Call (401) 725-4253
Thursday Aug 25, 2016
Sending my deepest condolence to Captain Elwood J Euart's nieces, nephews and their children.
I knew about him since I arrived here in Santo 28 years ago as one of a scuba dive operator, visited his memorial number of times to lay little flower and talked about his heroism to many scuba divers.
I was very happy to hear his recovery after 74 years, and he is finally able to going home and to be with his parents.
Wishing all the best to his family and his story will be told to many many people in US.
I will remember him.
Mayumi Green
From Espiritu Santo island, Vanuatu.
Mayumi Green - (Espiritu Santo island, Vanuatu)
Thursday Aug 25, 2016
Welcome home Captain Euart. A true hero and son of Pawtucket. Our lives are safer due to all who have served in our military. "All gave some and some gave all."
Well done soldier. It's nice that you finally made it home. Now you truly can rest in peace.
Chip Hoyas - (Pawtucket, Ri)
Thursday Aug 25, 2016
Welcome Home Sir!
Long may the memory of your service and sacrifice stand for all to know!
Roberta Emery - (Smithfield, RI)
Thursday Aug 25, 2016
Welcome home and glad you have returned to the home of the brave - The United States of America where we leave no one behind. Salute to you and all of those who serve our country!
May you now rest in peace.
Michael Murray - (Greensboro, NC)
Thursday Aug 25, 2016
Welcome Home Captain Elwood Joseph Euart! Thank you for your sacrifice and your service to our country. You belong to the ages now, but you will never be forgotten.Godspeed!
Skip and Gail Gardiner - (Warwick, R.I. 02886)
Thursday Aug 25, 2016
What an honor it must be to have such an amazing hero as a family member! Thank you Captain Elwood Joseph Euart for your service and bravery🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸
Gaby Bowers - (Tampa, FL)
Friday Aug 26, 2016
every day we dive the great ship, we tell your story to all our visiting divers.
You are the true hero of the SS President Coolidge, you are home now rip, knowing well your story will never die back here in Espiritu santo.
Paul White - Aore Adventure Sports & Lodge - (Espiritu Santo Vanuatu)
Friday Aug 26, 2016
May knowing that your loved one is at peace be a comfort to you now and in the days ahead. Wirh deepest sympathey, Tim & Yvonne Ritchie.
Tim & Yvonne Ritchie - (Santo, Vanuatu)
Friday Aug 26, 2016
I must have been so close to Captain Euart on many occasions whilst diving the Coolidge. His sacrifice to return and rescue men from a sinking ship is remarkable. He put the lives of his men before his own safety. Captain Euart is now home after so many years. His family should be very proud. My kindest regards. jc
John Carroll - (Port Macquarie NSW Australia)
Friday Aug 26, 2016
It was a privilege to be diving the Coolidge the day the US Navy recovered Captain Euarts remains.He was quite the Hero.May He rest in Peace.
Darryl Jamieson - (queensland Australia)
Friday Aug 26, 2016
I offer my late condolences to all the Captain Euart families. I dived on the President Coolidge last year and have been almost consumed with the history. I am a Marine Engineer and very interested in all vessels. I was also in the Australian Army which makes it important that j send you my deep admiration for Captain Euart. God Bless him and his families. RIP Captain Euart.
Bruce Wiltshire - (Perth, Western Australia.)
Friday Aug 26, 2016
What an honorable man you are celebrating the life of. I am so happy for the opportunity you have to do this.. My daddy Julius Plato Martin was on the SS President Coolidge with him when it sunk. He had so much respect for your relative and told the story many times. In honor of Captain Elwood Joseph Euart, I salute you.
Amy Martin Briggs - (Taylorsville Nc 28681)
Friday Aug 26, 2016
My daughter Krista and her husband Carl are serving in the Peace Corp for two years in the Republic of Vanuatu in the South Pacific. They have been there 7 months now and they teach English at a small school. Vanuatu consists of many islands but they are living on Espiritu Santo that is the largest and in a rural section of the city of Luganville. Recently, we sent them a "care package." We included many things they requested plus a Zero Water filtration water dispenser, which was the big item that started the idea. They had told me they needed to boil water at their house before drinking.
Next, I must tell you that we included two American Flags. Carl had asked me to include a flag during one of our Viber Internet phone calls. No reason in particular except they just thought it would be nice to put a flag on their wall in their cozy little house they had just moved into that week. With that being said, we went to Hobby Lobby to gather a number of items to put into the shipment. We just happened to find a package of 2 American Flags. They were about 2' x 3' in size and it was a good deal buying the package of 2 so we got it and threw it into the boxed shipment.
And now to the real story. They received the box in about two weeks time. That was about a week ago. Two days later Krista and Carl were walking home one afternoon and a man approached them and inquired if they were not the two American Peace Corp members. They said they were! The man asked, "Do you happen to have an American Flag?" Of course, they said, "yes we do!" He went on to tell them about Captain Elwood Euart who died October 26, 1942 off the shores of Luganville and very near to the beaches that are next to their house. Of course, anyone who is reading this site knows the story of Captain Euart is both heroic and inspirational. However, after appreciating Captain Euart's story and the sinking of the SS Coolidge, you will appreciate the story of the flag even more.
In essence, the island elders had organized a memorial for Captain Euart to be held this weekend concurrent with the burial in Rhode Island. Back in Vanuatu, the elders of Espiritu Santo have asked Krista and Carl to attend and participate in the memorial they will be conducting and of course, for them to bring the flag.
