The Marlborough
Historical Society

     Roland was born the 19^th of December, 1917 in Lancaster, Massachusetts, the third of four sons born to Joseph and Regina Turmaine.  He married Mildred Warren and together they were known as a country duo “Tex and Millie” and performed in various locations around central Massachusetts.  Roland was a father two Mildred’s two sons.  They made their home on South Street in Marlborough. 

     He enlisted into the Army the 17^th of March 1941. Following his basic training he was assigned as a Private with Company L, 180^th Infantry Regiment, 45^th Infantry Division.  This unit spent time at Camp Devens, Massachusetts as well as Pine Camp New York and Camp Pickett, Virginia.  The division departed the United States the 8^th of June, 1943 and arrived in Oran, North Africa the 21^st of June, 1943.  The unit participated in the battle for Sicily initially landing near Biscari, Italy the 10^th of July, 1943, its first experience in fighting the Germans.  Following the capture of Sicily, the Regiment next landed on mainland Italy at Paestum near Salerno the 10^th of September, 1943 and saw intense combat near Venafro and Mount Corno spending 119 days in combat. 

     Following a brief rest, the regiment again landed at Anzio in an attempt to break the German stalemate further south.  The 180^th Regiment was crucial in the defense of the line against a German counterattack in mid-February.  Roland was killed during the allied counterattack and drive towards Rome the 28^th of May, 1944 following an artillery attack.  He was interred at the Sicily-Rome American War Cemetery in Nettuno, Italy amongst his comrades at plot E, row 11 Grave 50.  Turmaine Street in Marlborough is named in his honor.

< back to Memorial Honor Roll list