Between1988 and 1995, two Heard Cousins, Sarah Jolie Allardyce Rhine and Frances Ruth Jackson Freeman published a Family Newsletter — WE HEARD —for the descendants of James Addison Heard and Clora Frances Nolen Heard. Each issue included Family History, Current Family News, and Childhood Reminisces. Patricia Rogers Heard saved many copies, and recently shared these. Over the intervening 30 years, the “Current News” became reminisces, while the Reminisces became Family History. In this series of Blogs, we are reprinting materials from WE HEARD. The original articles are printed in Black; comments and new information are inserted in Red. With thanks to Pat, who made it possible, we dedicate these Blogs to the Memory of: SARA JOLIE ALLERDYCE RHINE
WE HEARD
VOLUME 2. October 10, 1990. Number 2
REMEMBERING GLENN
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| Glenn between his sisters Vera and Myrtis Lee with brother Simmie about the time of his enlistment. He is wearing the Calvary Uniform complete with riding boots. |
Glen Heard was born Feb. 11, 1905, in Pitkin, LA., the fourth child and third son of James Addison Heard and Clora Nolen Heard. He finished high school about 1921, and enrolled at LSU. He left school, without giving his Mother and Father notice, and joined the U. S. Army.
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| Glenn is somewhere among the men engaged in the Tug-of War at Ft. Sam Houston |
These were the years following WWI, and Glenn was stationed at Ft. Hood, Tx, and later at Ft. Sam Houston in San Antonio, TX. He was in the U.S. Calvary. Photographs from this era show him as a handsome young man in a dashing uniform astride a big, dark horse. Some of the photos were taken on the parade grounds in the oldest portion of Ft.. Sam Houston. In one photo, his Calvary Unit is doing a mounted drill straight out of the wild west days.
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| During Glenn's time in service, the Calvary completed the change from Horses to Motor Vehicles. This was among his photos taken at Ft. Sam Houston |
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| Believed to be Ruby Lee Deramus about the time of her marriage. |
Glenn left the Army about 1935 (approximately age 30); and married Ruby DeRamus shortly after returning home to Pitkin. (Glenn and Ruby were second cousins, sharing great grandparents in William and Caroline Jelks Jones. Louisiana Governor Sam Houston Jones was another of their mutual cousins.) Glenn and Ruby lost one baby, but were blessed with a son and a daughter, Toney and Jerrye Heard. (Toney died young in 1998. Jerrye is a widow living in Alaska)
In 1939, as World War II was beginning in Europe, Glenn re-enlisled. When the U.S. entered the war, he was sent to England. Glenn and his youngest brother, Lindsey were in London at the same time. They visited each other one night during a bombing raid.
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| Glenn Heard in Airforce Uniform in WWII |
At this time, Glenn was in the Army Air Corp. When the Air Force was organized from the Army Air Corp, Glenn was among the very first members of that new branch of the service.
Among my Mother's (Myrtis Lee Heard Jackson's memorabilia were two V-Mails from Glenn dated May 3,1944. This was only one month before the Invasion of Normandy (Operation Overlord), and a year before the end of the War in Europe. At that time Glenn, his younger brother Lindsey, his nephew Hewell, and their cousin Nolen Miller were all in England. Hewell was in the Air Force and Lindsey in the Army. All three would participate in the Invasion on June 6. Also in England at that time was my Dad's youngest brother Johnnie Jackson. Ginger, referred to by Glenn in the letter, was an Irish Setter puppy that Glenn raised and my Daddy bought from Ruby. The text below was published in the Oct. 10, 1990 Issue of WE HEARD. The introduction is taken from the original article.
For our younger readers, V-Mail was much a part of World War II. Letters written by soldiers were photocopied and reduced to film to limit the volume of mail. Letters had to be written on standardized V-Mail forms, staying carefully within margins. In the states, the printed photocopies were sent to the recipients. The name of the addressee and of the Censor who approved the information was at the top of the letter. Anything considered a security risk was blacked out by the Censor.
5-3-44
Wed. Nite
Dear Sis,
Am sorry that I have not written sooner, but I have had my ups and downs over here the same as everybody else, I guess. But anyway, I am starting over in a new outfit. It took quite some time to get the transfer thru, but anyway I have been here over a week and am liking it better every day. Plenty of sunshine each day and best of all a sea breeze all the time. It is much better than London. There is nothing that I can say in regards to your question about these air raids. Anyway since I am not in London any more I am not apt to be bothered about having to hunt a hole on account of raids.
I was to meet Johnnie Jackson in Feb., but was on furlough myself, so did not get to see him. He left the day I got back. Yes, Nolen is over here, has been for quite some time. We were planning on meeting but don't guess we will now that I have left London.
I hope that Jack does not have to go in June -- But still from what I read they are going to keep getting them. From what they have written me about Bob, I don't guess he will have to worry any more about himself -- other than just about getting over his troubles and then not being bothered with it again.
