FORT DEVENS — Private Joseph F. Raymond of 24 Shaw street, Norwood, who was wounded in action in France on June 25th, was one of five overseas veterans presented combat decorations at the Lovell General Convalescent Hospital here this week.
The Purple Heart was pinned on the Norwood soldier by Lt. Col. George T. Stine, executive officer of the hospital, before a formation of hospital patients, the majority of them wounded overseas, on the parade field surrounded by the brick buildings of the quadrangle. One of the quintet decorated at the ceremony received the Bronze Star, and the other three were awarded Combat Infantrymen’s Badges.
Pvt. Raymond fought in France as a rèplacement in the Fighting First Infantry Division. He hit the bloodiest section of the Normandy beachhead with the First on D-Day and fought through three weeks of hedgerow warfare before enemy shrapnel hit him in the back as he came off his tour of guarding gun positions in Caumont, Normandy. He has been in the service for 18 months.
Others decorated at the ceremony were Pfc. Domonic DeNapoli of Roslindale, who was awarded the Bronze Star for “outstanding performance of duty” with the famed Americal Division at Hill 260 on Bougainville; T/Sgt. Armand L. Liotte of Rumford, Me., Pvt. William E. Doren of Dorchester, and Pfc. Lucas S. Teuczar of Ware, Mass., who were awarded Combat Infantrymen’s badges.
Pvt. Raymond, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frank Raymond, was born in Norwood, attended the Norwood schools, and was formerly employed by the Plymouth Rubber Company in Canton. His father is a veteran of the last war.