Hometown Heroes
Pvt. Vincent Leo McEvoy (1891-1961), Army Vet of WWI
By Michael Rocchetti
During its time, World War 1 was the deadliest conflict in human history. It was warfare at an industrial scale, where modern weaponry such as machine guns, wireless communications, accurate long range artillery and poison gas produced unprecedented casualties and destruction. This conflict was marked by its static nature - trench warfare, the brunt of which was borne by the soldiers in these trenches.
The U.S. entered this fray in 1917. Amongst those sent into the trenches was Vincent Leo McEvoy, a Putnam resident and now a U.S. Army Private. In fact, he was one of 318 men from Putnam who served during the war. His unit, the 42nd Infantry Division, was deployed to France in December of 1917 where it took up positions along a 20 mile front at the Luneville-Bacaratt sector of the Alsace-Lorraine region of France. In one of his earliest battles with the German Army, Private McEvoy was wounded in action - he was stabbed twice with a bayonet. Miraculously, he survived, and after treatment at a field hospital, returned to his unit.
Shortly thereafter, during the spring of 1918, the Germans initiated a major offensive in the Champagne region of France, centered on the city of Chateau-Thierry. The fighting in this area raged for several months. The 42nd Infantry Division was redeployed to Champagne to reinforce the French Army there. During this campaign, in July 1918 Private McEvoy was severely wounded in action. The Germans attacked his sector with mustard gas and chlorine gas. During this attack, Private McEvoy, overcome by the gas, fell into a trench and in the chaos and confusion, he was trampled upon, and received serious orthopedic injuries as well. One of his comrades saved his life by helping him don a gas mask - in so doing, his comrade lost a lung from exposure to the gas.
Private McEvoy was immediately sent to a field hospital with broken bones, skin burns, blindness, and severe respiratory damage. After two weeks he was sent to a U.S. Base Hospital in France, partially blind, and in a plaster cast from his hip to his shoulder. Later he was invalided back to the U.S. Initially he was sent to the Debarkation Hospital #2, Fox Hills (Staten Island) N.Y., then was sent to the Army Hospital at Fort McHenry, Baltimore, Md. He was finally discharged on June 13, 1919, after spending almost one year in various hospitals. He returned home to Putnam, 50 percent disabled.
Private McEvoy volunteered for raiding and patrol duty in “No Man’s Land” 26 times, and every time returned safely, except for minor scratches. He was cited for bravery and was awarded the coveted Croix de Guerre Medal by the French while in the hospital in France.
Vincent Leo McEvoy was born April 17, 1891, the son of Daniel McEvoy (born in Ireland), and Julienne Sansouci (born in Quebec). The family lived at 136 Church St. in Putnam. Prior to the war, Vincent McEvoy worked on the staff of the Bradley Theater, and then he worked as an “advance-agent” for the Ringling Brothers Circus and La Tena’s Circus. He enlisted in the Army June 6, 1917. He was assigned to Company G, 166th Infantry Regiment, 42nd Infantry “Rainbow” Division. In 1921, he was married to Lydia (Shaw) McEvoy (1901-1975), and they had one son Vincent James McEvoy (1923–2007), a WWII veteran and former Putnam Police Officer. Vincent L McEvoy was very engaged in civic activities in Putnam, as a member of the VFW, and as a volunteer firefighter. He was also a parishioner at Saint Mary’s Church in Putnam. He died Dec 17, 1961, in Newington.
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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Box truck will help the effort
Coffeehouse's Food Share is Feb. 5
By Linda Lemmon
Town Crier Editor
PUTNAM — The addition of a small box truck will improve logistics even more for the Danielson Veterans Coffeehouse’s Food Share.
Food Share organizer Bruce Hay said the truck was funded with a $5,000 grant from the Putnam Area Foundation. Instead of using a pickup truck and a trailer for food pickup, Hay said the truck, complete with a Tommy gate, will give him a better chance of picking up more. “I’d even be able to pick up pallets.” The box truck came from Midwest Food Bank New England. They were buying a larger truck.