Jack, if you breed Ginger this summer and she has a good litter, I would like a dog puppy sent down to the children. But let me tell you something, she may turn out to be a real mean with puppies. Her Mama did so. Toney was the the only person who could go to her and the puppies. So be careful with the children. I would hate to hear of her biting any of you.
About the size of writing news, so good night and good luck for everyone.
Your Bro.,
Glenn.
Letter #2 (Written almost 2 months after the Normandy Landing. The night after he wrote this the Germans launched 316 Buzz Bombs at London. Over 100 reached their targets, including one that damaged the Tower Bridge)
"8-1-1944
Dear Sis,
Guess you often wonder what I am doing that I do not write more than I do. I just can't make myself write like I used to, and it's not laziness either. I just sit around now and wonder what is going on at home. Is everyone afraid they will hurt my feelings writing me about things. . . I would like to have chicken. Also would like a carton of cigarettes. Not able to have enough now as Lindsey (a non-smoker who gave Glenn his smokes) is in France. As soon as I can get Hewell's address I plan on going up to see him -- providing he is still in England. Will try and not wait so long again.
Love, Glenn.
When WWII ended, Glenn remained in the service, making a career in the Air Force. His marriage to Ruby did not survive the stresses of the War years (as suggested in his second letter). In 1945 Glenn married Bertha Mattis of Pitkin. They had no children, but cared for foster children while stationed in Alaska. (Glenn's daughter, Jerrye Don D'Anza, and her family would make Alaska their permanent home, linking that state to his family.)
After retiring from the military, Glenn and Bertha retired to Pitkin. In his retirement years, Glenn raised cattle. For a period they lived at the farm with Grandmaw Heard, but then Glenn and Bertha built their own place behind her parent's historic "dogtrot" home near Pitkin. Though he no longer lived on the farm, Glenn cared for his Mother, visiting her every day, and helping out as needed. Glenn helped his mother manage the family farm for many years. After her death, he always "saw to things" around the place, and helped keep things going for the Heard Land Corp. (The family corporation which still owns the Heard Farm. His younger brother, Lindsey lived near by, in DeRidder, and they were close.)
Glenn and Bertha were very active in the Masonic Lodge, the Eastern Star and several Veteran organizations. Glenn was a Shriner. In 1988, Glenn was honored by the Eastern Star for his many contributions to that organization. He was beloved in his community where be helped many people.
For many years Glenn was in charge of the cemetery at Blue Branch (where many of our family are buried). He took great pride in "keeping things up."
The last year of Glenn's life was spent in the Veterans Administration Medical Center Nursing Home in Alexandria, La. He was a favorite of the nurses and therapists, and enjoyed long reminisces about the War with other veterans. (While Glenn was in the nursing home, Bertha passed away. The husband of Glenn's niece, Charles Freeman, was director of the VAMC while Glenn was a resident).
Attending the 1989 Fall Heard Family Reunion was very important to Glenn. He looked forward to the evert, and told nurses, and his therapist about the reunion afterward. (Glenn passed away on Nov. 15, 1989, a month after his last reunion.)
Glenn Heard traveled and saw more of the world than any of his brothers and sisters, but in the end, he was the only one to return to Pitkin to make his home. Even as the anniversary of his death approaches, his presence is very much felt. Of all of us, Glenn was the most faithful in attending the biannual family reunions. When any of the family went to the farm to hunt or work, or just visit, Glenn was always there. Most of us will never visit the Farm without feeling Glenn is there, in spirit and in our fond memories. (30 years later, the Heard Family still gathers at the farm and we always know Glenn is there with us.)
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The following is taken from the December, 1988 Issue of WE HEARD. This was written a few months before Aunt Bertha's death, and slightly less than a year before Glenn's passing. This is an example of the "Current News" articles carried in the newsletter.
News From Glenn
Uncle Glenn is presently in the Nursing Home of the Veteran's Administration Hospital in Alexandria. He was able to spend the Thanksgiving Holidays at home. He has been able to go home about every other weekend, and Aunt Bertha comes to the hospital each Thursday or Friday.
Controlling his blood sugar and blood pressure levels is critical, and the Nursing Home provides this aspect of his care. He said that Aunt Bertha was ill the weekend after Thanksgiving, but she was better when she visited this past Thursday.
For several months he was prevented from going home because he was having "spells," which included blacking out. He has not had one of these "spells" for several months. He has given up smoking, and this may have helped his circulation.
Last spring and summer several members of the family including Myrtis Lee, Addie, Sara Joe, Meredith, Bette Lois, and Lois visited him, but he has had few visitors in the last months. The holidays are a hard time to be away from home, and cards and letters would certainly be appreciated. These can be addressed to Genn Heard, Nursing Home, Veterans Administration Medical Center, Alexandria, LA 72301.
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