LOUIS JOSEPH NAULT PFC US ARMY AWARDED THE BRONZE STAR

Louis Joseph Nault was born on 17 May 1922 in Trois Rivieres, Quebec, Canada to J. Andre Nault, a tailor born Stamford, PQ, Canada and Aldea McCarthy born Victoriaville, PQ, Canada. He was baptized at Notre-Dame-des-Sept-Allegresses in Trois Rivieres, Quebec on 18 May and was born on 17 May; taking the name Ludger Andre Louis Joseph Nault and his father was Andre Nault and mother Aldea McCarthy. He was the firstborn in the family and he had 1 sister named Mary Rita who was born in 1926 in Burlington, VT. In the 1930 census we find the family including Louis and Mary living in Burlington on 36 Rose Street. They stated that they immigrated in 1923. The 1940 census was the same except the Citizenship field was no longer AL, but both parents were PA (petitioned for Naturalization) and Louis was AL (Alien).

On his 30 Jun 1942 draft card he was a student with white complexion and weighed 112 lbs, had blue eyes, blonde hair and was 5 ft 1 ½ inches tall.

He enlisted in the US Army on 18 Aug 1943 and his service number was 31340530; and received his basic training at Camp Wheeler, GA and was later stationed at Ft. Meade. MD; and went overseas in Mar 1944. He fought in the North African Campaign and served on the Fifth Army front in Italy with the 337th “Wolverine” Infantry Regiment, 85th “Custer” Division.

On 18 Aug 1943 in Macon, GA Louis petitioned for naturalization. He was naturalized 21 Dec 1943 when in Company C, 10th Battalion, Camp Wheeler, GA.

KIA 20 Feb 1945 in Italy. (See action report at bottom)

BFP 13 Oct 1945 Bronze Star Awarded

Captain James Austin, commanding Officer of Fort Ethan Allen on 10 Oct awarded the Bronze Star medal to Joseph A. Nault. This was made posthumously to his son Louis J. Nault who was killed in action in Italy.

The citation reads:

For heroic achievement in action on 20 Feb 1945 in occupying an observation post in a poorly constructed building under constant enemy observation and exposed to excessive small arms fire and enemy shelling. Pfc Nault, a scout, remained resolutely in his position although in grave danger of death from the enemy fire, which threatened to demolish the building and bury him in its wreckage. His courageous devotion to duty, in remaining at his post to obtain information of value to his unit until killed by an enemy shell, reflects great credit upon himself, his unit, and the military service.

337th Infantry WWII Honor Roll NAULT LOUIS J. 31340530 PFC 21-Feb-45 burial date Mt Beni Gemetery Company: HQ1st BN Louis was initially buried at the cemetery at Mount Beni in Pietramala, Italy. US Military Cemetery at Pietramala, Italy. This Cemetery nestles In The Beautiful Foothills of Mt. Beni, 35 Miles North Of The City Of Florence. The 1St American Solider To Be Buried Here Was On The Oct. 19 1944.

BFP 20 Nov 1948 PFC Louis Nault’s Body Will Arrive From Overseas

PFC Nault was killed in action on 20 Feb 1945 in Italy. Had been overseas since March of 1944 and was stationed at Headquarters Division, 1st Batallion, 337th Infantry of the Fifth Army. He joined the Army on 9 Sep 1943 and received his training at Camp Wheeler, GA. Pfc Nault received the Bronze Star, Combat Infantryman’s Badge, and Good Conduct Medal. He was a graduate of Cathedral High School class of 1941, attended St Michael’s College and St Thomas Seminary at Bloomfield, CT.

REFERENCES:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/25329458#view-photo=85249773 Gravestone in Burlington, VT

http://www.337thinfantry.net/Honor%20Roll/337th%20Honor%20Roll.pdf 337 Honor Roll

https://www.fold3.com/image/48720693 Photo of Mt Beni Cemetery

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:337th_INF_Feb_1945_Operations_Report.pdf 337th Feb 1945 action report

BPF = Burlington Free Press newspaper

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project (see www.storiesbehindthestars.org). This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 400,000+ of the US WWII fallen here on Fold3. Can you help write these stories? Related to this, there will be a smart phone app that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery, scan the fallen's name and read his/her story.

Nault 20 Feb 45 action report.jpg

Louis J Nault