EDWARD JOHN GUETEBIER
Edward John Guetebier Jr was born 11-AUG 1924 in St. Louis. His parents were Edward John Guetebier (1890–1942) and Elsie Amalia Schneider (1899–1994). He had three sisters: Marion, Helen, and Donna. According to the 1930 Federal Census and 1933 directory, the family lived at 4143 Lee Avenue in St. Louis MO. Edward graduated from Beaumont High School in St. Louis where was a member of the Alfred Marshall Club, Photography Club, Treasurer Senior Band, Skating Club, and Model Airplane Club. His yearbook nickname was “Guet.” His yearbook byline says, “Self-confidence is the first requisite to great undertakings” -by Samuel Johnson, an English writer.
Edward registered for the draft and listed his occupation as student. His enlistment records state he had four years of high school and two years of college. His civil occupation was machinist apprentice. After finishing high school, he attended St. Louis University for two years studying commerce and finance. Before entering the service, he was employed at Atlas Tool Manufacturing Company for ten months at 5144 Natural Bridge in St. Louis. There, he assisted a machinist in the making of parts used in aircraft construction, operated lathes, milling machines, grinders, and drill presses and used all regular hand tools. He also worked with blueprints to close tolerances and checked accuracy of work with micrometers and gauges.
Later he was employed by Liedesdorf Certified Public Accountants in St. Louis for two months. He assisted an accountant by verifying additions, checking postings and, vouchers and prepared statements while under the supervision of an accountant.
Edward enlisted at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis on enlisted 18-JAN 1944. His serial number was 37 631 579. After four and a half months of basic training Edward was promoted to Private First Class and served as a bugler, MOS 803. Edward attended radio operator school at Camp Blanding Florida for six weeks where he received instruction on International Morse Code; the sending and receiving of messages by this code using field radio equipment and the operation of a teletype equipment. He then became a Mail Clerk, MOS 056 for five months and later as a Sergeant non-commissioned officer, MOS 566. He served 19 months in the Asiatic-Pacific Theater with the 192nd and 662nd Replacement Depots in New Guinea and the Philippines. He performed duties handling replacement troops, re-enlistees, returnees, and prisoners of war, in the capacity of platoon leader for five months.
A replacement depot in United States military terminology is a unit containing reserves or replacements for large front-line formations, such as field armies. Replacing soldiers killed and wounded in combat units during the war was done on an individual basis, as has been the practice for most American wars. In World War II, except for those soldiers who arrived as a unit at the beginning of the war, men were sent individually to units to replace casualties. Rather than pulling battle depleted units off the line and replacing them in combat with a fresh, rested unit, Army Chief of Staff George Marshall and Gen. Leslie McNair, Commander of Army Ground Forces, implemented the individual replacement system. They were efficient methods to keep fighting units at high numerical strength. The Army replacement depots were called “repple-depples” by the GIs. These depots were located near the battle fronts, so that individual soldiers could be sent by generals to companies and battalions to replace the men lost. Even early in the war, the number of replacements was high.
Edward stayed with the replacement units facilitating the movement of troops and organization requirements. He supervised the activities of a company of 372 men in the processing of their records and clothing for shipments. He made up duty rosters for guard, kitchen police and details and saw that these duties were carried out. He performed other clerical duties as necessary.
Edward left the Pacific Theater on 29-MAR 1946 and arrived in the United States 16-APR 1946. Edward was Honorably Discharged as a Sergeant E-5 22-Apr 1946.
Sgt. Edward Guetebier was eligible for the following medals and commendations:
- Asiatic-Pacific Theater Ribbon w/Bronze Star
- Philippines Liberation Medal
- World War II Victory Medal
- American Campaign Medal
- Good Conduct Medal
- Three Overseas Bars
The round shoulder patch on Edward’s uniform is the US Army Forces Western Pacific patch. Edward also has a bugler lapel medal on his uniform.
Edward married Gloria Lee Guetebier in spring of 1946 and they had one daughter, Donna (1951-2023). In 1950 Edward lived on Washington in St. Louis MO. His listed occupation according to the 1950 Federal Census was “Contract Accountant” with the Railroad Terminal. Edward and Gloria later lived in St. Charles MO. He retired as a senior accountant for the Missouri Pacific Railroad (MOPAC) in St. Louis where he had worked for 35 years.
Edward John Guetebier Jr died 25-JAN 1986 in Saint Charles and is buried in St. Peters Cemetery in Normandy MO.
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