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Stoddard B. Gerald died on Feb. 27, shortly after this story was written. The family plans a graveside service set March 2 in Mills County.
Julye Keeble|Leader-News
Uvalde County Veterans Service Officer and city councilman Everardo “Lalo” Zamora thanks Stoddard Bateman Gerald, 100, a World War II veteran fighter pilot who was taken German prisoner of war, for his service. Gerald was presented with a letter commending his service and a military coin at his home at the Veranda Assisted Living Facility on Feb. 16.
World War II veteran fighter pilot and prisoner-of-war Stoddard Bateman Gerald celebrated his 100th birthday on Jan. 19, and U.S. Secretary of Veterans Affairs Denis McDonough sent him a letter of commendation and a military coin that local officials presented Feb. 16.
Gerald’s room at the Veranda Assisted Living Facility, where he has lived for about three years, displays a frame of military memorabilia including gold wings, various patches and a member ship card for the Caterpillar Club, an association of those who have successfully parachuted from a disabled aircraft.
The frame also holds his medals, including a Purple Heart, Air Medal, Prisoner of War Medal, American Campaign Medal, WWII Victory Medal, Europe, African, Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and several others.
Framed military memorabilia on Stoddard Bateman Gerald’s wall at the Veranda Assisted Living Facility includes a Purple Heart, awarded by the president to soldiers wounded or killed in service. Gerald, a World War II fighter pilot with the U.S. Army Air Corps, was a prisoner of war shot down over France and held in Germany for over a year.
A newspaper clipping reads, “Lieut. Stoddard B. Gerald pilot of a P-51 [Mustang] fighter, is a prisoner of the Nazis. The lieutenant was reported missing over Caen, France, July 25, 1944. On Sept. 19, the war department picked up a message from him on the German short wave radio, which read: ‘Had a bit of bad luck but am well now and in good health in German prison camp.’”
Gerald baled out of his plane when it was hit by flak and set on fire. His daughter, Marla Box, said he was captured after volunteering to fly an escort after he finished his mission and was imprisoned in Germany for about a year.
Gerald recounted his experiences to staff from the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs at the National World War II Memorial in 2014, courtesy of Honor Flight Austin.
“They shot at me all the way down, I kept hearing the pops around me. I landed right behind the front lines but on the wrong side, so they captured me. That was the beginning of a long story, so much for that,” Gerald said, discussing being shot at while parachuting down, his capture, and subsequent time in POW camps
“I went to about three or four camps and finally they kept me southeast of Berlin. It was no fun, but it was survivable, most of us survived,” he said.
“General Patton’s army came up, and drove the Germans out,” he said of his liberation. “They liberated us. Patton came in and talked to us, that was the end of it.”
Enlistment
Gerald enlisted in the U.S. Army Air Corps in July of 1942. He joined while attending what is now Tarleton State University.
His daughter said he was 17 when he enlisted, and his father, former Mills County Judge R. J. Gerald, had to sign for him to be able to go.
His brother, Lt. Robert S. Gerald, was a B-17 pilot who flew 52 missions over Germany and France.
After the war, Gerald entered the reserves. Per a brass plaque in his room, he served through May of 1958.
Marla said her father attended Texas A&M University after the war, married his high school sweetheart, and built a career in civil engineering then airplane design. He spent the majority of his career working for Vought Corporation on projects like the Boeing 727 and B-2 Bomber. He retired at the age of 70, per company policy, though he would have liked to keep working.
Marla said her father’s retirement activities included golf and exercising, such as running races.
“He loves to read. He has read through the Bible many, many times, and his faith in God is at the center of his life,” Marla said.
“He is a kind man and is a great father. He has been a hero to many family members.”
Marla said that her father’s favorite aircraft was the P-38 Lightning and that he had a passion for flying.
VA medal, services
In the belated birthday celebration staged at The Veranda, South Texas Veterans Health Care System social worker Estrella Guinto presented Gerald with the military coin and letter from McDonough.
The commendation letter acknowledged Gerald’s service and sacrifice, celebrating him as part of America’s “Greatest Generation.”
Guinto represents a VA program that brings medical care directly to geriatric veterans, including physicians, nurses, social workers and more if needed.
She said they have been working in the area for about two years. They serve about 76 veterans in Uvalde, Brackettville and Del Rio areas.
Those interested in the program may call Audie L. Murphy Memorial Veterans Hospital, 210-617-5300, and inquire about the home-based primary care program.
Event
Gerald’s daughter and her husband, John Box, local officials, Uvalde County veterans service officer and city councilman Everardo “Lalo” Zamora, American Legion Post 479 Commander Jose Saucedo, three U.S. Marines, Mayor Cody Smith, Uvalde Police Department public information officer Fernando Fernandez, and Uvalde Area Chamber of Commerce representatives Olga Charles and John Yeackle were there to sing “Happy Birthday” and thank Gerald for his service.
jkeeble@ulnnow.com, 830-278-3335
