By Ron P. Coderre 

In this week’s post-Veterans Day issue our RPC sporty shoutout is sent along to former Putnam resident Bernard “Benny” Auger.  Following his graduation from Putnam High School he joined the U.S. Air Force on August 10, 1959.  He received his Honorable Discharge in 1963 at the rank of Staff Sgt. – E5.

The membership of the Putnam Rotary Club Veterans Day program  Nov. 11 featured Thompson historian Joe Lindley.  The author of two books on Thompson individuals, Lindley previewed his latest work, “Forgotten Hero” that is currently at the publisher and readying for publication.

“Forgotten Hero” is the story of a Putnam resident, the late Calvin Heath.  In relating the details of Heath’s life, Lindley delved back to the young man’s past growing up in Putnam and took the audience through Heath’s military tour and later to his death in 2013.

Heath grew up in a large family in Putnam, which was unable to care adequately for its children forcing young Calvin and some of his siblings to be moved to foster parent situations.  Although young Calvin wasn’t a “bad” child, he didn’t particularly enjoy going to school.  As Lindley so explicitly details, Calvin left school at age 16 and shortly thereafter joined the U.S. Army.

Calvin’s entry into the military was at the most intense time of the war that was being waged in Vietnam.  The Reader’s Digest version of Heath’s story relates how his company, affectionately known as the “Clerks and Jerks” because they were assembled from a mélange of backgrounds, is ambushed by the Viet Cong.  In the ambush action Heath and members of his squad suffer severe wounds and are given up for dead.

Alive and wounded, Heath plays dead as the Viet Cong do everything but finish him off.  Following 24 hours removed from his main unit, he’s rescued and airlifted to a military hospital.  Eventually, Heath is discharged and due to poor record handling leaves the military under dishonorable conditions.

It isn’t until more than 30 years later, when members of his unit who are still alive come forward with the true details of the occurrences in the jungles of Vietnam.  Heath is finally awarded his due justice when he’s presented the Silver Star and Honorable Discharge.  But as Lindley so delicately relates, Heath suddenly is afflicted with a brain tumor, most likely from Agent Orange and in 2013 succumbs a “Forgotten Hero.”   

Lindley’s research efforts, which took him throughout the country interviewing the officers and men who served with Heath, is a truly heroic effort that is a labor of love for a man, Calvin Heath that Lindley befriended on the softball fields of Putnam.  The heart wrenching story is one that needs to be told and read.  Lindley’s depiction of Heath is one of a humble American hero who lived in our midst.  Calvin Heath, “Forgotten Hero” look for it on Amazon and in book stores soon.

Women’s College Hoops

The Assumption College women’s basketball team traveled across Worcester for an exhibition contest against Holy Cross Nov. 5.  The results weren’t the greatest for the NCAA Div. II Lady Greyhounds, who were beaten badly by coach Bill Gibbons’ Div. I Lady Crusaders. 

There was a Northeastern Connecticut connection in the game as one of the referees was Danielson resident Corey Pothier.  A member of the IAABO Eastern Board, Pothier has become recognized as one of the area’s premier women’s basketball officials.  Although he still does some high school contests, his schedule is pretty much filled with college games.

Lady Knights Wear The Crown

The Marianapolis girls’ soccer team, which posted a sparkling 18-3-1 record this fall, recently captured the championship of the Southeastern New England Prep School conference.  The Lady Knights secured the crown with a thrilling 1-0 shutout of second seeded Wheeler School.

Caroline Soucy, who has rattled the nets at an alarming rate this fall, scored the game winner in the first half and the Marianapolis defense did the rest.  The goal was Soucy’s 40th of the season and came on a long pass from Jenna Tetreault.  Freshman Jordan Desaulnier posted the shutout, her eight of the season.

Rookie of the Year

A tip of the RPC sports fedora to Eastern Connecticut State University freshman Emily Becher who was named the Little East Conference Rookie of the Year.  Becher, a former Woodstock Academy soccer standout, who hails from Brooklyn, finished the season for the Lady Warriors as the team’s leading scorer with 17 goals.  She had an unbelievable finish to the season, scoring a goal in each of the last seven games played by ECSU. 

Caddy Draws Attention 

at Raceway Golf Club

The Raceway Golf Club in Thompson is known for its year-end tournaments, the Turkey Shoot and Snow Flake.  Throughout the season the course also hosts a number of skins games that have a huge following from throughout Southern New England.

The Nov. 5 skins game was graced by a gentleman from Southbury who drew the attention of the golfers involved in the competition.  Joe LaCava created quite a stir with his presence in Thompson.  LaCava is a caddy on the PGA Tour and is currently carrying the bag for Tiger Woods.  In his career as a caddy, LaCava has toted the leather for such notables as Freddie Couples, Davis Love III, Justin Leonard and Dustin Johnson.  Caddying for Woods has brought him the most notoriety.  I wonder why?

Former Clipper in College Ranks

The local college hoop preseason previews recently hit the wires and a former Putnam High School Lady Clipper made the news.  Cynthia Briere is listed on the Anna Maria College roster as a freshman forward and promising newcomer.  She joins coach Kevin Bigelow’s team, which last season posted an 11-14 record, the best in recent years for the AmCats.  According to the prognostications, the team showcases four returning starters and welcomes four new student athletes to the roster.  Briere is among the crop of newcomers.  Anna Maria, located in Paxton, Mass., is an NCAA Div. III school that plays in the GNAC.

Basketball Legend Spotted at XL Center

The newly renovated XL Center in Hartford, which was recently spruced up to the tune of more than $35 million, hosted the National Champion UConn Huskies against the visiting Div. II Assumption College Greyhounds.  The game was played Nov. 9.

As usual, when the Huskies play there were a number of celebrities in the audience, including Pomfret’s Jim Calhoun, who was seated on press row with UConn Athletic Director Warde Manuel.  Also on hand was the legendary Donald “Dee” Rowe, one of college basketball’s true gentlemen.  

Rowe was the long-time successful basketball coach at Worcester Academy.  He was lured to Storrs where he served as the Huskies basketball coach from 1969 to 1977 before assuming the position of assistant athletic director for Development.  He’s been called the link between the Husky teams of the 1940s and today’s teams.

We enjoyed the opportunity to chat with Rowe prior to the game.  As usual whenever we meet, he always asks about Putnam because he has a warm spot for our town, having graced a number of speaking engagements here.  He talked about his fight with cancer, which has affected the nerve endings in his right eye.  But to quote Rowe, “I feel much better than what I look.”  Always positive, even at age 85, he continues in his love for the game, which all started for him in his hometown of Worcester at the Boys & Girls Club.

Also spotted in the crowd of more than 8,000 was former Putnam High School Principal Nelson “Buzz” King, a local legend in his own right.  Also on hand was Joe Carlone, president of Linemaster Switch, and Tim Connolly, former Norwich Bulletin writer, current public relations person for the Worcester County District Attorney and a former Assumption College player.

Following the game, at an Assumption College reception we met former Woodstock resident Geoffrey Kromer, who is an Assumption graduate working in guidance in the Dracutt, Mass., school system.

By the way, the final score – UConn 68 – Assumption 59.  A moral victory for the Greyhounds.

RPC’s Closing thought For the Day: Belated Happy Birthday for former Putnam and Connecticut First Lady Mary Dempsey.  On Veterans Day she celebrated birthday number 96.

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