17th Armored Engineer Battalion in World War 2

17th Engineers during World War Two

Technical Sergeant 4th Grade Adelard Henry “Cappy” Pelletier

Adminstrive, Supply and Mess section, Company Headquaters,

Company A, 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Division

A.S.N. 31003195

TEC 4 Adelard Henry Pelletier Company A 17th Armored Enigineer Battalion

TEC 4 Adelard Henry Pelletier, Company A 17th Armored Engineer Battalion


Biography: 

He was originally born on 25 Oct 1910 Bic, Bas-Saint-Laurent Region, Quebec, Canada. He and his familiy immagrated to the United States in 1927 and lived in Salem City, in Massachusetts. 
He spoke both fluent Canadian dialect French and English.

 


US Sensus 1930 

Household Role Sex Age Birthplace
Charles E Pelletier Head M 25 Canada
Marie G Pelletier Wife F 20 Canada
Jeannette Pelletier Daughter F 0 Massachusetts
Adelard Pelletier Brother M 19 Canada
Felix Moroney Lodger M 41 Massachusetts
   Charles E Pelletier   Male 25 Married White Head 1905 Canada 1923 Canada Canada  
  Marie G Pelletier   Female 20 Married White Wife 1910 Canada 1929 Canada Canada    
  Jeannette Pelletier   Female 0 Single White Daughter 1930 Massachusetts   Canada Canada    
  Adelard Pelletier   Male 19 Single White Brother 1911 Canada 1927 Canada Canada    
  Felix Moroney   Male 41 Single White Lodger 1889 Massachusetts   Ireland Canada    

The Brother of Adelard Pelletier is Charles E Pelletier was a Restaurateur in a Restaurant and was married with Marie G Pelletier and had a daugther Jeanette. 
Adelard Pelletier lived in the house with the family of his brother, together with a Logder. 
Adelard Pelletier worked as a Cook in a Restaurant as a 19 year old. 

Charles E must have met Marie G in Canada before he went to the States in 1923 and started a restaurant. His brother went to years later and worked as a Cook (at his brothers Restaurant?). Jeanette was born in 1930. 

Name: Adelard Pelletier
Titles and Terms: 
Event Type: Census
Event Date: 1930
Event Place: Salem, Essex, Massachusetts, United States
District: ED 263
Gender: Male
Age: 19
Marital Status: Single
Race: White
Race (Original): White
Relationship to Head of Household: Brother
Relationship to Head of Household (Original): Brother
Birth Year (Estimated): 1911
Birthplace: Canada
Immigration Year: 1927
Father’s Birthplace: Canada
Mother’s Birthplace: Canada

US Sensus 1930 Adelard Pelletier

US Sensus 1930 Adelard Pelletier

 Adelard Pelletier lived in this property in 1920 with the family of his brother and a lodger. 

33 Harborstreet, Essex county, Salem city, Massechusettes 

 

 


Information by the US Sensus 1940 

Adelard Pelletier   Male 29 Single White Lodger Canada 1911 Same Place
US Sensus 1940 Adelard Pelletier

US Sensus 1940 Adelard Pelletier

Adelard Pelletier stayed in the “Essex House Hotel” in Ward 2, Essex County, Salem City, Massachusets. At that time it was on the corner of the Essex street and Liberty Street. The new shoppingmall across the building changed the surroundings. The building still excists but it is not an Hotel anymore. 

176 Essexstreet Essex county Salem City MA

176 Essexstreet Essex county Salem City MA

During his stay in the Hotel he worked as a Cook in a Lunchroom, at the time the sensus was noted he had a job before was currently without a job was searching. His income was at April 9, 1940 only 700 USD. He was Single and did not attend High School. 


US Enlistment Records 11 January 1941

 

Name Adelard H Pelletier
Name (Original) PELLETIER ADELARD H
Event Type Military Service
Event Date 11 Jan 1941
Event Place Boston, Massachusetts, United States
Race White
Citizenship Status not yet a citizen
Birth Year 1910
Birthplace BRITISH NORTH AMERICA or CANADA or LABRADOR or NEWFOUNDLAND
Education Level 2 years of high school
Civilian Occupation Cooks, except private family
Marital Status Single, without dependents
Military Rank Private
Army Branch Branch Immaterial – Warrant Officers, USA
Army Component Selectees (Enlisted Men)

 


Naturalization Record Novemeber 13th, 1942

Naturalization Record

Naturalization Record

When Adelard Pelletier was in the Army and 32 years of age he was declared US citizenship on November 13th, 1942 at Fort Dix, New Jersey. 
He was still unmarried at the time. 

