Bourbon class of '43 to celebrate 40 years
By Christine Myers
News-Mirror
BOURBON � In May the Bourbon High School Class of 1943 will be celebrating their 60th year. Even though all that remains of their old school building is the gym, they will be able to commemorate through memories of times past.
Part of those memories include the hardships endured during World War II. For four men, two of whom have already passed on, the war held something unique for them. Togetherness.
After graduating from Bourbon High School, Eldon Silveus, Bob Wilson, Norman Hodge all joined the Army, along with fellow peer and classmate Roy Bessinger. Nothing unusual there, lots of people joined. What sets these men apart from others is that they were all part of the 277th Battalion in the 3rd Army, under General Patton�s rule.
The four men went through boot camp, basic training and the whole works together. To this day Eldon finds it odd that they weren�t separated until after the notorious Battle of the Bulge, where their company spent more time on the front lines than any other.
�Normally they�d separate you,� Eldon explained.
For whatever unknown reasons, the men weren�t separated for two-and-a-half years and experienced the thrills and spills of Army life together. Those two-and-a-half years are power-packed with memories, some good and some not so good. Although Eldon and Bob are the only two still living who can look back at what they shared, Hodge and Bessinger will still be a part of the reveries.
Even though all four men received five Brown Stars, representing five major battles they were in, and they had their share of excitement, the war itself wasn�t always pleasant, nor are the images or smells that come with it. One such distinguishable smell is the smell of death.
�The smell of death is something you don�t forget,� Eldon commented. �There were dead bodies, body parts (human and animal) everywhere.�
For Eldon, the sight of the Statue of Liberty will be his most exciting memory. And though the war may just be memories now, pushed back in the dark recess of their minds, it still signifies an important piece in their history they spent together.
These days Eldon and Bob spend time with their wives and families, enjoying what retirement has to offer. They both have had bypass surgery and still face difficult tasks, but they carry on and do the best they can keeping themselves busy.
Currently Eldon is on a quest for his nephew, Bill Silveus, a graduate of Bremen High School and previous resident. Bill is awaiting a liver transplant and isn�t in the best of spirits. His wait could be a long time coming.
Eldon and a few others thought with Christmas approaching that those in a giving mood who know Bill might be able to lift his spirits by anonymously sending him ornaments with birds on them. Bill is in the bird business and had around 900 birds at one time. Bill�s address is 5412 Baxter Lane, Janesville, WI 53546.
Bob and Eldon both have mentioned attending the upcoming anniversary celebration as well. On Friday, May 16 there will be a pre-celebration dinner gathering at Bennigan�s in the Ramada Plaza Hotel in Warsaw starting at 5 p.m. The Alumni Banquet will be on Saturday, May 17 at 6 p.m. in the Triton High School cafeteria. As of last year there were 33 of 46 classmates still alive.
|
|
| Community Calendar |
|
No events listed.
|
|
Interactive Calendar
|
