Ernest Nason Harmon was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on February 26, 1894 to Ernest Josiah and Junietta (Spaulding) Harmon. The family lived in Pawtucketville on 45 Chase Avenue. He was the youngest with two sisters and a brother.
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Many men and women in the Greater Lowell area served our country. Most came home but some did not. This blog remembers those that served in all wars from Greater Lowell.
Saturday, November 27, 2021
Major General Ernest N Harmon - Lowell's Own "Hell on Wheels"
Ernest Nason Harmon was born in Lowell, Massachusetts on February 26, 1894 to Ernest Josiah and Junietta (Spaulding) Harmon. The family lived in Pawtucketville on 45 Chase Avenue. He was the youngest with two sisters and a brother.
Tuesday, June 29, 2021
Night Before Christmas in the English Channel in 1944
The big push in World War II against the Germans was at a fever pitch. Troops were being transported across the English Channel to replenish the troops at the Battle of the Bulge. Hastily and without proper documentation the 66th Infantry boarded the SS Leopoldville in the middle of the night and headed for Cherbourg France. The Belgium ship was overcrowded, didn't have enough life boats and no safety drills.
On board were over 2,235 soldiers rushing to the front. By the end of the night, over 800 would be dead. Including PFC Joseph P Miscone from North Billerica, Tec4 Ernest D Valle and PFC Russell E Wintle of Lowell, Ma. By the end of the night they would be dead. The US Army refused to tell the American people what happened until 1996. Over 50 years after until the files were released. They were all listed as MIA or KIA with little facts.
One half of the Normandy MIA memorials are those of those that died on the SS Leopoldville. Including our local guys.
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56647873/joseph-p-miscone
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56650986/ernest-d-vallee
https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/56651570/russell-e-wintle
We will never forget what sacrifices have been made for us. Rest in peace.
Monday, May 31, 2021
Pvt. John Herbert Ryan - Finally at Rest in 2020
John Herbert Ryan, the son of William and Ellen (Shay) Ryan, was born in Lowell on November 24, 1893. His parents died when he was young and he was raised by his extended family, John & Mary Ryan of Lowell and Mrs. Mary Tighe of Brockton. He attended school in Lowell and Brockton.
In Brockton he was an employee of George E. Keith Co., a communicant of St. Margaret's Church and a member of the Boot and Shoemaker's Union.
He enlisted in the US Army May 27, 1917 and sailed to France on the ship FINLAND on the 7th of August 1917. He was a member of the Headquarters Co 1st Engineers 1st Division.
He died in France of meningitis on February 25, 1918. After the war his body was returned for burial in Arlington National Cemetery with full military honors on July 28, 1921.
While searching for his burial location several years ago, I noticed that his stone was incorrect. It had the wrong spelling and middle initial. I reported it to the cemetery and last year they replaced it. Even though it's over 100 years later I'm glad his grave is marked correctly. If you visit Arlington National Cemetery he is in Section 18, Grave 2986.
Rest in peace Pvt. John H Ryan. We will never forget.
Friday, December 20, 2019
75 Years Remembering the Battle of the Bulge
During World War II, 562 men from Greater Lowell lost their lives while serving in the US Army, Navy and Marine Corps. During the Battle of the Bulge 15 men from Lowell and one man from Westford were killed in action while serving in the US Army. We must remember their names and their sacrifice.
Seven of these men are buried in Belgium. They never came home. Below is a link to a virtual cemetery on Find a Grave listing where each man is buried.
https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/1141988
Leo Cote was a truck driver before the war for his father's moving company - Cote Brother's Moving Company. He lived at the corner of Cabot and Moody Streets with his parents Thomas and Marie (April) Cote. He was survived by his sisters Irene (Lacerte) and Yvette (Goyette) and his brothers Arthur, Albert and Louis.
Rest in peace. You are not forgotten.
Friday, October 18, 2019
Greater Lowell Vietnam Honor Roll
The following link is a virtual cemetery on the find a grave platform that I created to list these gold star servicemen that sacrificed their lives for our freedom. They paid the ultimate sacrifice.
https://www.findagrave.com/virtual-cemetery/1120767
You are not forgotten.
Friday, December 14, 2018
Remembering Joseph April
Joseph was born April 7, 1897 at St. Clement, Quebec, the son of Isidore and Elise (Boucher). He entered the service June 26, 1918 in the U.S. Army 153d D.B. and transferred July 15, 1918 to Co. H 348 Infantry, 87th Division. He was sent overseas August 26, 1918.
He died of pneumonia October 24, 1918 at Bordeaux, France. His body was returned to the U.S. and he is buried at St. Joseph's Cemetery in East Chelmsford. He was survived by his parents, bother John B. of the Canadian Expeditionary Forces, Isidore, Marie, Laura and Rose Anne.
LEST WE FORGET
Friday, November 30, 2018
Remembering Armand V. Alix
Armand was born in July 1898 to Mr. and Mrs. Louis (Lottie) Alix in Lowell. He enlisted in Battery F, 102nd Field Artillery of the American Expeditionary Forces at the age of 19. He sailed for France on the SS Finland September 18, 1917.
He was severely wounded in the trenches at Chateau Thierry on July 27, 1918. He left France classified as "Surgical walking requiring no dressing Base Hospital No. 6" on November 26, 1918 and arrived in New Jersey December 11, 1918. He returned to Lowell where he lived with his mother and sister. He was unable to work. He died as the result of his war injuries on November 8, 1921 at the age of 23.
During the last year of his life he did marry Florence Sabourin. She never remarried and lived to the age of 99. They are buried together at St. Patrick's Cemetery in Lowell. A square in his memory is at the intersection of Salem and Adams Street.
LEST WE FORGET