A letter written to my nephew Billy from my father, Frederic J FitzSimmons. This letter is a treasure because Daddy did not share about his experiences during the war. He really never talked about it to us children. So this letter gives a small taste of what he did when he was overseas.
I have been wanting to type it out and get a real feel for what he went through in this story he tells.
8-13-11
Franklin, VT
Dear Bill
I left off where the Japs surrendered - Guys who had been overseas the longest were sent back to the States right away. Rest of us were assembled as the 1st Battalion - 3rd Marine regiment. There were twenty thousand Japs on ChiChi Jima who had to be repatriated to Japan. We boarded a LST ( landing ship tanks ) in Apra Harbor Guam and sailed North - only took a couple of days.
Perfect harbor at ChiChi. We were told there were some bad actors on the island but I didn't understand. Everyday a small ship or two would arrive (Japanese) and take 4 or 5 hundred Jap soldiers home.
One morning my lieutenant got a squad of us - 13 men - together -- we were going out to a small island in the harbor -- we were warned not to let anyone slip by us. We grabbed this Jap officer and brought him back to our Brig. That's when I found out some of these officers were wanted for beheading our fliers and then eating their livers and other body parts.
My Platoon sergeant was Hugo Marcolini. He had been a starting guard on the St. Bonaventure football team. Sergeant Marcolini was also a hand to hand expert - ju jitsu - forget what we called it then. Sarge says to me -- hey Fred, these guys have a real hot shot wrestler -- a Captain Yoshii. So I want to put on a show for C - Company. He said I need a guy like you to demonstrate with. He said the Captain Yoshii and himself would throw me around the mat showing their different skills - I was to remain passive throughout. They took turns flipping me and the Captain was terrific. So was Sarge.
Two weeks later -- found out that Captain Yoshii was a murderer and a cannibal. ( My hand is cramping now - take a break.) Never would have taken part in the show had I known. Captain Yoshii was hanged for his crimes.
There were so many small episodes that occurred there -- could not recount them all. Then my Platoon took a DE ( destroyer escort) South to the island of Ha Ha Jima. We brought a U. S. NAVY demolition team to destroy large gun emplacements in caves on the mountain sides. Amazing rock tunnels with railroad tracks for the huge artillery.
Saw two ranch like dwellings that belonged to the Nathaniel Savory family -- he was a whaler from Nantucket - landed there in early eighteen hundreds.
Left ChiChi -- back to Guam -- disbanded 1st Battalion --sent more people home. rest of us boarded ship and sailed to Sasebo Japan. We spent months in disposition of weapons and ammo. Every day we had laborers load small boats and it was taken a couple of miles out to sea and deep sixed. Thousand s of tons.
came back to the States in August, 1946. was honorably discharged August 21st. Would not exchange that adventure for anything. Dozens of small items - some stern and sad -- many funny too. Didn't do much but I made it back.
With love for Veronica and Olivia
Grandpa Fred
I wish he had shared more with us but I know that sometimes things are too painful and personal.
I do know though that at the end of his life, two years ago that it was a privilege and a joy to be able to spend that last few weeks spending as much time as possible with him. He shared and loved on all nine of us kids with abandon. Mom, Julie, Ann, Mary, Sue and I hung out on the bed in his room. He sat in his recliner, holding up the ever present Boston Herald and looked over at as and said how happy it made him to see all of us there. When he tired he would tell everyone to "scram" "go read" or something.
While in the hospital, previous to this, Daddy spent some time with our Pastor Jason McConnell and another priest. It was then that he gave his heart to Jesus. After spending time in prayer, he said,
"I found grace! and it feels like Christmas!" To hear my rough, gruff Daddy say this was balm to my spirit. After many years of praying for him, to know that he had found peace at last and would be in heaven for eternity was such a gift.
One afternoon, as I sat on the floor beside his recliner, he said that the priest said he should pray and for the first time in my memory, my Daddy prayed for me! He said a simple prayer, thanking God for the day and the birds and prayed a blessing on Paul and I for when we moved to "the south land of America." It was short and sweet but so memorable because it came from his heart.
In another conversation we had, Daddy talked about his life, having gone overseas, drank for many years, raised nine kids and so on. He pointed up and said, "I have one ace in the hole!, my guardian angel! You may think I'm cuckoo but I know now that it was this angel who watched over me all these years." It wasn't those exact words but he could either see or sense the angel that was right beside him in that room waiting to escort him home to heaven.
I am so grateful to have had that time with him. I miss him so but I am confident that I will see him again someday. This promise tells me so:
"Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe in me as well. In my Fathers house are many rooms; if that were not so would I have told you that I am going to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and welcome you into My presence, so that you also may be where I am." John14:2
That smile!
I am glad I have this picture of us even
though it shows off my "honker" of a nose!
