Hometown Heroes
Pfc Edward Desautels, (1918-1945) fatally wounded at Iwo Jima
By Michael Rocchetti
By late 1944 the Allies were closing in on Japan. From airbases on the Pacific islands of Tinian and Guam, USAF long-range, heavy B-29 bombers were within striking distance of mainland Japan. However, the bombers needed an emergency airfield along the way, where they could land if they were damaged. War planners decided that the Japanese island of Iwo Jima would be a suitable site for an airfield.
On Feb. 19 1945, the Marines went in first, to secure Iwo Jima, and then the U.S. Army went in afterwards to mop up the last Japanese resistance. By late March of 1945, most of the major combat was finished — but Japanese hold-outs and snipers still made the island a dangerous place to be.
Edward J. Desautels died on March 27, 1945 of a gunshot wound while on guard duty at Iwo Jima. He was a U.S. Army Private 1st Class, assigned to the 147th Infantry Regiment, Ohio National Guard. This regiment was assigned to the Pacific Theater of Operations where he also saw action at Emiral Island, Fiji, New Caledonia, and finally at Iwo Jima. He was one of the Army’s “Cave Men” of Iwo Jima. The soldiers of the 147th Infantry Regiment were tasked with rooting diehard Japanese defenders from caves and tunnels long after the island was declared secure.
He was born Oct. 29, 1918, in Putnam, the son of Ora Desautels. He attended Putnam High School and was formerly employed at the Putnam Finishing Co. in Mechanicsville. He served for two years, 16 months overseas. His last letter received, dated March 21 and written “somewhere at sea,” said that he was in good health and “ready for some fast action.” He was also survived by a brother Leo, and three sisters, Mrs. Theodore Lussier, Mrs. Leo Guevremont and Mrs. Raymond Desjardin, all of Putnam. He was buried at the 4th Marine Cemetery at Iwo Jima, but later in 1948 his remains were reinterred at St Mary’s Cemetery in Putnam. His name is also inscribed on the National Iwo Jima Memorial New Britain.
A chaplain, Capt. Donald M. Kelly wrote to the mother: “I express my sincerest sympathy to you and all the family. Nothing can be said to repair the loss of your son, we know, but we want you to know that our thoughts and prayers are with you. You can be proud of your son. He died on the morning of March 27th after having been wounded by rifle fire while on guard duty in his company area. He was killed on the island of Iwo Jima in the Western Pacific.
“He was held in high esteem by his company and well-liked by all his buddies. He was always ready and willing to do what he could to help others. Your loss will be shared by all of us of his regiment. He was always a good soldier, right to the end. I know that God will reward him for the supreme sacrifice that he has made. ‘Greater love than this no man hath than he lay down his life for another’. Certainly Our Lord who spoke these words will not forget Edward who so well fulfilled his task. His grave has been blessed according to the rites of the Catholic Church and we have offered a Mass for the repose of his soul.”
Colonel Robert F. Johnson said in part: “His capacity for friendship and his soldierly excellence contributed much to the organization. His loss is felt very deeply.”
Captain Alan E. Boers said in part: “With the passing of Edward we have lost a faithful and excellent soldier mourned by many close friends: among his comrades.” He added, “After Edward was wounded he was immediately under the care of an aid man and in 10 minutes in the hands’ of a medical officer. Despite every possible means to save his life he died three hours later at the hospital.”
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.
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