Hometown Heroes
Private Jean E. Dufault, U.S. Army (1925-1945)
By Michael Rocchetti
It was on the cold, wet, dreary morning of Feb. 25 1945, when an infantry company of about 200 U.S. Army soldiers entered the small town of Mettendorf in the Rhineland-Palatinate region of western Germany (near the border with Luxembourg). After clearing enemy resistance from the north side of town, the company moved on and marched 9 miles to a little village named Koosbusch. From there, they were directed to hold a defensive position and wait for further orders. According to Company C’s next morning report, Private Jean Dufault was seriously wounded in action that previous day. He was promptly evacuated to a field hospital where it was noted that he died that same day from a gunshot wound.
Private Jean Dufault was a U.S. Army Private in Company C, 1st Battalion, 317th Infantry Regiment, of the 80th “Blue Ridge” Infantry Division. He entered the Army in March 25 1944, and was overseas for six weeks prior to his fatal gunshot wound. Jean Edward Dufault was born Nov. 12, 1925 in Putnam, the son of Napoleon Dufault and Josephine Favreau. He was survived by a brother and three sisters. He is buried at St Mary’s Cemetery in Putnam. The following article was published in the local newspaper: Putnam Patriot, March 15, 1945.
“PVT. J. E. DUFAULT DIES IN GERMANY
Friends and relatives are invited to attend a military requiem high Mass Saturday morning at 9:00 o’ clock in St. Mary’s church for Pvt. Jean E. Dufault, 19, son of Mr. and Mrs. Napoleon Dufault of 33 Harrison Street. The soldier, according to a War Department telegram received last Friday by his parents, died of wounds received in action in Germany on February 25th.
He was a graduate of Putnam High School and attended Bryant Stratton Business College in Providence, R. I., for six months prior to his entrance into the service. He graduated from P.H.S. in 1943 and entered the service in March of 1944. He had served overseas six weeks prior to his fatal wounds. Besides his parents he leaves a brother, Pfc. Paul A. Dufault, serving with the U. S. Army somewhere in France; and three sisters, Misses Elizabeth and Edna Dufault and Mrs. Pauline Labossiere of 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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