Re: Rodman, Gage Beers, b.Conn. about 1896,
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In reply to:
Rodman, Gage Beers, b.Conn. about 1896,
Laura Thomas 5/23/01
Obituary from the "Hurricane Valley Journal" Utah Newspaper,
"Walter Rodman- An Old Soldier Passes
Our great friend and loved one, Walter Rodman, of Hurricane, passed away Saturday, Nov. 18, 2006 at Dixie Regional Medical Center of acute leukemia and a myocardial infarction. His death was sudden and he will be greatly missed.
He was born July 19, 1923, in Ogden, Utah, the second of four sons to Gage and Gladys Musgrave Rodman. He had a happy childhood with his beloved brothers. Their teasing natures and practical jokes laid the foundation for how the brothers interacted with others through their lives.
He attended and graduated from New Mexico Military Institute for high school. Soon he joined the army and was assigned to the 102nd Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, which was a tank squadron. He was one of the soldiers who landed on Normandy Beach on D-Day. He said he remembered no fear, and knew he would live through it. He felt young and invincible, and said all the soldiers felt that way. He was shocked when he saw young men fall around him. His unit was the first into Paris, driving through France and Germany into Czechoslovakia. Out of 345 days, he was in combat 300 straight days. He was in a tank at the Battle of the Bulge in Belgium during one of the historically coldest winters in Europe. Their tanks were frozen in their tracks…they couldn’t turn and run, but had to stay and fight.
He had one battle that he prayed his way through, promising to live a good life if he would survive. He was the only one to live through the battle, and this was a turning point in his life. His service earned a Purple Heart.
After the war, he returned home to Los Angeles where his parents had moved. He graduated in business management from Woodbury College and ran a restaurant and bar with a friend. He learned to be a great listener at this time and developed a compassion for people. He avoided alcohol and cigarettes because he saw what they did to his patrons.
He said, “my mother pushed me out of the nest at 35, so I got married” to Alice Hoffman in Los Angeles. They were married 48 years and she survives him.
He had a brother Gage who was badly injured in World War 2 in the Philippines. This led to further injuries, which made him quadriplegic. Walter cared for Gage for much of his life after their mother passed away.
Janice Vick said, “I’ve never seen commitment and dedication like Walt’s. Never has a brother loved a brother like that before. He was the consummate gentleman, kind, and a real example to me what dedication and commitment are all about.”
He was always kind, friendly and joking. He had the greatest laugh.
He was a true American with a capital A. He loved his country and was a patriot to the core.
His cherished loved ones remain: wife, Alice; his brother Fred (Helen); nephews, Jim and Stephen; and niece Anne. He was preceded by brothers William “Bill” and Gage Rodman.
A bright light has left this world, and the next sphere made much more dazzling by his entrance."