Eugene Allen Siegel (1918-1991) was born on this day in 1918 in Florence, Missouri to Carl C. and Mary DeHaven Siegel. His mother died when he was 16 months old; the only mother he knew was Roma, who married his father in 1927.

Of my maternal uncles I feel I knew him the least. During my lifetime he and his wife Kay lived in San Diego, CA, so I saw him when they traveled to Missouri every few years and once, I visited their home in Solana Beach, California. There are three things I know about my uncle: he was a Marine, a baseball player and unlike his oldest brother, he actually smiled in photos!

Gene and I shared an affinity for the United States Marine Corps. My feelings about Marines would deepen when I had the chance to work with some of them in Washington DC. But the bond that Gene and I shared began when I found Great Uncle Bud’s diary in my grandparent’s farmhouse following Grandma Roma’s death in 1988. Bud served in the USMC (1898-1902) during the Spanish-American War and the Boxer Rebellion in China. You can read more of Bud’s story here.

Gene’s service in the USMC began when he was in college at the University of Missouri, where he studied horticulture. He graduated June 13, 1941, going active duty shortly thereafter. Gene’s wartime experiences were shared very sparingly with his family. However, in the last few years I have found more details in local newspapers. Gene earned a silver star for his bravery on the beaches of Tarawa; official notice was sent to the newspapers. But like many soldiers Gene wrote letters home, sometimes to surprising recipients. This notice was in the Tipton Times, February 11, 1944. It shares remarkable detail of this Marine’s life. The full text is below as printed:

The folks at the Tipton Farmers Bank have received a letter from Capt. Gene Siegel with the marines in the Pacific war theatre. Gene is known in Tipton and played ball here as a pitcher on a number of occasions. He has two brothers in the service, also overseas, Major Carl Siegel, an army doctor and Dr. Pete Siegel, an officer in the Navy. The brothers are sons of Carl Siegel of Florence.

Gene’s letter follows:

I sincerely hope that you receive this letter alright. I have forgotten your names there at the bank but not the many times that I have been in there and to Tipton. It would certainly be swell to be able to go through another summer of baseball back there. While I was in New Zealand I had the opportunity to play on one of the marine teams that put on an exhibition baseball game. You see they had never seen or played baseball and we played before a crowd of 35,000 – all very interested since they were used to cricket and rugby. The weather is poor for baseball there – too cold and rainy, consequently our arms were hard to get in shape. We lost to another marine team 3-1. My luck held out when I pitched the last 4 innings for no runs or hits. Consequently that game was played Jan. 31, 1943.

As you know I have been out of the good old U.S.A. for about one and a half years now. Believe me this Pacific is plenty large. I have been in Pago Pago, Samoa, New Caledonia, New Zealand, Efate, The Ellice Island Group, and the Gilberts. I was very lucky in the fight at Tarawa. Landing with the assault waves I went through several days of bloody hell. Believe me no human can conceive the horrors of a fight like the marines gave there – you really get scared. I was there all the time and I never saw one marine shirk his duty- even though his duty called for the supreme sacrifice – his life. For the marines I can give nothing but praise, not because I am one of them, but because it is true.

I am enclosing a Jap 5 yen note. I know you are not set up to take deposits of that kind but money makes a good souvenir.

Give my regards to everyone I know around Tipton and I would enjoy hearing from any of my friends back there. – Captain Eugene A. Siegel, USMC, Hq. and Ser. Co. 2d Marine Division, c/o F.P.O., San Francisco, Calif.

While I have read this article many times, it gives me chills every time I do. I never spoke to Gene about his service, and I am eternally grateful of his amazing effort, sacrifice, and humility. Happy birthday, Uncle Gene. I look forward to having a long chat with you some day.