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EverythingWestport.com Saturday, June
11, 2011 View video clip 1 of Leo St. Onge's bridge dedication. View video clip 2 of Leo St. Onge's bridge dedication.
Leo never had a
bridge, not even a plank or fallen tree, to help him and the 120 pounds of
equipment on his back over a turbulent stream in Italy where in neck deep
water he pulled a struggling comrade to safety. And this one
didn't come easy either. "We had
planned in January to name the Route 88 overpass that crosses Route 6 after
St. Onge. However, Senator Michael Rodrigues discovered
that bridge was already dedicated to Westport police officers," said Lino Rego, Commander James
Morris Post #145. "For his
service to our country, Leo was awarded the Silver Star for Gallantry, the
Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, the Good Conduct Medal, Europe-Africa-Middle East
Medal, American Campaign Medal, The Victory Medal and The Combat Infantry
badge," Rego told the audience. "In 2009,
after 64 years, St. Onge was awarded the French
Croix de Guere w/palm unit citation." - Lino Rego Over 150 local
and state officials, dignitaries, local veterans and representatives from
veterans' organizations, as well as honored guests and friends gathered on
Debbie Deschenes' front lawn at the Interstate 195
Davis Road overpass for the official naming of that bridge after St. Onge. St. Onge, Westport's most highly decorated WWII veteran, has
been awarded more citations than he can shake his cane at. He has been a
grand marshal in several Memorial and Veterans Day parades from here to Fall
River. He has been awarded citations from Westport Selectmen and the Mayor of
Fall River. And last Friday a flagpole
and monument at the Edgewater Apartments off Sanford Road were
dedicated in his honor. Now he can add a
bridge to his resume. Seldom has so much recognition been bestowed on a
living veteran. "I don't
know why so much fuss is being made," the almost 90 year-old St. Onge said. "I was just doing my job." Just doing his
job. If Washington politicians just did their job our country would have far
fewer problems. So impressed was Captain Shannon with
St. Onge’s day’s work on May 11, 1944 that he
offered to promote the doughboy to sergeant on the spot. So impressed was Captain Shannon with
St. Onge’s day’s work on May 11, 1944 that he
offered to promote the doughboy to sergeant on the spot. “No sir,” St. Onge
said. “I’d rather stay a machine gunner.” Just doing his job. A string of state and local officials,
local veterans and representatives of several veterans' organizations, and honored
guests took turns at the podium to praise the doughboy who finally accepted
his promotion to Sergeant in 2010.
Left: St. Onge with (from the left) Sheriff Thomas
Hodgson, State Senator Michael Rodrigues, State Representative Paul Schmid,
and Richard Spirlet, Chairman of the Westport Board
of Selectmen. Right: Lino Rego,
Commander James Morris Post #145 addressed the gathering.
Left: Army
Col. Gaston Bathalon gave St. Onge
the thanks of his branch of the service.
Right: Bill Desmarais of Fall River and
others released homing pigeons as a tribute to St. Onge. St. Onge eschews
the notion he is a hero. "A machine gun without bullets
is no damn good.” - Leo St. Onge When his comrade got tangled up in a
mass of communication cables while crossing that storm-swollen creek, and was
drowning, St. Onge pulled him out, not because he was
a hero, but because he needed the ammunition to support his company’s charge
up the hill. “They needed my machine gun and all the men,” St. Onge said. “And a machine gun without bullets is no damn
good.” Six enemy pillboxes had St. Onge and his buddies in a cross fire. “I needed that man’s bandolier
(ammunition belt),” St. Onge said. “Look at how many people are here today - half
the town and a lot of brass, from sergeants right up to full birds (colonels),”
- State
Representative Paul Schmid Army Colonel. Gaston Bathalon
gave the thanks of his branch of the service. Bathalon
noted that he read St. Onge’s service record before
the event. “Sir, to read your account brings me pause,” - Army Colonel Gaston Bathalon
"I have a coin that was given to
me over in Iraq and I would like to give this to you, Leo. It kind of bridges
the gap between World War II veterans and those who serve today. Thank you
for your service." Color Guard consisted of VVA Chapter
207, Westport Fire Department, Westport Police Department, American Legion
Post #228, and the Bristol County Sheriff's Department. Representatives from U.S. Senator Scott
Brown's office, U.S. Senator John Kerry's office, and a representative from Congressman McGovern's office attended
the dedication. Invocation and Benediction by Father
Richard L. Chretien of Notre Dame de Lourdes, Our Lady of Immaculate
Conception. The Westport Middle School under the
direction of Mr. Chris Nunes played the National
Anthem
"I want to thank everybody who's
here today. What I did in the service had to be done." - Leo
St. Onge The drone of the Route 195 traffic
could not drown out the dignitaries'' words of respect and praise for Leo.
This was his day, and they stood in admiration of the WWII warrior with the
Silver Star. As for Leo, he was just doing his
job.
Dedication of
Davis Road Bridge over Highway 195 in Westport Massachusetts. In honor of Leo St. Onge 85th Infantry Division, 339th Infantry Regiment, Co. M June 10, 2011,
1:00 p.m.
Westport Selectmen recently honored Leo St. Onge. Click here to read about St. Onge’s
heroics and his Silver Star. Click here to read about Leo St. Onge’s
bravery that won him a Croix de Guere in his meeting with the Westport
ROMEOs. The French War Cross is the third
highest French wartime honor given to Americans and Britons. Leo St. Onge
gets promoted to Sergeant. Read about the Memorial Day presentation with photos. - - - - - End - - - - - ©
2011 Community Events of Westport
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