Remember the Fallen, USMC Lt Alfred R. Gauthier

Published in Middleboro Gazette, written by Post 64 historian Bob Lessard. Previous biological sketches have been published to remind citizens about veterans and especially those  who gave their lives. "ALL GAVE SOME, SOME GAVE ALL".

Mrs. Mary Gauthier of 11 West Grove St. was notified by the US Marine Corps of the accidental death of her son, Alfred Robert Gauthier, 23, on March 24, 1952 at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina by a telegram sent by Major General E. A. Pollack, Commander of the Second Division.

According to the information received, Lt Gauthier had been participating in night maneuvers at Camp Lejueune and standing by a truck with another Marine, when a speeding jeep, running without lights, ran into both men, killing them.

Alfred was a well known Middleboro Memorial High School sports star. He excelled in baseball, basketball and football. Besides participating in high school, he also was a member of the teams for the Mitchell Memorial Club, which awarded him the club's athletic scholarship upon his graduation in 1947.

Jim Cadorette of Bridgewater was a classmate of Gauthiers stated. "He was one heck of an athlete. Our basketball team went undefeated in the Old Colony League in 1947 and went to the state championships at Boston Guarden, where we lost to Reading in the finals."

In town sports, Alfred was known for his baseball skills, He played for the Sacred Heart CYO team, Egger's Furniture in the Twlight League, the Mitchell Club in the Old Colony League. "Alfred was a tremendous athlete, in fact, he went to Brown University where he was the captain of the 1951 team. I'm rather sure the NY Yankees had offered him a tryout for the their team," added Cadorette.

Gauthier was registered with Middleboro's Selective Service Board 130, which had given him a deferment so he could attend Brown U. Following graduation, he entered the Marine Corps and was sent to Parris Island. He spent time at Quantico in Virginia before his assignment to Camp Lejeune.

He was born in Middleboro on March 6, 1929. Besides his mother, at the time, he was survived by 5 brothers, William J., who was serving in Korea; Gerald J. of Bridgewater; Edward A. and Frederick, both of Middleboro and Leo, who was in the US Navy; and one sister, Mrs Gertrude Cronin of Middleboro. He was buried in St. Mary's Cemetary, St Mathews Path with full military honors.