caption:

 

 

Clockwise from top left: Honorees Armand Jolly and Bob Clemens share a moment together following the ceremony honoring them for their service in WWII. Volunteer Liz Zachow of CorePlus Credit Union displays a baseball signed by Johnny Damon as Post #13 auctioneer Ron Coderre and Mike Vassar prepare for bids. Celebrity bartenders ( l to r) Putnam Bank President Tom Borner, Dick Loomis, Channel 3 WFSB news reporter Kevin Hogan, Brandi Hapgood and John Miller raised $1200 in support of Post #13. Former Red Sox catcher Roger LaFrancois, a celebrity bartender, autographs a baseball.

 

 

Salute to vets

By Ron P. Coderre

PUTNAM — Veterans Day arrived a day early for two northeastern Connecticut WWII veterans as they were recognized for their military service by American Legion Post #13 Nov. 10 in a ceremony held at J. D. Cooper’s Restaurant.

The honorees were Putnam resident Robert F. Clemens and Pomfret resident Armand J. Jolly.  Clemens served in the U.S. Marine Corps and Jolly in the U.S. Navy.  Incidentally, though both men served in different branches of the service, they are lifelong friends.

Cpl. Robert F. Clemens, USMC

The Bob Clemens story began on Dec. 23, 1943, when he enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 18.  He left for basic training on Parris Island on Jan. 8, 1944.  Following advanced training at Camp Pendleton, California and Hawaii, Clemens was deployed to the Pacific island of Iwo Jima with the 5th Marine Division.

The invasion of Iwo Jima started on February 19, 1945, where his unit drew heavy fire.  As part of the Motor Transport group, Clemens and the equipment had trouble moving in the volcanic ash, so he was moved to the front lines.  His unit was involved in extended live fire forays with the enemy prior to the end of the battle, which lasted 37 days.

Clemens is rightfully proud of the fact that it was the Marines of the 5th Division who raised the flag on Mount Suribachi, a military moment that is part of American history.  Following the surrender of Japan, Clemens was part of the force that oversaw the “Occupation of Japan.”  He was in Nagasaki, where he saw firsthand the devastation wreaked by the atomic bomb.  He was honorably discharged with the rank of Corporal on Aug. 5, 1946.

Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class Armand J. Jolly

Shortly after the Japanese attack on Pearl Harbor, 20-year-old Armand Jolly enlisted in the U. S. Navy.  In 1942 he joined the newly launched USS Emmons 457, a destroyer that was later converted to a minesweeper, which was involved in many of the U.S. invasions including the beachhead at Normandy on D-Day.

Off the coast of Okinawa the Emmons was hit by five Japanese kamikaze aircraft, where he ran to man his anti-aircraft gun.  As the battle ensued the men were ordered to abandon ship.  Jolly jumped into the water, which was ablaze.  He was rescued, suffering burns to his face and arms, injuries that earned him a Purple Heart.

Of the crew of 242 men, 60 died and 77 were injured.  Jolly was later discharged with the rank of Gunner’s Mate 3rd Class.  Today he serves as the president of the USS Emmons Association.  The story of the Emmons has been told on the History Channel and in a book titled “The Emmons Saga.”

Salute to the Veterans

As part of the salute to Clemens and Jolly and all the men and women who have served in the U.S. military, Air Force veteran Maurice “Moe” Coderre opened the program with a stirring rendition of The National Anthem.  Linda Colangelo saluted the veterans with an emotional version of God Bless the USA.  The evening concluded with a salute to all veterans present with the singing of the songs of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, Air Force and Coast Guard by Colangelo.