Hometown Heroes of WWII
Bachand: Awarded Bronze Star Medal
By Michael Rocchetti
Paul Gerard Bachand (1918-1995) was a U.S. Navy Chief Quartermaster who served on the bridge of one of the most highly decorated warships in US Navy history - the Destroyer USS Maury (DD-401). His duties included standing watch, assisting the Officer of the Deck, assisting the Navigator, and serving as helmsman for the ship.
He was awarded the Bronze Star Medal from Vice Admiral M. A. Mitscher USN, for meritorious service as a member of the crew of the USS Maury. The accompanying citation reads in part: “For distinguishing himself by meritorious service in connection with operations against the enemy during the period 7 June 1944 to 6 August 1944 while serving as assistant navigator on a destroyer. Through his ability and tireless readiness to assist in maintaining the positions of friendly and enemy forces and aiding in obtaining the ship’s position, to sink three light Japanese cruisers in enemy occupied areas in the Marianas and Bonins, he contributed materially to the ability of his ship to successfully carry out its missions. His conduct and effort were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.” Bachand enlisted in the Navy in 1936, and served the duration of WWII, seeing action in most every major naval battle of the war in the Pacific – beginning with Pearl Harbor. His ship, the USS Maury had one of the most impressive records of the Pacific war. The ship was credited with sinking or helping to sink three light Japanese cruisers, 10 destroyers and one patrol vessel as well as shooting down 10 enemy planes. The USS Maury received 16 battle stars and the Presidential Unit Citation for World War II service.
Paul Gerard Rolland Bachand was born in Central Falls, R.I., on Feb. 5, 1918, the son of French Canadian immigrants Alfred Bachand and Noemi (Coderre) Bachand. Paul’s brother Jean M Bachand was a well-known city court judge in Putnam. Paul Bachand joined the Navy in 1936, shortly after graduating from Windham High School in Willimantic. He was married to Lillian Pollard. They had two children. He died Feb. 17, 1995 in Worcester, and is buried at Worcester County Memorial Park.
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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