In this sixth column in the Chapman series, we reach an inspirational memory of a Marine who went to war. The late Joseph George compiled a meticulous notebook remembering his fallen brother, Quentin George.

Joseph and brother Donald were drafted to serve in the U.S. Navy during World War II. Quentin enlisted in the Marine Corps. He graduated from Nazareth High School, where he was a three-star athlete in football, basketball and football. Upon graduating, he played for the Tatamy Indians in the Northampton Twilight League, while being employed by the Lone Star Cement Company in Nazareth.

After training at Parris Island, he was assigned to the 1st Marine Division and left San Francisco for New Zealand; their final destination was unknown. The ultimate goal was Guadalcanal, one of the Solomon Islands in the Pacific. It is an island few people today have ever heard of!

The remote island was under the control of the Japanese, who were constructing airfields that would threaten Australia. Here on Aug. 7, 1942, the United States of America would launch the first offensive action against the Japanese during World War II.

There ensued for several months some of the most bitter and bloody combat of the war. The Marines suffered 1,200 casualties, and a hard-fought victory was won.

The exhausted Marines were sent to Australia for regrouping. On Dec. 26, they attacked the Japanese on Cape Gloucester, New Britain. Once again, intensive fighting occurred, and casualties were very heavy. One was Cpl. Quentin George, who fell in action on Jan. 15, 1943.

His mother, Lillie George, was notified by mail, stating the deep regret on the death of her son. The only personal effects in his duffel bag were a bracelet, a wristwatch strap, a tie pin, keys, eight snapshots, three personal letters, one greeting card and a copy of the New Testament.

By faith and fate, Seamen Joseph George, aboard LST268, went to New Britain for supplies on Nov. 28, 1944.

Joseph recalled, “I asked the captain’s permission to search the cemetery for my brother.”

After a few minutes, he found his grave, #17 in the first row.

“I said a prayer and made a sketch of the grave and left,” he recalled.

Joseph and the family wanted to return Quentin home. On a gray day, March 11, 1949, the young Marine returned and was laid to rest with military honors at Greenmount Cemetery in Bath, with the Rev. Bedford Williamson of the Chapman’s Methodist Church conducting the sad coming-home service.

In a book of memories, Joseph George wrote the following from Ecclesiastics.

“He speaks of those who have left no memorial, who have perished as though they had not lived, but they were men of mercy, whose righteous deeds shall not be forgotten or their glory blotted out.”

And so it was, a brother’s feeling for a brother lost in the service of his country.

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Read the concluding Chapman column in two weeks. See you then.