As we near Memorial Day I think of America’s overseas military cemeteries. The American Battle Monuments Commission (ABMC) administers, operates and maintains 26 permanent American military cemeteries and 32 federal memorials. A native Iowan is the Superintendent of one of them.
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Hubert Caloud a native of Clutier, Iowa served in the Marine Corps for over thirty years retiring as a Sergeant Major. Caloud has been working for ABMC since his retirement from the USMC in 2004. He has been assigned as the Assistant Superintendent of the Ardennes American Cemetery in Belgium and the Manila American Cemetery in the Philippines. He has also been assigned as the Superintendent of Flanders Field American Cemetery in Belgium and the Aisne-Marne and Oise-Aisne American Cemeteries in France.
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His current assignment Oise-Aisne cemetery in the Department of Aisne is close to his heart as his Great-Uncle William Kucera from Elberon, Iowa fought next to the cemetery in the 168th Infantry, 42nd (Rainbow) Division in 1918. Kucera’s Company Commander was Captain Edward Fleur whom Fleur Drive in Des Moines is named after. His Uncle Arnold Vileta from Tama, Iowa built several temporary bridges close to the cemetery on the Marne River as a Combat Engineer in General Patton’s 3rd Army in 1944.
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Although he was in different wars than WWI and WWII, Hubert is the third generation of his family to represent America in this part of France a fact that he says isn’t lost on the locals he interacts with.
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“It means something to people when I say that my family fought to liberate this ground.” These are more a passion or calling than jobs, Caloud has served the American Government since he was a teenager almost 50 years ago.
At the grave of his great uncle’s friend, Omar Shearer, who was killed in Sergy, just over the ridge from here. Shearer was the first Guthrie Center, Iowa soldier killed during WWI. The American Legion there is named after him. Caloud is standing at Shearer’s grave in this photo at Aisne-Marne and Oise-Aisne American Cemetery. 
Hubert Caloud has been very generous with his time during my research of some Norwalk, Connecticut’s war dead. A gentleman who is always eager to help. I owe him a cup of coffee or a beer should I ever travel to Europe to visit some of the cemeteries.
I “met” him via Instagram because of that photo of him with the cross of Omar Shearer from Guthrie Center, Iowa. Three of my Grandma Leora’s brothers from there were drafted for WWI. I’ve been following Hubert Caloud’s FB page and you can tell how committed he is to serving all of us, almost as a ministry. Thank you so much for your note. He’d enjoy it, as well.
I’m just working on a post about Grandma Leora, as three more of her brothers served or did war work during WWII, her five sons served in WWII (only two came home), also a nephew, a son-in-law (my dad), a grandson served in Vietnam (pilot), and a grandson-in-law (my husband, air traffic control), and a great grandson served in the Gulf War.
Sounds like a very important and personal project. Enjoy!
Hubert Caloud responded to your offer: I can make all the coffee I want but the beer sounds good HA
Hubert Caloud is a true American hero!
Thanks for sharing!
Thank you for your note.
Hubert Caloud is a hero
Indeed! I hope to meet him someday, but now that his mother is gone, he may not get back to Iowa. I’m hoping his story will become part of the Our American Stories podcasts! One of my uncles is buried at the Lorraine American Cemetery in St. Avold, so I appreciate his heart for the heroes in those cemeteries. (Another uncle’s name is on the Wall of Honor at the Manila American Cemetery, where Hubert Caloud was Assistant Site Supt.)
That’s nice to know, I’ve read a lot about him…How about you, I will also like to know more about you, what do you think? Alright this is my email address {r.robertallard123@gmail.com} . I will be very happy to hear from you, if possible drop your email address in your next reply.
Thank you very much….Robert
Just check out the home page on my website. My husband, an Air Force Vietnam veteran, and I have been married 55 years, and I’m in the middle of writing my third book.
I will like to know more about him, when I’m less busy I will check it out, but I will be delight if you can send me an email, will you?
Any particular reason why? https://joynealkidney.com/
No my dear, I thought you were comfortable with me know more about you….Can I reach you on the email I found on your homepage {joynealkidney@gmail.com}?
[…] you, Grandpa, the older I get the smarter you seem. You were a man. I was a boy. —– Hubert Caloud is a retired US Marine and the site Superintendent of the Oise-Aisne American Cemetery in […]