Oral History of the Perez-Cruet Family

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The oral history of my father's family, said to have been handed down from generation to generation, was abruptly cut off when my father, Hiram Jose Perez-Cruet, died as a result of military service in Europe during World War II.

Since I was less than a year old when he died, and never got to hear those stories for myself, the only information I have is that which was told by my father to my mother before he died, and of course, that was always somewhat sketchy.

My father was a private in the US Army, training for the invasion of Europe in the piney woods of North Louisiana, when he met and married my mother, Betty Jo Box-Dempsey, who lived in nearby Winnfield, La. Like many others, they soon fell in love and were married on November 9, 1942, shortly before he shipped out for Tunisia in North Africa.

In Africa, my father served with the 64th Signal Battalion under command of the famous General Patton, and later took part in the invasions of both Sicily and Italy. Temporarly attached to the famous 36th Infantry Division, he took part in the heavy fighting for Monte Cassino and contracted malaria in the Po Valley (photo). Later, he was personally decorated by General Mark Clark for service to the United States at Salerno, Anzio, Naples/Foggia and Rome.

From what I can gather, my father when asked why he, unlike most Spaniards, did not practice the Catholic religion, told my mother that his family was descended from what he called "Israelites," ancient Jews who had immigrated to the Iberian Peninsula (Spain) hundreds of years before the establishment of the Spanish empire. According to my mother, he often criticized the Catholic Church for practicing what he called "organized ignorance."

His ancestors, he said, were of an ancient faith and had secretly become Freemasons long before the Inquisition. They practiced Roman Catholicism in public, he told her, only for the sake of business and to escape persecution. Some members of the family, he said, had even became Catholic priests. At least one such priest, he said, was believed to have accompanied Christopher Columbus on his voyages to the "New World." (See Juan Perez)

Six years after my father's death, my mother, who had remarried, finally told me that I the man I called Daddy was not my real father, and how my father had died five years earlier. His only legacy was the Masonic ring he was wearing when he died, his GI dog tags and hat, a few ancient Roman coins dug from Italian foxholes and a handful of old family photos.

Years later, after a search of Church and Masonic records, I was able to learn that, indeed, both my father and grandfather were enthusiastic Masons all of their lives. One newspaper report from 1956 states that shortly before his death my grandfather, Jose Maria Perez-Vicente, was the oldest 32nd degree Mason still living on the island of Puerto Rico.

Coincidentally, several members of my mother's family were also Masons. The Masonic Temple in Jena, Louisiana, established in the 1880's was named in honor of my maternal great-great grandfather, Captain Michael Dempsey, who was born in Queen's County, Ireland, and emigrated to Louisiana in the late 1830's.

I am currently planning a visit to La Guardia (A Guarda) in northwestern Spain, the birthplace of my grandfather Jose Maria Perez-Vicente, during Summer 2009. While there, I plan to continue my research at several local churches and government offices in the area. Interestingly, while studying maps on Google Earth I discovered that about 8-10 miles north of La Guardia (A Guarda) is a small town named Os Perez, which may have some connection with my grandfather's family.

From what I know now, Jose Maria Perez-Vicente was born August 19, 1876, at or near La Guardia (A Guarda), in the province of Pontevedra, Galicia, Spain. He, like many members of the Perez family, joined the Spanish military. An old photograph indicates he served as an officer during the Spanish American War of 1898. He also had several brothers who very likely served in the Spanish military. One of them, probably his older brother, was named Antonio.

Soon after the Spanish-American War, Jose Maria Perez-Vicente, as well as several of his brothers, immigrated and settled in Puerto Rico. Jose Maria soon married a local woman named Felisa Saunion and from this union came three sons: Antonio Perez-Saunion, Rafael Perez-Saunion (1911-1978) and Diego Perez-Saunion.

After the death of his first wife Felisa Saunion, Jose Maria Perez-Vicente married Emelia Cruet-Burgos, daughter of Don Cristobal Cruet of Barcelona, and had three more sons: Hiram Jose Perez-Cruet (my father), Hector Perez-Cruet, and Jorge Perez-Cruet.

Unfortunately, I never met my grandfather and was still a child when he died in 1956. I was also unable to locate my grandmother for many years, and sadly, never spoke with her before her death in 1985.

The Cruets in Barcelona were said to be a prominent family of vintners and winemakers. Their family crest, with grape motif, is carved on the base of the famous monument to Columbus in downtown Barcelona.

The Cruets are believed to have been Catalones, but after much research, I now believe the name probably originated in the area around the village of Cruet (Cruez) in the Savoie region of France, 400 miles northeast of Barcelona. The Cruets are also thought to have had ancient Jewish roots.

If you have suggestions or any additional information, please contact: rick_perez@hotmail.com

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