We feel fortunate to have had this serendipitous connection to the memory of Captain Euart and send our respects to his surviving nephews, nieces and other family.
William Rayl, Bermuda Dunes, CA
William Rayl - (Bermuda Dunes, CA)
Friday Aug 26, 2016
Welcome home, Captain Euart.
My sincere sympathy to his nieces and nephews and their families and my sincere gratitude for
the ultimate sacrifice Captain Euart made to preserve our freedom.
Rest in Peace, oh good and faithful servant.
Shirley Moon Lemay - (Pawtucket RI)
Saturday Aug 27, 2016
As one of Captain Euarts nieces, I wish to thank all who are honoring his memory. I am so proud and so grateful that he is coming Home! Elizabeth
elizabeth a badger - (morrisonville)
Saturday Aug 27, 2016
I'm reminded of what is said in the Bible.
"Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends."
Captain Elwood Joseph Euart had that love, and we are all in a better place because of folks like him.
My thoughts and sympathy with his family and
May God Bless, Captain Euart.
Bertrand Choiniere - (Rumford, R.I.)
Saturday Aug 27, 2016
Uncle Elwood has been an inspiration to our family for decades. Today the Atlanta branch of the family was able to witness the plane side ceremony conducted by the Delta Airlines Honor Guard as Elwood's flag-draped coffin was placed in the plane headed to RI and to The Keefe Funeral Home. Thank you for taking care of him...we will be in RI next week.
Linda Euart Kelleher - (Atlanta, Georgia)
Sunday Aug 28, 2016
Thank You Sir, to You and to Your Family Survivors for Your Service and Your Sacrifice. I often visited the Euart Post over the years, both in a personal and in an official capacity. I now know of Your History, Allegiance,and Commitment to Your Country. May you finally Rest in Peace. A Humbled Veteran
Richard Fugere - (Lincoln, RI)
Sunday Aug 28, 2016
My deepest sympathy. I was a good friend and
neighbor to his sister Monica. Baby sat her boys.
Much love to John/
Eleanor Fry Lynch - (North Smithfield, R. I.)
Sunday Aug 28, 2016
My condolences to the entire Euart Family...hopefully, you will all have peace knowing that CPT Euart is finally home after all these years and will receive a proper burial...as a former member of the 103d, I often heard of Elwood's heroic actions...he saved many lives by his actions and was willing to pay the ultimate price so others may have lived...his actions embody that of a true hero...RIP...
Major General (Retired) Jim Nuttall (former Commander, 103d FA Brigade - (Stewartstown, NH)
Sunday Aug 28, 2016
My thoughts are with the Euart family. Your uncle's courage, bravery, selflessness and commitment to all that is good in this world is beyond words. To Woody, Elizabeth, Paul and Charlie, I know you are so proud. I honor your uncle and am a part of a grateful nation. He is home. Elaine
Elaine Osborne - (Pawtucket, RI)
Sunday Aug 28, 2016
After visiting the wreck of SS Coolidge I learned about the heroic deeds of Captain Euart from Peter Stone's "The Lady and the President". I hope the consideration of his heroism brings some comfort to his descendants on this day.
Breno Pannia Esposito - (Sao Paulo, Brazil)
Monday Aug 29, 2016
As one of Elwwod's nephews, I am truly overwhelmed by his coming back to Pawtucket to be with his family again.We owe so much to the divers who found him and we are moved to tears with happiness at his coming home. We know that he is with all of our parents and our cousin, but it is with great pride and respect that we bring his physical remains back to be with his parents again. Thank you to all who had a part in this.
Paul Vallee - (Bethel VT)
Tuesday Aug 30, 2016
What an inspirational story ... of Captain Euart's selflzess heroism, and of the full circle of finding his remains and returning him home to Pawtucket for the hero's burial he deserves. My condolences to all his family. May all now find peace and closure.
Elinor Nacheman - (Pawtucket, RI)
Tuesday Aug 30, 2016
Griffith Observatory's first director, Army reservist Col. Dinsmore Alter, was called into active duty in April 1942, and became the Troop Safety Officer on board the U.S.S. President Coolidge. The online documents regarding the sinking mention that the ship's Captain ordered Alter to the upper deck to assist troop departure during the "abandon ship" order. He went on to serve the rest of the war on the USAT George Washington, and returned to direct the Observatory from 1946-1958, then helped with some of the geological training for the Apollo moon missions before he died in 1968. I'm sure that Dr. Alter appreciated the heroism, as we all do now, displayed by Captain Elwood Joseph Euart, and today would have been gladdened by Captain Euart's return home.
Anthony Cook-Astronomical Observer - (Griffith Observatory, Los Angeles, California)
Thursday Sep 01, 2016
Good to see you made it home. Thank you for your service to this country. Thank you for saving the lives of your crew. You are truly a hero. Although you went home to the Lord already, you can now rest in peace where you belong. My deepest sympathies to the entire family. God Bless.
Bob G - (N Providence RI)
Friday Sep 02, 2016
Captain Elwood Joseph Euart Family - Such an honor to read this story and know the character of such a special man! Truly a gift from GOD. Love, The Gagne Family xo
Lori-Ann Gagne - (Pawtucket, RI)
Keefe Funeral Home
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Telephone 401-725-4253
Thomas H. Keefe, Registered Funeral Director
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