Arlington County in Virginia, USA is arguably best known as the home of Arlington National Cemetery (ANC). It’s an impressive 639-acre landscape dotted with thousands of uniformly spaced, low rise tombstones, set firmly amidst centuries-old trees. They mark the final resting place of 14,000 veterans of war, some dating back to the American Civil War.
Members of Casket Teams and Escort Platoons are commonly seen on buses and trains on their way to or from one of the 24 funeral services that are held each weekday for new “conscripts” into the hallowed grounds of the ANC
My walks to and from work during the Spring, Summer, and Fall months, would take me past the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Wall on the National Mall, the ANC and the sprawling Pentagon complex. Invariably, during my commute, my thoughts would drift to Saint Lucians who served in the U.S. Military. I’d readily recall my deceased cousin, Anselm George, but struggled to remember others.
One day, as was my wont during my walks, I was rummaging through Facebook, when I spotted a post by my dear friend of longstanding, Augustus “Gus” Small sharing positive news about his health and thanking his God for favouring him with the strength to “fight on.” Gus would often use military jargon when encouraging others who shared their personal struggles on the platform. It was then that I remembered his association with the U.S Military.
This poignant coincidence came to mind when I learned of Gus’s passing about a month ago.
Gus’s life was defined by extraordinary courage, resilience, and unwavering dedication to his God, his family, his country and his people. Well before he first donned his battle fatigues, as a proud member of the U.S military, Gus had already “decorated” himself as a man of honour and commitment who always put others first. His time in service taught him what it meant to be a true warrior, who faced adversity head-on and never backed down. General George S. Patton once said, “Courage is fear holding on a minute longer.” This was the essence of Gus Small– a man who, even in his toughest skirmishes, battles, and full-blown war with cancer, never faltered.
Gus understood that the true measure of bravery is not simply facing an enemy but also standing strong in the face of the unknown, the uncertain, and the deeply personal. Those who knew him from his days in military service remember him as a steadfast soldier who always exhibited a steely calm under pressure, and served as a source of strength for those around him.
At the risk of being accused of flirting with hyperbole, I assert that in my book, Gus’s courageous battle with that silent, unseen, enemy (cancer) is worthy of the “Medal of Honour.” I’m aware that it’s an award that’s rarely given and only to those who “…distinguish themselves through conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of above and beyond the call of duty.” Gus’s wife Joan and his children would attest to the many times he repelled the forces of cancer that were assaulting him, long enough to go to work to advance the education of hundreds of students at Monroe College, where he served as Dean of Administration.
This is potent proof that Gus did not allow his long and arduous battle with cancer to define him. He fought it with the same indomitable spirit he had shown when in uniform. He reminded us that true courage is found in how we face our most personal struggles, and how we choose to continue, no matter what the odds are. Gus’s strength wasn’t only in his physical endurance, but in his ability to lift others up, even when facing his own hardships. He lived by the belief that “a soldier’s duty is not only to fight but to stand by his comrades, no matter the cost.” And he did just that. Every step of that fight mirrored the courage he showed in his service, as he faced his illness with resolve and determination. By openly sharing details of his battles, he inspired countless other “soldiers” waging their own battles with the irrepressible disease.
As a devout Christian, Gus would have been comforted by biblical assurances that physical death is but a doorway to complete healing and triumph, leaving behind all sorrow, pain and mortal limitations. He would have happily embraced the promise that the healing that eluded him in life is assured whenever he is “called up yonder” to join countless others who have served humanity with pride and dedication.
Among them will be his “brother-by-another-mother,” fellow “Beatnik” and author of “Negmawon” Micheal Aubertin. I got to know Gus and Mikey in the early 1960s, when we all lived ‘under the influence’ of Grass Street. Time. They were practicably inseparable. Their early careers followed the same paths, as they were both teachers for a spell. Whenever they were not in a classroom, they could be heard practicing the songs by the Everly Brothers, and Simon and Garfunkel and the Beatles from Aubertin’s home across the river. Gus was one of the first people in our area to wear a turtleneck.
Gus will be remembered for his generosity of spirit and for the strength he showed in every battle he fought. He has shown us all what it means to be truly courageous, and for that, we will carry his memory with us, always. He has left an imposing legacy, marked not by defeat but by honor, courage, and sacrifice.
Augustus “Gus” Small fought the good fight. He finished the race. He kept the faith.
May the Good Lord grant him eternal rest. May He allow His Perpetual Light to shine upon him and may He grant him peace.