Because I have to go shoot yet another “High School Bowl” in a few seconds, and because Monday is Veterans Day, I figured I'd leave you with something from a dozen years ago that seems kind of appropriate.
Since I have Monday off, something new comes up Tuesday. Have a great weekend, whether it's three days long or not!
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(as originally posted 11/9/2014)
Sunday is Veterans’ Day. Most people only think about the day when they realize there won’t be any mail on Monday, but in living with a World War II researcher, I’ve come into a whole new appreciation of the day, especially when I hear the stories of people for whom the day honors.
People like THIS one, Charles Senecal.
Charles Senecal was born in Newberry in 1918, and moved to Grand Marais when young. He graduated from Grand Marais high school, and was drafted into the Army in 1940, for what was supposed to be a one-year hitch. However, when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor, he was in for the duration.
He went overseas with an offshoot of the 107th Engineers, and found himself stationed in England, where he trained for and eventually took part in the invasion of Normandy. He found himself in three other major battles, earning commendations for them all, when on December 17th, 1944, while resting somewhere in Belgium, his unit was called back into action.
You see, the Battle of the Bulge had begun.
Even though he was in an engineering battalion, Senecal’s team was ordered to become an infantry unit, and took up defensive positions near the village of Bullingen. This, of course, was during the worst European winter of the 20th century; think of what a blustery January day is like in the U.P. and you can imagine what it was like in Belgium in December of 1944--not ideal conditions for any activity, much less defending a village. Soon, a German Panzer division approached Bullingen, and were turned back by Senecal’s engineers-turned-infantry soldiers. A second German attack was repulsed, and when the third one came, it consisted of a dozen German Panzer & Tiger tanks (the biggest tanks either side had). Senecal’s unit was over-run, and one machine gunner found himself cut off from the rest of the group, and under heavy German fire. Sgt. Senecal, with no regard for his safety, dashed across an open field and came to the rescue of the gunner, receiving the wounds from which he eventually died three days later.
This, in fact, is the field where he died, on the outskirts of Bullingen, Belgium--
For his actions, Grand Marais’ Charles Leonard Senecal was posthumously awarded the Silver Star. He was temporarily laid to rest in the Henri-Chappelle Military Cemetery in Belgium; his body was returned to be buried in Grand Marais in October, 1947.
So on Monday, when you realize you’re not getting any mail, and you then realize that’s because Sunday was Veterans’ Day, think about all the people who’ve served their country, and, in cases like that of Sgt. Senecal, made the ultimate sacrifice, as well.
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