.J. Risak Correspondent Raymond Beaudry wasn’t one of those guys who raced off to join the armed forces right after Japan’s sneak attack on Pearl Harbor. That’s because Beaudry was already in the National Guard in Norwalk, Conn. MATTHEW BECK/Chronicle Raymond Beaudry was responsible for maintaining many of the vehicles he and his unit employed during World War II. Buy this photo 2 of 3 Beaudry’s unit became part of the U.S. Army’s 43rd Division, and from the start of the U.S. involvement in World War II in December 1941 until Japan officially surrendered in September 1945, he served at various stops in the Southwest Pacific. Now 94 and living with his wife, Mary, in Inverness, Beaudry’s memories of that time spent so far away from home are not particularly harsh, which could be explained at least in part by his overall attitude toward life. “You should treat someone else like you like to be treated,” he said. “Look for the good things in life, don’t dwell on the bad.” It didn’t take long for Beaudry’s outfit to get involved in the war against Japan. Assigned to the motor pool for the field artillery, the division shipped out of San Francisco en route to the first major offensive assault for the U.S. in the Pacific, at Guadalcanal. The U.S. Marine’s First Division landed there in August 1942, with the Army’s 43rd Division relieving them early in 1943. The sinking of one of the freighters transporting the troops resulted in a detour for Beaudry before reaching Guadalcanal — to New Zealand. Still, it was a long and bloody campaign that lasted six months, with Allied losses totaling 7,100 dead, with 29 ships and 615 aircraft lost. The Japanese numbers were much greater, however: 31,000 dead, with 38 ships destroyed and estimates of as many as 880 planes lost. Not all the casualties were the result of enemy fire. Diseases such as malaria took a huge toll on troops from both sides. Beaudry managed to dodge most of the dangers. “I was probably one of the fortunate ones who didn’t get tangled up in all the blood and guts,” he said. “In my unit, I didn’t even see any Japanese unless they were dead. When I got overseas, I hadn’t even fired a shot.” The battle for Guadalcanal officially ended in February 1943, giving the Allies a base of operations with an airfield in the Solomon Islands. The 43rd Division would make other stops at such remote islands as Rendova, Vangunu, New Georgia, Munda and Arundel. When he left the service in 1945, Beaudry was a private first class. His final overseas station was in the Philippines, which was being prepped as a staging point for the invasion of Japan — a move that proved unnecessary after the dropping of atomic bombs on Hiroshima and Nagasaki. It would be his only overseas trip. No one doubts the hardships endured by Allied Troops in World War II, but Beaudry is resolute in his refusal to deal with it in those terms, even referring to the time as something “like a vacation.” “There were times when things could get exciting, but most of the time there wasn’t that much we had to do,” he said. Beaudry has lived in Florida more than 40 years. Name – Raymond Beaudry Rank & Branch – Private first class, U.S. Army Served – Various stops in the Pacific campaign during World War II, including Guadalcanal (1941-45) Outfit & Job – 43rd Division; motor pool for field artillery Veterans organizations – Veterans of Foreign Wars
Posted on: Mon, 19 Aug 2013 10:31:09 +0000
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