Gerald P. Guillot 28 years old former Paincourtville man died last Thursday in the
Veterans' Hospital at McKinney, Texas after a courageous three month's fight against the fatal blood disease leukemia.
Young Guillot was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Guillot of Paincourtville, and was a graduate of the Sacred Heart School in Donaldsonville. He attended Louisiana State University and returned to that institution, after active service as a 1st. Lieutenant in the Airborne Divisions, to receive a degree in 1945.
He married the former Rosemary Dupre of Texarkana and made his in that city. During his short residence in Texarkana. Guillot had taken a great interest in civic work. He was a member of the American Legion, on the board of directors of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, a reserve officer in the U. S. Army, business manager of the Catholic high football team
scoutmaster of a troop at Sacred Heart Catholic school and was a member of the Knights of Columbus.
He was a public accountant and a member of the firm of Gamso, Oxford and Guillot.
Besides the fine accomplishments in civilian life, the young veteran left a brilliant war record. Entering the service as a 2nd Lt. in a paratrooper's division, he was soon promoted to 1st Lt. and later to Captain. He was among the first
paratroopers to drop into Normandy on D-Day and was in the thick of the fight which resulted in the collapse of the German Army, He was also in active duty during battle of the Bulge. He was awarded the combat infantryman's badge and other decorations.
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Funeral services were held in Texarkana at Sacred Heart church interment in a
Holy Cross cemetery in that city.
Among the honorary pallbearers from here were Messrs. Charles Savoie, Louis A. Dugas, Dr. Charles Dugas, Dr. Jules LeBlanc, Ferdy Himel and Clifford Barbier.
Survivors include his wife, the former Rosemary Dupre, and three sons, Gerald Paul, Jr., age five; Bryant Allen, age two and a half; and Michael Joseph, age five months; his parents, Mr. and Paul Guillot of Paincourtville; two
sisters, Mrs. Alex Dolese of Labadieville and Mrs. Leonard Guedry of Napoleonville; two brothers Paul E. Guillot, Jr., of Texarkana and Allen Guillot, student at L.S,U.
The Pioneer joins the young man's many friends here in his native
Assumption and in his adopted city of Texarkana in extending sincere
condolence to his family in their great loss.
Ed's. Note: While not a member of the Pioneer's staff, we always
took a special interest in Gerald Guillot's rising career. He liked to
do free lance writing and during the time he was training as a
paratrooper and during the invasion of France he voluntarily contributed
articles to his home paper that gave us and our readers an actual front
line picture of events in the past conflict. We can think of no greater
tribute to his memory than the memorial statement made by the Texarkana
Junior Chamber of commerce: "It is our sincere belief that if man will
but live as courageously and as generously as Jerry Guillot did. Mankind
need not fear the tomorrows."
[The Assumption Pioneer,
Napoleonville, LA, 03 Jun 1949, Fri, Page 1]
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ARMY TRAINING CENTER
DEDICATED TO GUILLOT
MEMORY OF LATE PARISH
VET HONORED AT RITES
The new Army Reserve Training Center at Texarkana, Texas was dedicated Sunday, February 22, to the memory of two Texarkana men who served meritoriously during World War II.
Lieutenant Gerald Paul Guillot commanded an airborne company in the Normandy, Holland and Belgium engagements. He died May 26, 1949, of leukemia.
Lt. Guillot, son of Mr. and Mrs. Paul Emil Guillot of Labadieville, La., came to Texarkana after World War II and became highly regarded as a civic leader.
He was a member of the American Legion the board of directors of the Junior Chamber of Commerce, a reserve officer in the U. S. Army, business manager of a Catholic football team, , scoutmaster, and a member of the Knights of Columbus. He was a public accountant when he became fatally ill In 1943.
After graduating from Louisiana State University in 1942, he
entered the Army and was commissioned a second lieutenant. On March 20,
1943, he married Rosernarv Dupree of Texarkana, and on Christmas Eve of that year was sent to the European Theater of Operations.
He was a member of the 508th Parachute Infantry Battalion. 82nd Airborne Division and his service earned him the Bronze Star, Combat Infantry Badge, Bronze Arrowhead for the invasion of Europe, and the European Theater ribbon with four battle stars.
He was promoted to the rank of captain in the Army Reserve on October 9, 1946.
Lieutenant Milledge Hart Watts was killed in the battle of Aachen, Germany, on November 16, 1944.
[The Assumption Pioneer, Napoleonville, LA, 26 Feb 1959, Thu, Page 1] |
Application For Marker
[courtesy Mike Lusk]
Application for a grave
marker or headstone and the resulting grave marker for Gerald P. Guillot
in the Holy Cross Cemetery, Texarkana (Bowie County), Texas.
Gerald registered for the draft in
Assumption Parish, Louisiana on 17 February 1942.
2nd Lt Guillot was transferred to Hq 3rd,
508th PIR on 12 November 1942. He married Agnes Rosemary (nee?) on
20 March 1943. He was appointed to the rank of 1st Lt a month
later.
Gerald attained the rank of Captain during WW-II and fought during
all four campaigns that the 508th PIR served in (Normandy, Rhineland,
Holland-Alsace, and Central Europe). His decorations included the
Bronze Star Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.
Unfortunately,
he died from the effects of leukemia on May 26, 1949, the day after his
28th birthday.
Gerald's military decorations include the Bronze Star Medal For
Meritorious Service as the Battalion XO, Combat Infantryman Badge and
the Bronze Service Arrowhead device for action during Normandy, France
Campaign
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