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| This photo of 334th Infantry Regiment jeeps was taken 5 days after Pvt. LaPointe was killed. https://www.pinterest.com/bokphilsberry/us-_84th-infantry-division-railspliters-in-wwii/ |
Norman S. LaPointe never had a chance to reach 100 years old today. Instead, he sacrificed his life for our freedom.
He was born on April 30, 1917 in New York. His French speaking parents were also both born in New York. His father was a barber. Norman had two older sisters, two younger sisters and a younger brother. By 1940 Norman had completed an 8th grade education, had married his wife Sylvia, and was working as a stone quarry laborer. Norman and Sylvia had a son who was born in 1939.
Norman did not enlist in the army until April 8, 1944, meaning he was probably drafted.
Norman became a private in Company E, 2nd Battalion, 334th Infantry Regiment, 84th Infantry Division (The Railsplitters). The Railsplitters arrived in France in November 1944 and entered combat by mid-month. In December it helped push back the Germans in the Battle of the Bulge. During this advance the division captured the towns of Beffe and Devantave. It was while engaged in this fighting that Pvt. LaPointe was killed on January 5, 1945.
His remains were returned to be buried at St. Josephs Cemetery in Plainville, Ct. His son died in 1996. If his wife were still alive today, she would be 97 this year.
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!
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