Alcee Favaron, A Good Friend
by Clarence CrochetI want to share some facts about my friend Alcee.
He was a true American Hero. During World War II he was part of General George Patton's Tank Corps, which took part in many dangerous battles in North Africa and in Western Europe. His rank was Sergeant and as a tank commander, he was in charge of his tank and two other soldiers. He told me of the hard times experienced by himself and his men. For instance, he told me that bathing meant that he would use his helmet to hold the bath water!
Alcee with Ed Herringshaw
His stint in the Army gave many an example of the deprivation that he and his men endured. Example: "K rations" were meals issued for the corpsmen day after day. This meal was not a favorite of the military and was nicknamed "dog rations".
Alcee was seriously wounded twice—once while standing near his tank, shrapnel struck his leg and he spent a month in a British hospital. For this he received the first of his two Purple Heart medals, since his wounds were received in the line of duty. The second was most surely received for bravery in the line of duty as well. He was very, very proud of his military service and his medals and decorations; all earned during his tour in the Army. He had his awards mounted in a shadow box covered with glass. He was also awarded numerous other medals—two for marksmanship and others for the many theaters of war and campaigns in which he took part.
Alcee was raised on a farm in Grosse-Tete and was from a large family. I think he said that his family had 18 children in all. His father was in charge of the locks on Grosse Tete Bayou but he died relatively young. It was necessary that Alcee work hard as a juvenile in order to help support his many younger bothers and sisters. He completed the sixth grade but was needed to work at home on the family farm. He joined the Army at age 17 and worked toward becoming associated with the tanks and remained fascinated by them.
Alcee holding a pumpkin that he grew a couple of years ago.
After being discharged with Honors from the Army, Alcee returned to Baton Rouge and began working for the Ethyl Corporation in the Chlorine production section. This, of course, was a dangerous occupation and he told me that any infraction of the rules, however small, was an invitation to harm of one's personal health. After years of working in the lower echelon, he really wanted to be promoted but was held back by his lack of a high school diploma. A good friend urged him to try the GED test. This is the high school equivalency test, and achieving a passing grade on it made one eligible for a High School Diploma. He passed the test with ease and was promoted at the plant. He confided that the only reason he passed the rather complicated exams was that he had traveled widely in the service and gained much information that he would later use.
Alcee was a jovial man and capable of much light hearted talk. He loved to laugh-sometimes at himself. And he loved people. A consummate Bus Captain and host, he was much recruited locally and regionally for garden tours and
The oak tree in Alcee's front yard provided shade for many bus tours, and much lemonade was consumed under it. Alcee in his hat and his lady love, Miss Bessie in blue, serving treats to tour visitors.
was always a hit.
Alcee loved Bessie dearly. She was his childhood sweetheart and he often spoke of his beloved wife with great affection. He confided that he regretted his job at Ethyl kept him away from home a great deal of the day. He and Bessie were married when he was 18 and she 17 at Lakeland, Louisiana. Like many young people in war time, they were married while Alcee was home on leave and only his parents were present. They were married at night, rather unusual for that time; thanks to a very flexible Catholic priest. Alcee once told a friend "that was one of the best selling jobs he ever did."
Alcee was an excellent grower of daylilies and his garden was proof of this. His collection was very "up to date" and I would ask him if he had a certain cultivar. He usually answered that he was already growing that one!
He worked for several growers in the Baton Rouge area during line out month each year. Among them Rudy Pacas, Joe Goudeau and us. He liked to be busy all the time. He was working here for daylilies. I would worry that I really could not supply most of his "wish list." He did not want plants until the fall because he did not have room to plant new ones. He confided that he would dig his older ones to give to members of his family for their gardens, thus giving him space for new cultivars later.
This year, he called me and asked to "come over and till our beds." I agreed and his help was greatly appreciated. He was limited in what he could do and we were very careful not to let him haul anything nor to bend down while working. Tilling seemed to be a chore he enjoyed, maybe reminiscent of the machinery and the tanks. He loved working in a daylily garden and that is what he chose.
Alcee was a considerable credit to his country, his family, his daylily friends and daylily club. He will be sorely missed. We held him in the highest esteem.
Clarence and Beth CrochetAlcee passed away on Monday, November 22, 1999.
