The Marlborough
Historical Society

     Raymond was born the 26^th of November, 1910 in Marlborough, Massachusetts the youngest of six children born to Adolphe and Hedwiga Paquin. He married Catherine Tuzi in 1936 and they made their home at 40 Maplewood Avenue.  He enlisted into the Army the 18^th of October, 1943.  Following his basic training he was assigned to the 277^th Combat Engineer Battalion at Camp Swift, Texas.  Raymond and his new unit spent time training at Camp Pickett, Virginia learning the trade of combat engineers.  Learning to build bailey bridges, construct roads and the removal and placement of mines occupied much of their time.  In October of 1944, the 277^th departed for Europe aboard the USAT EDMOND B. ALEXANDER arriving in England in early November. 

     In late December the 277^th departed for the front aboard the SS JAMES B. WEAVER and arrived in Le Harve, France spending Christmas and New Years at assembly points near Gourney, France.  In early January Raymond and his fellow engineers departed for the front arriving in Aachen and tasked with ensuring the roads remained navigable for the Red Ball Express to bring supplies to the front.  The 277^th was next assigned to support the 102^nd Infantry Regiment along the Roer River acting as infantrymen.  Learning quickly the tactics required of regular infantrymen, the 277^th assisted with defense along the frontlines.  Removed back to Aachen at the end of January, Raymond and his fellow engineers prepared the hardware to pass over the Rhine River.  Tasked with building a floating bailey bridge, the 277^th built a bridge over the Rhine near Wallach, Germany spanning 1,756 feet for which they would earn a Meretorious Unit Citation. 

     Raymond was wounded in action at some point during his time in France and Germany and lived to see the end of hostilities in Europe.  He died the 28^th of November, 1945 from a hemorrhage accident.  He is buried at the Epinal American Cemetery and Memorial in Epinal, France, Plot B, Row 30, Grave 56.  Paquin Drive in Marlborough is named in his honor. 

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