Florida Catholic | Veterans Day

JENNIFER SURGENT | FC
Retired World War II B29 Radio Operator Gene Swarbrick stands in front of his home in Daytona Beach. Three years ago, Swarbrick started a Catholic war veterans group at Prince of Peace, which meets the second Saturday of each month at 10 am.

Veterans Day

Faith carried WWII veteran through war and life

LAURA DODSON | FLORIDA CATHOLIC CORRESPONDENT

Published: 11.09.07

ORMOND BEACH | Serving his country has been Gene Swarbrick’s passion since he was a young man. A veteran of both World War II and the Korean War, at 83 he continues to serve veterans and help educate children about the wars.

He shares his experiences and remembrances of war with Catholic schoolchildren in Volusia County, making places and events they are studying more alive. He also shares his patriotism and faith.

A radio operator aboard a Boeing B29 bomber in the U.S. Army Air Corps in World War II, Swarbrick witnessed the detonation of the first atomic bomb. “It was summer 1945, in New Mexico, and the pilot was told to only make left-hand turns. He was nosy and made a right-hand turn and we saw the mushroom cloud. He turned left real quick.”

During the Korean War, Swarbrick was part of Special Services, taking care of off-duty activities such as sports and entertainment. In February 1952, he participated in a marathon for the Crusade for Freedom, broadcasting for 65 hours without sleep.

Swarbrick credits the Sisters of Charity at Holy Cross Grammar School in Harrison, N.J., with the faith that has not only carried him through war, but also the daily trials of life.

“I learned a long time ago,” he said, “that when you get up in the morning, you pray, ‘Lord, I offer you this day — everything I think or do or say — uniting it with what was done on earth by Jesus Christ, thy Son.’”

Subsequent to his active duty, Swarbrick was a cruise director for 15 years during which he met Joan, now his wife of 33 years. He celebrates their anniversary with a card every month. He is still active as a travel agent. He and his wife are parishioners at Prince of Peace Parish in Ormond Beach.

This Veterans Day, Nov. 11, will find Swarbrick speaking at all Masses at Prince of Peace Parish, and at 1 p.m. celebrating at Emory L. Bennett Veteran’s Home in Daytona Beach. On Nov. 20, he’ll be representing the Father John Washington Post 1944 Catholic War Veterans of America in presenting flags for each classroom in Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic School in Daytona Beach, as well as a large outdoor flag that has flown over the U.S. Capitol.

READ JACK BAILEY'S STORY HERE

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Faith carried WWII veteran through war and life

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