 |
| Lt. Raymond Beaudoin served in the 30th Infantry Division. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/8201943/raymond-ovila-beaudoin http://www.indianamilitary.org/30TH/UnUsedItems/Unused.htm |
Raymond O. Beaudoin never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on July 15, 1918 in Massachusetts. His parents William and Emma were also both born in Massachusetts. Three of his grandparents were born in Canada. His father worked as a grocery proprietor. Raymond had an older sister, an older brother, and five younger brothers. By 1940 Raymond had completed eight years of schooling and was working as a salesman while living at home. He was also in the Massachusetts National Guard.
He enlisted in in the army on December 9, 1940. He served in the 30th Infantry Division. The 30th ID was one of the first divisions sent to Normandy to expand the beachheads in June 1944. Raymond began as a private but was promoted on a regular basis, becoming a second lieutenant in Company F, 2nd Battalion, 119th Infantry Regiment, 30th Infantry Division in a field promotion on December 7, 1944. Six days later he was award the Bronze Star. On March 6 he was promoted to first lieutenant.
On April 6, 1945 Lt. Beaudoin was leading his platoon across an open field near Hamelin, Germany. Too late to pull out, they were pinned down by entrenched Germans in a brick factory 60 yards to the left, another brick factory 40 years ahead, and a railroad embankment 90 yards to the right. The platoon dug in with Lt Beaudoin directing his men to fire effectively enough to suppress German fire that would have killed men caught in the open.
Defending their poor position, the Americans ran low on ammunition. Lt. Beaudoin sent three runners back to get help but each was cut down by snipers from the railroad embankment.
His Medal of Honor citation reads as follows:
"He then dug in himself at the most advanced position, where he kept up a steady fire, killing 6 hostile soldiers, and directing his men in inflicting heavy casualties on the numerically superior opposing force.
"Despite these defensive measures, however, the position of the platoon became more precarious, for the enemy had brought up strong reinforcements and was preparing a counterattack. Three men, sent back at intervals to obtain ammunition and reinforcements, were killed by sniper fire.
"To relieve his command from the desperate situation, Lieutenant Beaudoin decided to make a one-man attack on the most damaging enemy sniper nest 90 yards to the right flank, and thereby divert attention from the runner who would attempt to pierce the enemy's barrier of bullets and secure help.
"Crawling over the completely exposed ground, he relentlessly advanced, undeterred by eight rounds of bazooka fire which threw mud and stones over him or by rifle fire which ripped his uniform. Ten yards from the enemy position he stood up and charged.
"At point-blank range he shot and killed two occupants of the nest; a third, who tried to bayonet him, he overpowered and killed with the butt of his carbine; and the fourth adversary was cut down by the platoon's rifle fire as he attempted to flee.
"He continued his attack by running toward a dugout, but there he was struck and killed by a burst from a machinegun.
"By his intrepidity, great fighting skill, and supreme devotion to his responsibility for the well-being of his platoon, 1st Lt. Beaudoin single-handedly accomplished a mission that enabled a messenger to secure help which saved the stricken unit and made possible the decisive defeat of the German forces."
His grave is at Notre Dame Cemetery in South Hadley, Massachusetts.
Last year on this date I profiled Donald Laster, 46th Engineers. You can read about Donald here.
On behalf of the fallen, if you would like to see more people become aware of this project to honor the WW2 fallen, be sure to share with others on Twitter, Facebook, etc. Thanks for your interest!
I created this video to explain why I started this project: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vXt8QA481lY.
Please consider joining the public Facebook group to increase the exposure of this project. Go to: WW2 Fallen 100
No comments:
Post a Comment