Hometown Heroes
T/Sgt Eugene A. Rayno U.S. Army (1921-1944)
By Michael Rocchetti
A month after their successful execution of the largest amphibious assault in the history of armed conflict, the Allies were bogged down. The Normandy area of France, just inland from the D-Day invasion beaches, was mainly agricultural, and the farm fields and roads in that area were delineated and bordered with hedgerows (or Bocage). These were ancient mounds of rocks and dirt, overgrown with trees, hedges and vines. Allied war planners didn’t realize how formidable these hedgerows would be. They were big enough to conceal Nazi troop formations and armor. The Nazis used these hedgerows to their advantage to ambush Allied forces moving on the roads. The Allies needed to break out of this hedgerow country but one of the towns they had to go through was La Haye Du Puits - a vital road junction. Eugene Rayno’s 314th Regiment was ordered to capture the town. There was no rest for these weary troops. They had just endured several weeks of brutal combat while capturing the port city of Cherbourg on the Cotentin Peninsula. The battle for La Haye Du Puits would be more of the same. It began on July 3 and by the end of the day, the 314th managed to fight their way along the hedgerows to a little village called Bolleville – about a mile NW of La Haye Du Puits. The next day, a cold, wet 4th of July, they reinforced their position here in heavy fighting, while preparing to attack La Haye Du Puits. Sadly, it was here at Bolleville, on July 4th 1944 that Eugene Rayno was killed in action.
Tech Sergeant Eugene A. Rayno served with the U.S. Army’s 314th Infantry Regiment, 79th Infantry Division. Nicknamed the “Cross of Lorraine Division”, the 79th ID was mainly from Maryland. His unit landed at Utah Beach in Normandy France on the 14th of June 1944, and he fought continuously until his death 20 days later on July 4th 1944. He was 22 years old. He is buried at Plot F, Row 18, Grave 7 at the Normandy American Cemetery at Colleville-sur-Mer France. He left behind a wife Jeannette (Brown) Rayno, and a young daughter in Putnam.
The following article was published in the Windham County Observer, on August 2, 1944: Sgt. Eugene Rayno - Killed In Action During Invasion. Putnam Hero Makes Supreme Sacrifice. With US Troops Battling Through Normandy To Liberate France: S. Sgt. Eugene Rayno, 22, husband of Mrs. Jeannette B. Rayno of Park Street, was killed in action July 4 in France, according to a telegram received from the War Department this week by his wife. He had been in the Army since February, 1941, when Headquarters Company of the 43rd division was activated. He was first stationed at Camp Blanding, Fla., and was transferred from the 43rd Division before it went to the South Pacific and sent to various camps in this country. Three months ago he was sent to England and went into France for the invasion. In addition to his wife, he is survived by a four-year-old daughter, his father, Eugene Rayno of Lincoln Street, one sister, Mrs. Thelma R Jarvis and his grandmother, Mrs. Joseph Rayno.
Windham County Observer, August 09, 1944: “Tribute Paid Memory Of Sgt. Eugene Rayno: The following tribute to the memory of Staff Sgt. Eugene A. Rayno, killed in action, is paid by an Observer reader, and is self-explanatory. It reads: ‘It was with shock and great sorrow in many communities when it was learned of the death of Staff Sgt. Eugene A. Rayno, who was killed in action during the Invasion of France on the 4th of July, this year. He was an only son of Eugene and Mabel Caffrey Rayno of Putnam and Boston. We wish to express our heartfelt sympathy to all the members of the family in this hour of great sorrow by the loss of their dear one. And especially his grandmother, Mrs Nancy Caffrey, who loved him dearly. Also his uncle, John P. Caffrey, both of 98 Van den Noort Street, Putnam, with whom Staff Sgt. Rayno, with his sister “Tillie” Thelma Rayno Jarvis, have made their home since birth up until he went into the Army. He attended the Catholic school, St. Mary’s, and growing up among his playmates, made hosts of friends. His cheerful disposition, youthful smiling face will long live in the memories of all who knew him. He was among the first to enlist and go when war was declared. Ever very happy and proud of his uniform, and of being one soldier boy doing his bit for his country. This is the second time the ghastly war has taken its toll among the family circle. The other, Charles Brown, a fine young man and a relative of Eugene Jr., was also an only son of Thomas and the late Minnie Thompson Brown of Storrs. After being hospitalized through the winter of 1943 in recovering from wounds already received in action, Charles bravely went into battle again when he lost his life during the invasion of Italy in early spring of this year. So let us pray that it was not in vain and they both have reaped their great reward in helping to hasten this war nearer to victory, and to the end forever, that this may be a better world to live in.’”
The Putnam Patriot, May 24, 1945: “Smart, Neat, Brave, Fearless, Said Of Late “Peenie” Rayno. In some measure a most consoling and comforting letter from a “buddy” of the late T-Sgt. Eugene A. Rayno, who was killed in action in France on July 4, 1944, has been received by his wife, who together with a youthful daughter, his parents Mr. and Mrs. Eugene Rayno of Lincoln street, two grandmothers and a sister, Mrs. Thelma Jarvais survive the respected soldier, according to the communication from Lieut. Arch B. Hoge Jr. The letter said in part: “It’s been a long time since the War Dept., has informed you that your husband, T/Sgt. Eugene A. Rayno Jr., was killed in action in France on July 4, 1944, and I’ve been intending to write to you for some time but due to certain reasons I couldn’t. I am forwarding this letter to you through channels in the hope that it gets to you. Why “Peenie” had to go and others of us remain is a question we can’t answer. Peenie was my Platoon Sergeant in the 3rd platoon when I first joined B Company in the summer of 1942. As a brand new officer I needed someone to trust and help me, and Peenie was my right hand. Later on he went to the 2nd Platoon and I went to the 4th. He was everything you could ask of a soldier: smart, neat, and lots of guts, never afraid of anything. Peenie died in my arms. I’m not a Catholic, but I tried to do what I thought he’d want done. I placed his crucifix to his lips, covered him with a raincoat and put some flowers on him. He was buried in a military cemetery in Northern France. A Chaplain of his faith officiated at the burial services. Please express my deepest sympathy to Peenie’s parents.”
Hometown Heroes books can be purchased online at: https://hometown-heroes-of-the-quiet-corner.myshopify.com/ - all proceeds benefit the local American Legion Post. 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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