Departed veteran honored

Any help in getting the citation for Mr. Herbert's Silver Star so it can be preserved in our efforts to digitize all awards citations (see: www.militraytimes.com/hallofvalor ) is appreciated. I can be reached at: doug@homeofheroes.com

Departed veteran honored
By M.E. Jones, Correspondent
Nashoba Publishing
Posted:11/06/2009 07:32:19 AM EST
SHIRLEY -- In a departure from the agenda, the selectmen began their Nov. 2 meeting with a testimonial to longtime resident and decorated WWII veteran John Hebert, who died Nov. 1.
Navy veteran and historian Charles Church presented the testimonial. Church, who hosted a tribute to Mr. Hebert in April 2008 at the Hazen Memorial Library, also worked with him and others on a book that lists the town's WWII veterans and describes their service.
Before introducing Church, Chairman Andy Deveau shared his thoughts about heroism. When discussing the subject he said people often cite as heroes sports figures or those who make medical advances, but that is not his definition. To him, heroes are American men and women who "put their lives on the line" to protect our freedom.
"One of those people was John Hebert," he said.
Selectman Enrico Cappucci said John Hebert looked more like a college professor than the war hero that he was. "He did his duty," he said. "He was a great guy."
"I knew John mostly in the context of his military service, so tonight I'll focus on that," Church said.
John Hebert was 18 when he joined the Army, one of over 330 men and women who enlisted from Shirley during WWII. As a combat infantryman, sniper and first scout, he turned down several promotions to retain his high-risk job, Church said.
Mr. Hebert was once selected First Scout for the 89th division of Patton's Third Army, Church continued, putting him "out in front" for 15,000 soldiers. "This can mean only one of two things. Either his commanders didn't like John or they completely trusted his skills and effectiveness as a scout," he said. The latter seemed more likely. Among other actions, John single-handedly captured 39 German soldiers, he said.
Mr. Hebert was indeed a hero. He received the Silver Star and the Bronze Star for "gallantry in action" and "meritorious achievement in ground operations against the enemy," respectively.
"The Silver Star is the third highest military award," Church said, adding that he's been told by several Army officers that Hebert should have been awarded the Medal of Honor. For his part, Hebert said there were many others in his unit who should have been decorated but were not.
After the war, Mr. Hebert served in the National Guard at Fort Devens for 24 years.
At the 2008 ceremony, "A Salute to John Hebert," Church read a poem Jim Hebert wrote for his father. "There are heroes who walk among us/never looking for glory or praise./They don't seek recognition/for their thoughtful, caring ways./Living lives of deep commitment/providing for those they hold dear,/Steadfast with a quiet strength/through times of laughter and tears./You are a person like that to me/the most selfless man by far./So Dad I'd like to thank you/for being the HERO that you are."
"If you know a veteran ... please thank them for their service," Church said. "John Hebert shall forever remain one of the finest examples of the Greatest Generation of the United States of America, a true American Hero."
Hebert is survived by a brother and three sons, several grandchildren and a great-granddaughter. His wife Alice died just a few months ago.

Thanks to all veterans

Tonight a tribute to John Hebert.

John passed away Sunday, November 1st, 2009 about noon time.

Life long resident of Shirley.

Survived by his brother Freddie in Lunenburg
and 3 sons, Jack, Jay, and Jim, their wives and
several grandsons and granddaughters and one great-granddaughter.

Just a few months ago John lost his wife Alice.
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John was not a person who would say much about himself,
but based on my acquaintance with his family, John was
quite a Dad.
I knew John mostly in the context of his military service,
so tonight I’ll focus on that.

In the 1940’s the population of Shirley was
something like 2000 or 2500.

More than 330 people from Shirley, both men and women,
served in WWII and John Hebert was one of them.

At age 18
John served in WWII in Europe as an Army combat infantryman.
As it turns out he was not your average soldier.
He was a sniper and the first scout of his company ~ 150 soldiers.
He turned down several promotions in order to remain a scout.
On one occasion John was selected as the first scout
for the entire 89th Division of Patton’s 3rd Army ~15 thousand soldiers.
This can mean only one of two things.
Either his commanders didn’t like John very much –or-
They completely trusted his skills and effectiveness as a scout
Maybe we’ll never know… except that…


Among other actions, John single-handedly captured 39 German Officers and men.

Mr. Hebert was awarded the Silver Star and the Bronze Star which are personal achievement awards for “gallantry in action” and for “meritorious achievement in ground operations against the enemy” respectively.
The Silver Star is the 3rd highest military award one may receive

It was reported to me that several General Officers had commented off the record
that John should have been awarded the Medal Of Honor.

John always said that there were many others in his
unit who should have been decorated but were not.

After WWII John completed 24 years of service with the National Guard at Fort Devens.

A couple of years ago there was a ceremony held here in Shirley
to salute John Hebert’s service to our country.
To be read at that ceremony John’s son Jim, who lives out west, sent a wonderful letter to his dad, containing the following poem:

"There are heroes who walk among us
never looking for glory or praise.
They don't seek recognition
for their thoughtful caring ways.
Living lives of deep commitment
providing for those they hold dear.
Steadfast with a quiet strength
through times of laughter and tears.
You are a person like that to me
the most selfless man by far.
So Dad I'd like to thank you
for being the HERO that you are."

If you know a veteran, especially those who served in WWII, please thank them for their service.

Why? We are able to meet here tonight and freely share our ideas with each other because of those who fought and won WWII for us, thereby preserving the freedoms upon which our country was founded.

John Hebert shall forever remain one of the finest examples of the Greatest Generation of the United States of America, a true American Hero.