World War II Honoree

Normand Guilbeault

Hometown

Woonsocket, Rhode Island

Honored By

Normand Guilbeault

WHEN THE JAPANESE ATTACKED PEARL HARBOR, I WAS ONLY 7 YEARS OLD AND ALONG WITH THE REST OF MY FAMILY DID MY PART ON THE HOME FRONT. I REMEMBER EATING HORSE MEAT AND I STILL HAVE 2 OF MY WWII RATION STAMP BOOKS THAT MY MOTHER GAVE ME FROM 1943 WITH THE REMAINING RATION STAMPS. I ENLISTED IN THE UNIFORMED SERVICES IN 1952 AT AGE 17 AND STAYED TO RETIRE AT AGE 56. I SERVED 39 YEARS, 19 OF WHICH I WAS A RADAR OPERATOR IN AN ANTI-AIRCRAFT ARTILLERY UNIT, 243RD BATTALION. I WAS IN A QUARTERMASTER UNIT FOR 2 YEARS. JULY 1972 TRANSFERRED TO A MAINTENANCE UNIT (1043RD MAINTENANCE COMPANY, LIEUTENANT D-5) AND WAS SECTION CHIEF IN THE ARMAMENT SECTION REPAIRING SMALL ARMS AND ARTILLERY WEAPONS ALONG WITH, AT TIMES SOME TANKS AND M-109S 8'' HOWITZERS.