Hometown Heroes of WWII
Cormier: Awarded Bronze Star Medal
By Michael Rocchetti
Louis Cormier (1918-1997) was born Dec. 5, 1918, in Springfield, Mass., the son of Mr. and Mrs. William Cormier. He had an older brother and two older sisters.
The Cormier’s relocated to Putnam sometime around 1932. Louis Cormier, married with an infant son, was working at a Willimantic defense plant when he was drafted into the Army in August 1944. By early January 1945 he was over in Europe, fighting in Germany, assigned to Company M, 331st Infantry Regiment, 83rd Infantry Division.
He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for heroic achievement in combat. According to his award citation: “Sgt. Cormier distinguished himself during military operations against the enemy on April 12, 1945 near Heimburg, Germany. Despite great numerical opposition as well as intense mortar and machine gun fire, Sgt. Cormier led his squadron in holding off an attack until help arrived. His devotion to duty and courageous leadership merit the highest praise and truly uphold the finest traditions of the military service”.
After action reports indicate that his unit was engaged in combat against a strongly fortified group of fanatical Nazi SS soldiers who were defending the town of Heimburg, in the Harz Mountains of northern Germany. After the war, he returned to Putnam where he opened a Texaco Gas Station and auto repair business. He eventually expanded the business into a successful Chrysler/Plymouth car dealership. He was married to Eva (Marion) Cormier. They had six children, one of whom, Albert L Cormier (1943-2023) also distinguished himself in combat as an Army Officer in Vietnam. Louis Cormier died in Putnam CT Dec. 5, 1997. He is buried at St Mary’s Cemetery in Putnam.
Hometown Heroes is a series published in the Putnam Town Crier & Northeast Ledger with this mission: We owe it to our Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Marines to make sure that they are never forgotten, and that the memory of their service and sacrifice will forever live on in the hearts and minds of the grateful people of Putnam.

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