World War II claimed three men from Templeton Center
TEMPLETON – The town of Templeton and its many precincts have done much to honor the memory of its World War II heroes.
The four different villages each have their own World War II marker listing soldiers from that part of town who served in the war, with a star designating those who did not return after paying the ultimate sacrifice.
The Baldwinville marker is located on the small green at the intersections of Central and Circle streets, while the East Templeton memorial is on a small plot of land at 135 Patriots Road.
Over in Otter River, the marker is located where the Otter River elementary school once stood, on Main Street at the entrance to Houghton Park. Templeton Center has several war monuments with the World War II marker at the intersection of Baldwinville and Patriots Road.
This is the continuation of the series Remembering Local World War II Heroes featuring the three who hailed from the Templeton Center precinct.
Private Leonard Aho (1920-1944)
Lennart (Leonard) Aho was born on June 11, 1920 in Templeton, the son of Samuel and Lempie (Aho) Aho and grew up on Farnsworth Road. He attended the local elementary schools before entering into the lumber business with his father.
Aho entered the U.S. Army in May of 1942 and was a graduate of the Armored Force School at Fort Knox, Kentucky, where he completed the tank mechanic’s course. He went overseas in June of 1944, serving with the 750th Tank Battalion.
An article which appeared in the Worcester Telegram on Dec. 2, 1944 noted that Alvah Aho and his brother, Private Leonard Aho, met up in France after being separated for over 18 months. Both had left for overseas duty at the same time, but on different ships.
Corporal Aho stated that he walked into his tent one night and found his brother sitting there on his cot.
However, while that appeared to be a feel-good story at the time, in reality Leonard Aho had already been killed in action when that item appeared in the paper.
According to a telegram his parents would later receive from the War Department in Washington on Dec. 11, 1944, the 24-year-old Private Aho had been killed in action on Nov. 25 in Germany. No details were contained in the telegram which said a letter would follow, but it’s unsure if another letter was ever sent.
Besides his parents, Aho left a sister, Mrs. Earl Davis of Topsfield, and three brothers, Donald, who lived in Templeton, and 22-year-old twin brothers who were stationed in the service at the time: Corporal Alvah Aho was in France, while Radioman Second Class Allan Aho was located somewhere in the Pacific.
Leonard Aho was buried in the Henri-Chapelle American Cemetery in Belgium.
More: Casualties during wartime: East Templeton men served, died during while on leave from war
Private Charles Nygard (1925-1945)
Charles R. Nygard was born in Templeton on July 17, 1925, the son of Everett J. and Anna (Rosbury) Nygard, and he lived on Otter River Road. He attended Templeton High School and was employed by the Temple-Stuart Co. of Baldwinville before entering the service.
Private Nygard, a paratrooper, enlisted in the army in August 1943, and received training at Camp Gruber, Oklahoma, and Fort Benning, Georgia. In October 1944, he went overseas and took part in the New Guinea and Philippines campaigns before going to the Negros Islands. He participated in at least eight combat jumps.
On May 14, 1945, Mr. and Mrs. Nygard received a telegram from the War Department informing them that their 19-year-old son was killed in action in the Negros Islands on April 25.
Besides his parents, he was survived by four brothers, Sgt. Everett Nygard, who at the time was hospitalized in India; as well as Richard, Roger and James Nygard, and a sister, Annie Nygard, all of Templeton.
He was buried in the Manilla American Cemetery and Memorial in the Philippines.
Corporal Warren H. Weir (1918-1945) Templeton
Warren Hale Weir was born on Sept. 20, 1918 in Athol, Mass. to William E. and Emma (Monroe) Weir, and they lived on South Street in Templeton. He had a sister two years younger than he was and attended grammar school in the center of town.
He was employed by the Charles G. Allen Foundry in Barre prior to his entrance into the service. He enlisted in the service on Feb. 2, 1942 at Fort Devens and was sent overseas in August of 1944. In 1943, he married the former Edna E. Sovek.
A corporal with the 104th Infantry, 26th Division, Weir died on March 1, 1945 while serving with the 104th Infantry, 26th Yankee Division.
He was buried in the Luxembourg American Cemetery in Hamm, Luxembourg and posthumously received the Purple Heart. In addition to his parents and wife, he left his sister, Mrs. Estella Thompson of Treren, Oregon.
Edna remarried Leonard Moore on July 13, 1946 and the two remained together until her death in 1992.
Comments and suggestions for Remembering Local World War II Heroes can be sent to Mike Richard at mikerichard0725@gmail.com or in writing Mike Richard, 92 Boardley Rd. Sandwich, MA 02563.
This article originally appeared on Gardner News: Remembering World War II Heroes: Templeton Center lost three men
