Senior Class | Week 31. For Country

APRIL 11, 1944, A TELEGRAM ARRIVED INFORMING JEANNETTE Hebert of Hooksett that her son Pvt. Gerard J. Hebert had been “missing in action since Feb. 23, 1944” in Italy. A mother’s worst nightmare.

At age 18, Gerard quit his job and joined the Army. He enlisted to be a machine gunner. Seen as too small by his commanding officers, he told them, “If I can’t do the job then I’ll go (and work at headquarters),” Gerard said. “Some days were tough walking with that machine gun, but I made it.”

July, 13, 1944, another telegram arrived. “Report just received through the International Red Cross, states that your son Gerard J. Hebert is a prisoner of war of the German government letter of information follows, from Provost Marshall, The Adj. General.”

His mother’s heart sank even lower.

After a successful run of missions, Gerard found himself in a sticky situation after trying to take the road leading from southern Italy to Rome at the Battle of Monte Cassino. Overpowered and surrounded, his worst fears came to fruition – Gerard became a prisoner of war.

“Did I fear for my life? Always,” Gerard said. “Because the Americans didn’t know we had been captured and were bombing the Germans constantly. I didn’t fear them (the Germans) because they were very military. If you followed their orders, you didn’t get in trouble.”

Aug. 13, 1944, another telegram arrived about a German shortwave radio reading, “Dear Mom, I am a prisoner of war in Germany. I am well and hope you are too, don’t worry, your son.”

After five concentration camps, eating soup for about 18 months, attempted escapes via tunneling, escaping a firing squad, rounds of questioning from German officers, escaping bullets and mortar blasts and witnessing friends perish, Gerry would be liberated.

“The minute they (U.S. troops) came, we jumped right on those tanks,” Gerard said. “You can’t really explain the feeling you got. When you saw that American … honest to God … (crying) hold on, I’ll be okay … just a minute.”

June 11, 1945, another telegram: “Just arrived in the states today, I am well and hope you are too, will be home soon, Love Gerard.”

Gerard would receive numerous medals, the highest being the Bronze Star. He married his high school sweetheart Lucille and settled down in Manchester, working as a mechanic for 40 years. Gerard and Lucille have been married 65 years. “(War) is a waste of time and lives,” Gerard said. “It doesn’t solve a thing. Talk. Don’t be stubborn. Even our unions can’t get along, we expect the world to get along?”

If you have a different senior story to tell or needs to be told, please contact Corey Perrine at 594-6466 or e-mail at cperrine@nashua telegraph.com