The Food Share is set for Thursday, Feb. 5 at the farmers’ market pavilion off Kennedy Drive. It’s a drive-through and is open to anyone. Hay said he plans to open the line at 9:30 a.m.
He’s already gathered the items for the banana boxes. The usual items include popcorn, chips, sodas and drinks and candy and more. He said there will also be some frozen food available.
As per “tradition” the Connecticut Food Share and the Midwest truck will arrive at the pavilion in the morning and it’s then that Hay gets to see what foods will be available. He then quickly figures out what goes where and the volunteers get busy packing boxes and bags with the items.
Not knowing what’s available until the morning of, he said, “Makes it a challenge for me.”
He said when he made his run this week he got a sneak peek — “I wouldn’t be surprised if there was a pallet of sweet potatoes,” he said.
Last month Hay said more than 300 cars passed through and they didn’t finish until 12:30 p.m. In addition the group supplies other food donation services, such as the Putnam Elks and the veteran organizations, with food.
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The following charges were listed in the Putnam Police Department logs. The people charged are innocent until proven guilty in court. The Town Crier will publish dispositions of cases at the request of the accused. The dispositions must be accompanied by the proper documentation. The Putnam Police Department confidential Tip Line is 860-963-0000.
Jan. 20
Jamie Akeley, 54, Woodstock Avenue, Putnam; disorderly conduct, third-degree assault.
Jan. 21
Alexandria Gina-Marie Grenier, 23, Cranston Street, Cranston; violation of protective order.
Jeffery D. Mylen, 41, homeless, Putnam; first-degree criminal trespass, sixth-degree larceny.
Jan. 22
Dale Stephen Long, 74, Perry Street, Putnam; traveling unreasonably fast, illegal operation of motor vehicle under influence of alcohol/drugs, following too closely – non CVC
Jan. 23
Luz Gabino, 67, Green Street, Putnam; second-degree failure to appear.
Jan. 24
Steven Jon Chicoine, 49, Norwich N1 Tpke. Uncasville; first-degree criminal trespass.
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Non-compliance inspections by police net 1
And 2 retailers closed for labor law violations
PUTNAM — Jan. 23 Putnam Police Department Detectives working with various state departments, conducted unannounced compliance inspections of establishments that sell tobacco products and/or electronic cigarettes.
The five inspections were performed to determine compliance with state laws concerning the prohibition of the sale of e-cigarettes and/or tobacco products to youth under the age of 21.
One establishment, MJ Smoke Shop, 82 Providence St., was found to be non-compliant with Connecticut General Statutes Section 53-344 (Sale of tobacco to a person under 21) or Section 53-344b (Sale of an e-cigarette to a person under 21). The offending clerk at this establishment was issued a first-time infraction in the amount of $1,000.
Found compliant were: Bestway Citgo Gas Station; 146 Church St.; Dragon Vape || LLC; 1 Canal St.; Putnam Smoke Shop; 148 Providence St.; OMG Smoke Shop; 255 Kennedy Dr.
In addition, two establishments were closed by the Department of Labor for Labor law violations: Bestway Citgo Gas Station; 146 Church St. (was then allowed to reopen by DOL); Putnam Smoke Shop; 148 Providence St.
Taking part in the inspections were: the State of Connecticut, Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services (DMHAS) Tobacco Prevention and Enforcement Program (TPEP), Department of Revenue Services (DRS), Department of Labor (DOL), and Department of Consumer Protection (DCP).
Retailers are required by state law to inspect the photo ID of anyone who appears under the age of 30 before selling a tobacco product or electronic cigarette. Free online training is available to anyone who would like to learn more at: cttobaccotraining.com
Learn more at: http://www.ct.gov/dmhas/tpep Tobacco retailers are licensed by the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services (DRS). Non-compliant compliant inspection results are referred to DRS for possible administrative action.
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