A Salute to the Veterans of World War II

John Cadieux of Newport served in the Navy Seabees
and was involved in the invasion of Guam

An under water mine took Ted Chaffee of Newport out of the war
when his patrol boat stumbled onto it.

Evelyn Page of Holland served in the U.S. Coast Guard

Jackie Power’s grew up in Nazi occupied France. She married one of her
country’s liberators, Ken Powers (also seen in the photo)

What do Joe Queenin and Ed Parenteau of Derby Line have in common with John Cadieux and Ted Chaffee of Newport? And what do all of them have in common with Lyndy Palin of Derby, Cyril Day of Newport, Chet Carpenter of Newport, Paul Monfette of Newport, Fred Webster of Coventry, and Ken Jenness of Morgan? In addition what do they have in common with Ray Griffin of Glover and Andy Pepin of Newport, Evelyn Page of Holland, Florette Gelipeau of Westfield, and Rosa Gendreau and Phillipa Daigle, both of Newport? What do all of them have in common with Jackie Powers of Newport and Carol Wheatley of Glover? The answer is that all of their lives, in one way or another, were impacted by World War II.
In my work to preserve the history of the Northeast Kingdom through the words of the people who lived it, I have recorded hundreds of stories relating to this mission. Among the stories have been dozens about the men and women from the Kingdom who served in, and who were affected by, World War II. I have spoken to veterans who fought in just about every major battle of the war. Other veterans did not serve in combat roles but served in important roles behind lines or on the home front.
With the WW II generation slowly slipping away into the pages of history, my family and I, along with the Elks Lodge in Derby, plan to recognize and celebrate this generation, particularly the veterans who served in WW II, on June 14 at the Elks Lodge on the Derby Road. The “Salute to the Veterans of World War II” will begin at 1 p.m.. Hopes are that people - veterans and non-veterans - from around the state, will attend the event. This event will also serve as a time for veterans, and those who worked as civilians on the home front, to share their memories and mementos
So who are the people listed at the beginning of this article? Joe Queenin was a Marine who saw action on the Pacific Islands of Bouginville and Okinawa. Ed Parenteau was a 17 year old sailor when he ferried troops to Omaha Beach during the D-Day Invasion. John Cadieux was a sailor during the battle for Guam. Ted Chaffee was aboard a patrol boat off the coast of France when it hit a mine, forcing him and his crew mates to swim to shore. Lyndy Palin was a B-17 bomber pilot who flew many missions over German occupied Europe during the war. Cyril Day was aboard the U.S.S. Bunker Hill when Japanese kamikazes nosed-dived into his ship, killing more than 300 of his shipmates. As a young soldier, Chet Carpenter was aboard the S.S. Coolidge, steaming off to war, when the ship sank after hitting an American mine. Less than 10 people died in the accident. There is no way to describe the horrors that Paul Monfette saw on the battlefields and the death came of Dachau. Although his injuries healed, the horrors of war lived on for him for many years.
Fred Webster and Ken Jenness both served in China during the war. Ray Griffin and Andy Pepin served in the Army during the war, and both suffered the unspeakable loss of losing brothers in war. Evelyn Page and Florette Gelipeau also served in the U.S. military, Page with the Coast Guard, Gelipeau with the Navy.
Rosa Gendreau and Phillipa Daigle were young women growing up in London, England in the days when the German Luftwaffe were bombing their city. Gendreau was a member of the British military, while Daigle battled bomb induced fires in her beloved city. Both women married American servicemen following the war. Jackie Powers saw, and experienced, the atrocities of living under Nazi rule in France during the war. She married one of the young American soldiers who helped liberate her country from the Nazis.
Carol Wheatley was one of the thousands of Americans who worked on the home front during the war. She was trained to spot enemy aircraft that might appear over the skies of Glover, Vermont. Planes did not come, but Wheatley did her job, serving her country as a civilian.
All of the lives of the people named in this article were impacted by the war in one way or another. There are hundreds of other similar stories in Orleans County alone.
People who wish to have additional information about the “Salute to the Veterans of World War II“, or wish to donate to it, can contact me at (802) 334-5920 or by email at northlandjournal@gmail.com. In addition, people can write me at P.O. Box 812, Derby, Vermont 05829.