WINCHENDON – The month of April 1945 was a major turning point during World War II.
The world was shocked on April 12, when President Franklin D. Roosevelt suffered a stroke and died of a cerebral hemorrhage at the age of 63.
Then on April 27, while attempting to flee to Switzerland, Italy’s National Fascist leader Benito Mussolini and his mistress Clara Petacci were captured by partisans. The next day, both were summarily executed near Lake Como along with 12 other leading fascists.
Finally, on April 30, after realizing that the war was indeed lost, German dictator Adolf Hitler and his wife Eva Braun committed suicide in their bunker.
While World War II was in its waning months and hopes were high for the battle overseas to end soon, two soldiers from Winchendon found themselves in Germany. Unfortunately, they were not able to learn the news that would be dominating the headlines later that month.
One of them had been fighting the enemy, while the other was captured by the Germans and held prisoner.And as the fates would have it, they died one day apart early in April.
This is the continuation of the series Remembering Local World War II Heroes.
Albert Earl Plouffe was born on April 12, 1926 in Winchendon, the son of the late Wilfred J. and Clarinda (Lafond) Plouffe. He was educated in local schools and prior to going into the service, was employed by the Leominster Novelty Co. in Winchendon.
His father died on June 11, 1943 following a lengthy illness at the age of 55, and just over a year later Albert enlisted on July 31, 1944. He trained in the Infantry at Fort Devens and Camp Blanding, Florida, before going overseas in December of 1944. He was a private in the 22nd Infantry.
His widowed mother, who lived on Royalston Road North, received a letter from him dated March 26 where he reported that he was in France. He was looking forward to observing his 19th birthday which was only two and a half weeks away.
Tragically, he would never mark that birthday. Pvt. Plouffe was killed in action in Germany on April 4, 1945 at the age of 18.
In addition to his mother, he was survived by four brothers: Walter, who had recently been discharged medically from the army, Seaman 2/c Alfred who was in the navy at Newport, Rhode Island, and Raymond and Clifford, who lived in Winchendon. In addition, he left five sisters Mrs. Flora Courchesne of East Jaffrey, and Mrs. Delma LaPlante, Mrs. Marion Woods, Mrs. Annabelle Bulger and Dorothy Plouffe, all of Winchendon.
A pro-burial Mass was held in St. Mary’s Church and he is listed on a gravestone at Calvary Cemetery in Winchendon.
Francis Louis Reardon was born in Boston on Feb. 27, 1919, the son of Frank H. and Louise (Fitzgerald) Reardon. When he was only 9 years of age, his mother died shortly before Christmas of 1928 at the age of 57.
Francis graduated from Murdock High in 1937 and grew up at 425 Central St.
He was a sergeant in Company M National Guard in Gardner prior to Pearl Harbor. When the National Guard became federalized into the regular army, he accompanied a large group of other Winchendon men in January 1940 for several months of training at Camp Edwards.
Reardon would go on to attend Officer’s Training School at the U.S. Infantry School at Fort Benning, Georgia. In 1942, he received his commission as lieutenant after his graduation. He later attended Camp Butner, North Carolina, and was promoted from first lieutenant to captain.
In February of 1943, he married Louise Lemmelin of Southbridge and they would have two sons, Michael Francis, born in January of 1944 and John Craig, born in February of 1945.
He went overseas in June 1944 and while a member of the First Army, Capt. Reardon was awarded the Purple Heart for a shoulder wound. He had recovered from the wound and rejoined his outfit. He was present at the surrender of Aachen.
Captain Reardon also saw action in the liberation of Paris, as well as the bloody and costly campaign of the Hertgen Forest. It was while he was stationed in Luxembourg that he was reported captured by Germans on Dec. 20, 1944.
Nearly one month later, Mrs. Reardon received a War Department telegram on Jan. 18, 1945 announcing that her husband was reported missing in action in Luxembourg. Later, another letter was sent home, allegedly from her husband, dated Feb. 17 and informing his wife that he was a prisoner of war. The letter was received on April 19.
A final telegram was sent to Mrs. Reardon by the War Department on May 31, 1945 stating that her husband, Capt. Francis L. Reardon, 26, died while a prisoner of war in Germany. His date of death was listed as April 5, 1945.
In addition to his wife and two young sons, he was survived by his father and a sister, Helen A. Reardon of Winchendon.
Comments and suggestions for Remembering Local World War II Heroes can be sent to Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or in writing to Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Road, Sandwich, MA 02563.