Remembering Local World War II Heroes: Melvin Bennett, Alfred Caouette, Emile Cote

Mike Richard
·4 min read

ASHBURNHAM — In September of 1947, a bronze tablet was dedicated in the vestibule of St. Ann’s Catholic Church in South Ashburnham. It was the gift of Mr. and Mrs. Elmer LaBrack and Mr. and Mrs. Donald LaBrack, parents and brother, respectively, of Lt. Arthur LaBrack.

A member of the United States Air Corps, Lt. LaBrack lost his life in China on Feb. 13, 1945.

The plaque reads: “In Loving Memory of Lt. Arthur R. LaBrack and in eternal remembrance of his comrades in arms from this parish who also gave their lives in World War II.

“Pvt. Melvin J. Bennett, S.Sgt. Alfred H. Caouette, S.Sgt. Emile P. Cote, Pvt. Thomas W. Duval, Pvt. Donald O. Hebert, Pvt. Joseph R. LaFrenier, Pfc. Paul A. Taylor, Pvt. Henry G. Toussaint.

“May they rest in peace.”

The bronze marker that was located at the former St. Ann's Church in South Ashburnham, memorializing the parishioners from the church who died in World War II.
The bronze marker that was located at the former St. Ann's Church in South Ashburnham, memorializing the parishioners from the church who died in World War II.

These nine men were from the small village of South Ashburnham, in addition to four more from the town of Ashburnham to give them a total of 11 World War II casualties.

St. Ann’s Church was razed in 2015 and the bronze plaque is in the possession of the Pfc. Thomas P. Sweeney Post 142 American Legion.

This is the continuation of the series Remembering Local World War II Heroes.

American soldiers take cover near a hedgerow in Normandy, France, in June 1944. Pvt. Melvin Bennett and Staff Sgt. Emile Cote of Ashburnham were both killed during the Normandy campaign.
American soldiers take cover near a hedgerow in Normandy, France, in June 1944. Pvt. Melvin Bennett and Staff Sgt. Emile Cote of Ashburnham were both killed during the Normandy campaign.

Pvt. Melvin J.W. Bennett (1925-1944)

Melvin Joseph Warren Bennett was born on April 10, 1925, in Ashburnham, the son of Henry E. and Blanche (Cowdrey) Bennett. He was one of 11 children born to the family who lived on Pleasant Street in Ashburnham. He attended grammar school in the town and took a job with the B&M Railroad there.

He registered for the Army on April 17, 1943, and was inducted on July 20, 1943, receiving his training at Fort McClellan, Ala.

Bennett was killed in action in France on June 12, 1944, at the age of 19.

He was survived by four brothers, Francis, Fred, Kenneth and Clyde Bennett; and six sisters, Dorothy Grancewicz, Rachel Pellett, Georgette Bennett, Gloria Marion, Carolyn Daneault and Mary Shea.

His service was held on Aug. 5, 1944, at St. Ann’s Church in South Ashburnham and he was buried in New Cemetery, Ashburnham.

Staff Sgt. Alfred H. Caouette (1903-1942)

Alfred Henry Caouette was born on Nov. 27, 1903, in Ashburnham, the son of Bernard and Georgianna (Doucet) Caouette of Cross Street.

He was married in 1936 to Mary Wilhelmina Fagan and had two sons, Robert and Edward, both of Junction City, Kan. Caouette was a member of the Quartermaster Corps and had been a member of the Army for more than 20 years.

Caouette was an instructor in the cooks and bakers school at Fort Riley, Kan. While serving with the Quartermaster Corps at Junction City, he died suddenly of a heart attack on May 25, 1942, at the age of 38.

He was survived by three brothers, George and John of South Ashburnham, and Joseph of Troy, N.H.; and four sisters, Mrs. Alphonse LeBlanc of Fitchburg, Emma Beauregard of Gardner, and Eva Fagan and Rita Montville of South Ashburnham. His wife never remarried and died in 2009 at the age of 95.

He was buried in St. Joseph’s Cemetery in Fitchburg.

Staff Sgt. Emile P. Cote (1919-1944)

Emile Peter Cote was born in South Ashburnham on Dec. 7, 1919, the son of Willie Joseph and Eva Marie (Cote) Cote and lived in town on Center Street most of his life.

Cote graduated from Fitchburg High School in 1937 and was employed by the W.F. Whitney Co. in South Ashburnham as a woodworker, before entering the Army on Feb. 2, 1942, in Boston.

Staff Sgt. Emile Cote
Staff Sgt. Emile Cote

He was married to the former Iry Sjoblom on Feb. 10, 1944, and they lived together at 127 Leamy St. in Gardner. He was sent to France on June 8, 1944, two days after the Allied invasion.

Cote was reported killed in action on July 25, 1944, in France at the age of 25. His wife received a war department telegram on Aug. 18, 1944, that her husband had been missing in action since July 25. Then, the following day on Aug. 19, she received a follow-up telegram that he was declared dead.

Besides his wife and parents, he was survived by four sisters, Mrs. Celia Atwell of Boston, Miss Pauline Cote, a student nurse in Leominster, Miss Loretta Cote of South Ashburnham, and Miss Anita Cote of Boston; and three brothers, Wilfred of Amesbury, Robert of South Ashburnham, and George, a patient at the Naval hospital in Philadelphia.

His service was held on Aug. 26, 1944, at St. Ann’s Church in South Ashburnham where, according to The Gardner News, “many relatives and friends attended and paid tribute to his sterling qualities and his devotion to his family.”

Cote was posthumously awarded the Purple Heart and Bronze Star. He was buried in the Normandy American Cemetery in Normandy, France.

In November of 1944, four months after his death, Cote’s wife gave birth to a daughter, Lorrice Marie.

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.

This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Local World War II Heroes: Melvin Bennett, Alfred Caouette, Emile Cote