Elmer David Gatch

Decorated World War II Veteran Dies

Elmer David “Jack” Gatch, 86, of Savannah, died Wednesday, May 4, 2011 at his residence after a long illness.

He was born in Sheldon, South Carolina, and was preceded in death by his parents, John Henry Gatch & Catherine Simmons Taylor, and a grandson, John Gatch.

He was a former member of the Eastern Heights Presbyterian Church, where he served as an Elder, until the church closed, and then attended Immanuel Baptist Church, and then Southside Baptist Church.

He was drafted on Feb. 13, 1944, and sent to Camp Walters in Texas for six months of training. Following a short leave, he boarded the Queen Elizabeth and headed for Scotland. Arriving in Scotland, he took a “cattle car” to England before boarding a troop ship to France. They arrived at Normandy several days after the D-Day invasion, he was dropped off in the water and having to make it to shore wearing backpacks weighing over 100 pounds. He encountered enemy fire as he began a long journey that would last nearly a year and take him through France, Belgium, Luxemborg and finally, Germany. He was assigned to guard a meeting attended by Gen. Patton and Gen. Eisenhower. He was at the Battle of the Bulge, which was fought in the winter of 1944 in Belgium. He eventually made it to Germany, where he ran reconnaissance missions, and on one such outing, operating alone in enemy territory, he killed nine German soldiers as he jumped from foxhole to foxhole. He later called in an airstrike on a number of German tanks. For his actions, he was awarded the Silver Star. He was in Germany in April of 1945 when the war ended. He took a troop ship back home and was waiting to be deployed to Japan, when the Far East conflict ended. He was awarded both the Silver Star, and the Bronze Star.

On October 10, 1944, Sgt Gatch was detailed as combat patrol leader in Company B, Ninth Infantry Regiment. Sgt Gatch threw a grenade into the enemy position killing the four occupants. He then immediately worked his way to the rear of the German outpost line to cut off any withdrawal that might be attempted. He intercepted three German reinforcements, and killed them. He was known as “Jumping Jack”, since Sgt Gatch did a lot of jumping around – from one Nazi fox hole to another pouring lead into the enemy. He was only 19, standing six feet, and Sgt Gatch made a practice of dashing into German positions with a rebel yell and cleaning out the occupants with a Tommy gun.

He received France’s Croix de Guerre with Bronze Star, in recognition of “exceptional services rendered during the operations of the liberation of France.

Jack was an avid fisherman, very devoted husband, father, who loved his family. He had formerly worked for Chatham Typewriter on Broughton St., and then Tucker Typewriter Company. Jack along with his wife, Catherine Quick Gatch opened Gatch Florist on 39th Street, and then later moved to the Derenne Shopping Center at 830 East Derenne Ave. The Florist was a family affair, with the children delivering flowers after school, and on the weekends for their parents.

He is survived by his wife, Catherine Quick Gatch, Savannah; Ga; 3 sons, Charles Donnie Gatch (Jackie), Rev. David Gatch, and Derrick Gatch, all of Savannah, Ga; 2 brothers, Herbert Gatch (Carolyn) of Hiawassee, Ga; and Wade Hampton Gatch, of Savannah, Ga; 11 grandchildren, David, Jr., Julie, Gary, Stephanie, Tammy, Ryan, Allyson, Ana, Joye, Brett, and Trey; great grandchildren, Brooks, Charles, Branden, Megg, Whitley, Courtney, Brittany, and Camden; great great grandchildren, Brooklynn.

Visitation: 6-8 p.m. Friday at the Fairhaven Funeral Home – Hubert C. Baker Chapel.

Funeral Services: 11 a.m. Saturday in the Hubert C. Baker Chapel, with Dr. Herbert Hubbard, and his son, Rev. David Gatch, officiating.

Interment will follow in Hillcrest Abbey Memorial Park.

Fairhaven Funeral Home – Hubert C. Baker Chapel

7415 Hodgson Memorial Drive

Savannah, Ga 31406