The Marlborough
Historical Society

     Roger was born the 16^th of March, 1924 in Marlborough, Massachusetts.  He was raised and educated in Southampton, Massachusetts and was the oldest of five children of Omer and Rose Boivin.  He enlisted into the Army the 7^th of April, 1943 and was assigned to Company K of the 329^th “Buckshot” regiment of the 83^rd Infantry Division.  This regiment participated in maneuvers in Tennessee in July of 1943 and continued training until the 6^th of April, 1944 when they boarded the HMS SAMARIA bound for Europe.  The regiment arrived in Liverpool and was quickly moved to Wrexhan, Wales and continued training.  On the 19^th of June 1944 the regiment moved aboard landing ships and arrived in Normandy the 23^rd of June.  On the 4^th of July 1944 the regiment attacked south of Carentan, France and began their fight of entrenched German infantry and armored units in the hedgerows of France. 

     Roger and the 329^th would continue to battle elite German SS units for most of July.  On the 3^rd of August 1944, the 329^th Regiment moved to Brittany, France to clear the St. Malo peninsula and fought at St. Joseph’s hill near St. Servan, France.  On the 11^th of August, 1944 the regiment assaulted the Citadel on a peninsula near St. Servan and received heavy casualties.  Roger was amongst the numerous men who were killed that day.  He is buried at the Brittany American Cemetery and Memorial in Saint-James, France, Block L, row 3, grave 8.

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