John 15: 13 tells us that there is no greater love than the laying down of one's life for others. Of course, Christ was referring to Himself
when He said this, but throughout history, many individuals have been willing
to lay down their own life for the sake of another. A prime example of this is
war, often when men and women have been called upon to defend their “religion,
freedom, peace and families” (see Alma 46 in the Book of Mormon).
The Keillor and Smith families are replete with those
willing to not only defend those freedoms, but who paid the “ultimate price” to
do so. On this Memorial Day, I’d like to focus on a few who have something
specific in common.
The first is Phil Justis, whose story is told in another post: http://keillorsmith.blogspot.com/2014/07/in-memory-of-cousin-phil-70-years-later.html. His parents' headstone lists his name and dates with the poignant comment "Lies in France."
Another soldier in our family was John “Jackie” August
Breder, of Egg Harbor City, New Jersey.
He served in the 96th “Deadeye” Division,
participated in the invasion of Leyte Gulf, but died on 25 October 1944 in a
Philippine Hospital of wounds received in battle. He is memorialized on a
cenotaph in his family’s plot in the Egg Harbor City Cemetery and on the
memorial wall of the Manila American Cemetery.
 |
| Many thanks to my friend Mark Maxwell for the photograph of Jackie Breder's marker in Egg Harbor City, NJ. |
George Brandt, of Irvington, NJ, was in the Army Air Forces
stationed in Italy. He was a crewmember on a B-25 Mitchell medium bomber that
was flying a supply flight from Vincenzo Aerodrome into France on 19 Feb 1944,
when the plane experienced engine problems and crashed into Lake Lesina, near
Foggia, Italy with the loss of all hands.
 |
| George Brandt has a marker at the National Cemetery in Beverly, NJ, although I've found no record of his body being recovered. |
 |
| Thanks to the archives of Rutgers University for the high school graduation photograph of Lt. Mueller. |
He
was stationed on the USS Franklin (CV-13) “Big Ben,” which was hit by a kamikaze
plane on 19 Mar 1945. He was killed that day, along with over 700 other
sailors. The story of the heroics of her crew, including two who earned the
Congressional Medal of Honor that day, is worth reading: http://www.ussfranklin.org/
 |
| Many thanks to my dear friend Sue VerHoef for the photograph of Lt. Mueller's name at Hawaii's "Punchbowl." |
Finally, Lt. (j.g.) Jeremiah “Jerry” Philp, a Naval aviator
aboard the USS Salamaua (CVE-96). He was killed attempting to make an emergency
landing onboard when his wing tip clipped a gun emplacement and his plane went
over the side. The surrender had been signed on the USS Missouri a mere five days earlier. We were able to acquire his service record that included
recommendations from grade school teachers that attested to his fine character.
 |
| Jerry Phillp's yearbook from Wayne State University in Michigan |
Now further research into my grandchildren's family tree reveals another: Glenn Walther Uehling, who was killed in Belgium before he even reached his 20th birthday.
 |
Glenn Walther Uehling in his fraternity photograph from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. |
No father should ever have to sign such a form as "Application for Headstone" for a child.
What do these six men have in common besides having died in
WWII? Each of them, except for Jackie Breder, was the only child of his parents.
Jackie was the only son, having three sisters.
Having been the mom of two sons in service with six
deployments under her belt, I can’t even begin to imagine the sense of grief,
pain and loss these parents felt. I don’t know the exact circumstances, but I
feel that it’s telling that Lt. Mueller’s mother died the same year, and Sgt.
Justis’ mother died two years after her son was killed.
How grateful we should be on this Memorial Day for the men
and women and their parents,
who have sacrificed so selflessly for this great nation.
