun, and also qualified on the carbine (a shorter weapon better suited for scouts and radiomen to carry. Papa liked it because it had a 15 round cartridge vs. the 8 rounds in the M-1, and he figured it would make up for his lack of accuracy. He also qualified on the 45 caliber pistol, because he did some assignments as a courier - bringing a briefcase of important papers from the officers on one island over to their counterparts on another island. The briefcase would be handcuffed to his left hand, and he had to be able to shoot the 45 if anyone messed with him.

Thanks for sharing this Bob.

If you have a memory or story of Jerry to share, please send it along.

Memorial Mass - Nov 3, 2012

St Michael's Church in Georgiaville, RI will be holding a memorial mass on Saturday, Nov 3, 2012 at 5:00 PM. This mass will remember all the parishioners who passed away this year. This was Jerry's most recent parish and where the funeral mass was held in February.

If you are in or around the area and want to join us at the mass, please let me know.



From the notification on the mass:

"Catholic tradition sets aside the month of November as a time to remember our loved ones who have died. During the 5:00 PM Mass on Saturday, November 3, there will be a simple ceremony to remember our parishioners who have died since last November. As a family who has suffered the loss of a loved one, I invite you to participate in this mass. 

After the homily, the names of those who have died since last November will be read. As each name is spoken, we invite you or a family member to come forward to place a candle next to the altar. After mass, you may take the candle home with you. If you do not wish to participate in the candle ceremony, you are still welcome to come to the mass. 

A candle with Gerald Sherlock's name on it will be available on a table at the front entrance to the Church. Please take the candle before mass begins so you have it with you when the names are read. You may sit wherever you wish, as there will be no reserved seating."