Remember the true meaning of Memorial Day this holiday weekend
and pay tribute to those who have served our country
n By Kelly Savio Staff Writer
On Veteran’s Day and Memorial Day, Norma Martinetti nie Trebino gets out her old Army uniform hat. She remembers those that fought and died in wars as well as living veterans and veterans who passed away long after they finished their military service. But most of all, she remembers her time as a charge nurse during World War II at an amputation surgical unit in a military hospital in Utah.
“I didn’t see action on the battlefield, but I sure did see what happened as a result,” Martinetti, 84, said. “It was pretty devastating, really. I gave anesthesia to soldiers who were coming in, still wearing the fatigues they were wearing on the battlefield, and who needed to have an amputation.”
Martinetti, a Hollister resident, was in her early twenties when she joined the army in 1944 and learned to be an anesthesia nurse. She worked 14 hours a day almost every day of the week, taking care mostly of soldiers that had been fighting in the Pacific, at Barnes General Hospital in Brigham, Utah.
“The men I saw mostly needed amputations or to have some kind of reconstructive surgery,” she said, shaking her head. “A lot of times, we tried to be a friendly face and give them some verbal and emotional support before surgery, but these men were in bad shape. Sometimes, they had all of 30 seconds to understand what was about to happen to them. It was so sad.”
During the time she oversaw her ward, including 10 operating rooms, two emergency rooms and a unit holding anywhere from 700 to 1,200 patients at a time, Martinetti said she also cared for several prisoners of war.
“The prisoners were sick, and I had to go take care of them – it was my job to take care of people,” said Martinetti, who was a lieutenant. “The guards at the door tried to stop me from going in to help the sick Germans, but I reminded them of the Geneva Convention and I told them I wasn’t going anywhere until they let me see my patients.”
After she cared for her patients, often speaking to them through an interpreter and reassuring them she would look after them, the guards told her not to come back.
“But, I went back, and back, and I kept going back, because those prisoners were human beings and they needed my help,” Martinetti said. “I thought to myself, ‘This man belongs to somebody, and he didn’t start the war.’ I would put my hand on some of the prisoners’ shoulders and they would be shaking because they were scared. I tried to comfort them the best I could. The guards reported me for always coming back when they told me not to, but I didn’t care. ”
Talking about her experiences at the hospital can sometimes be hard, bringing back sad memories of men who lost limbs and suffered deep depression after the war, Martinetti said. Despite the difficult memories she deals with, Martinetti said she felt it was important to remember all veterans on Memorial Day and Veterans Day.
“It’s tragic in a way when people go into the service,” she said. “They are disrupting their whole life: their education, their family life, their work, to go to into the service and sometimes go to war. I hope when this war is over, these people coming home get the respect they deserve.”
Today We Also Honor Jeramy Ailes
Jeramy Ailes, a Gilroy resident, handed out his own money to children during his first tour of duty in Iraq as a Marine. During his second tour of duty, he handed out soccer balls to children in an effort to bring happiness to youngsters surrounded by death and war. On Nov. 15, 2004, Jeramy was in Fallujah when an insurgent playing possum jumped up and shot Jeramy, killing him. He was just 22 years old.
On the Web site www.fallenheroesmemorial.com, one of Jeramy’s fellow Marines left this message:
“Hey Ailes, it’s me, Hansen. Sure do miss you. Sorry about what happened– did what I could to help but it was too late. But your memory lives on. That day, 15 Nov., in that house lives on every day with me. I’m so sorry. You’re not forgotten– you’re the best Marine there is. I was glad to be there to fight side by side with you. Semper Fi.” -Lcpl. Hansen
Jeramy’s sister, Janay Ailes, said her brother’s bravery and honorable service will always make her proud.
“For me, Memorial Day is no longer a three day weekend spent on a lake or out of town with friends,” she said. “It’s unfortunate that after the death of my brother, I have finally grasped the true meaning of Memorial Day. It’s … about mourning the loss of a loved one and truly appreciating those who have given their lives for us.”
Jeramy’s parents, Joel and Lana Ailes, said they want their son to be remembered as the kind of friend he was to so many people, the wonderful man he was becoming and the brave Marine he ended up being.
“Favorite memories of Jeramy include his contagious smile and wonderful sense of humor,” Lana said. “Holidays such as Memorial Day are important because we feel it is our duty to remember and honor the people who have died that have helped shape our freedoms. Memorial Day doesn’t have to be just for military. Everyone has loved ones who have died who need to be remembered. For the Ailes family, every day will be Memorial Day. We will always remember through pictures, voices messages and letters from Iraq.”
Gilroy resident Jude Miranda knew Jeramy because she used to baby-sit Janay. She said on Memorial Day she will think of Jeramy and his family, because military families sacrifice so much when their loved ones are away at war and when, as with the Ailes family, they lose their loved one.
“I was so proud of Gilroy when they had (Jeramy’s) funeral here,” Jude said. “People lined the streets to honor Jeramy and his family. It was amazing, and I was so proud that the people of Gilroy would honor Jeramy as the hero he was.”
A Vietnam Veteran: Robert Mang
Gilroy resident Sue McGahey said on Memorial Day she remembers all veterans, living or dead, but especially her brother-in-law, Robert Mang.
“Robert was a Marine in the Vietnam war, and unfortunately, the veterans of that war were not celebrated during their homecoming,” Sue said. “People protested that war, moved to Canada to avoid the draft, but some people, like Robert chose to join the military to serve our country. I tell Robert as often as possible how proud I am of him.”
Robert said when he came home from Vietnam, he took his military uniform off at the airport and put on civilian clothes because of the harassment he received at the airport.
“I had no idea it was going to be that way – I was pretty proud of myself for serving, but there was no welcome party when I got home,” Robert remembered. “Now, there’s been a 180-degree turn. Even though the war isn’t popular, everyone is supporting the men and women in Iraq and Afghanistan, and that’s how it should be.”
Memorial Day is a time to recognize and memorialize those that lost their lives fighting in wars, and to remember the sacrifices all veterans have made to protect our freedoms, said Robert, a Gilroy resident.
“Robert will talk to us about the war sometimes, and it sounds like it was truly awful,” Sue said. “His sister said he used to have nightmares about it, and he once told us a story about leeches, and how there was only a dirty, murky lake for the Marines to bathe in, and it was full of leeches. He doesn’t go camping with us either. He said he had enough camping and sleeping on the ground in the war, and he doesn’t need to do it again.”
Robert said he still gets goosebumps when he hears the Star Spangled Banner play.
“The important thing is that no matter what, people support our troops and remember the people who have served this country, living or dead,” he said.