He lived at 104 Lafayette, Salem Massachuttes where owned or rented a appartment.  

 


Service in the US Army, 2nd Armored Division, 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, Company A

The docuement tells us the following information: 

He was a technical Sergeant 4th Grade and served in the Company Headquarters, Company A, 17th Armored Engineer Battalion, 2nd Armored Division. 
His Army Serial number was 31003195. He was unmarried and no childeren and had a civillian occupation as a Cook. 
He enlisted on 3 January 1942 with active service, at fort Devens Massachusettes. 
Adelard Pelletier had recieved his Marksman Rifle badge on February 1944 (probably during training in Holland after the Battle of the Bulge). 
He served in the following Campaigns, Sicily, Normandy, Northern France,  Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe. 
During his service he was not wounded at any time. 

He went overseas on 12 December 1942 and arrived on 24 December 1942. On 8 september 1945 he went back to the States and arrived on 16 December 1945. 
In total he served 2 years, 9 months and 5 days overseas and 11 months and 19 days in Continental Service. 
He attended Service School: Bakers and Cooks in 1941. 

Awards: 

Cood Conduct Medal
American Defence Medal
Distinguished Unit Citation
ETO Campaing ribbon with Bronze Arrowhead (for Sicily) 
Belgian Fourrage

When he joined the service his homeadress was 248th Washingtonstreet, Salem Massachusettes. It was built in 1915 and has 3 stores, and 14 appartements. 
Probably Adelard Pelletier rented a appartement in this building.

 


Adelard Pelletier’s Honorable Discharge document

Honorable Discharge Document A Pelletier

Honorable Discharge Document A Pelletier

The discharge document states that he lived at the 6th pond street, Salem Massachusettes. Nowadays it is a multi-family home sits on a 4,043 square foot lot and features 4 bedrooms and 3 bathrooms. This property was built in 1915. 
It could be that the family Pelletier lived here, but more likely it was an house with multiple appartements that could be rented. We know that Adelard lived in Hotels and appartments in Salem Massachusettes. 

 


After the War

Adelard stayed in active service after WW II in the US Army and also served in the Korean Conflict. He made it to the Rank of Staffsergeant in 9th Infantry Division. 

Adelard Pelletier in the Korean War 1952 -1953 detail

Adelard Pelletier in the Korean War 1952 -1953 detail

9th Infantry Division Korean War

9th Infantry Division Korean War

Adelard Pelletier in the Korean War 1952 -1953 detail

Adelard & Alexina Pelletier in the Korean War 1952 -1953 detail

He  married the former Alexina Beaulieu and was the father of six children. 
Adelard Pelletier had a daughter Mary (Pelletier) Cotraro and a son Bob Pelletier. 
In his final years he struggeld with various health related issues and benefited from suppport at the Veterans Administration Hospitals in the greater Boston, Massachusetts area. 

 

Staffsergeant Adelard Henry Pelletier died on 9 Sep 1968 (aged 57). The grave states 1969 but must be 1968. 

SGT Adelard Henry “Cappy” Pelletier

BIRTH: 25 Oct 1910Bic, Bas-Saint-Laurent Region, Quebec, Canada
DEATH: 9 Sep 1968 (aged 57) Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA
BURIAL: Central Cemetery, Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA Add to Map
PLOT: Sub Division 16, Lot V19

 

 

Adelard Henry Pelletier

Adelard Henry Pelletier

 

Spouse of Adelard Henry Pelletier

Alexina M. Pelletier
BIRTH June 20 1920 Canada
DEATH 24 May 1977 (aged 55–56) Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA
BURIAL Central Cemetery, Beverly, Essex County, Massachusetts, USA

Grave Alexina Pelletier

Grave Alexina Pelletier


Sources: Bob Pelletier, Finagrave.com, National Archives, familysearch.org
Research and written by: Martijn Brandjes