Alex Seaboyer is our brother-in-law’s (Gary) father who passed on August 8, 2017 in Sarasota, FL. He was born on January 31, 1921.
Alex survived the attack on Pearl Harbor. He also experienced the tragic aftermath of loss and immediate action of the U.S. military to protect frightened civilians living on small Hawaiian Islands that suddenly became the front line of a major world war.
His son, Gary, told us that Alex, along with his comrades of the Army’s 27th Infantry, were later ordered to Fiji. However, they were diverted in route to Guadalcanal, along with two battalions of the 106th Regiment in support of Marine Divisions. The combined Allied victories at Guadalcanal and the Battle of Midway are considered the turning point in the war against Japan.
Gary said, “Alex spoke very little of what he and his comrades endured over their tour of duty. Though, he mentioned some of the atrocities he witnessed in battling the Japanese Forces.” Gary continued, “We knew that over time this had haunted him, like most Veterans, though he would never show or divulge it. He would never ever set foot in any form of Japanese dining establishments! That sentiment was shared by millions who had served in the Pacific Theater.”
In the course of Alex’s military duties, he contacted malaria and suffered other medical challenges during his lifetime. Unfortunately, Alex shared another tragedy like too many of our Veterans. He experienced for years either inadequate or lack of medical assistance on major life-threatening conditions by the VA.
Rob and I are privileged to have the Sarasota National Cemetery located near our home. For each time we drive by, we try to acknowledge the brave heroes who served our great country and perhaps struggled when they came home to civilian life … whether it was from post-traumatic stress, adjusting to a loss of a limb, or frustration over being denied life-saving surgery by the VA. Many were fathers and grandfathers like Alex who left behind three sons and their wives, two granddaughters, three great-grandchildren and a long-time companion, Evelyn.
We understand that Alex’s resting place will be at the Sarasota National Cemetery, and we will salute him and his fellow Veterans each time we drive by.
In the Above Photos: (Left) Alex Seaboyer, 1949; (Right) Sarasota National Cemetery, 2017