Pfc. Joseph P. Pinet

Biography and Wartime Service

Joseph Patrice ‘Pat’ Pinet was born on March 24, 1912 in Grand-Anse, NB, Canada to J. Thomas Pinet and Marie Robichaud. The family moved to the US in 1929. He became a naturalized citizen in 1937 and enlisted in the US Army in 1939, two years before the United States entry into WW2. He completed his training at the age of 28 and served a two year enlistment before separating in 1941. However, two weeks after his separation… the Japanese attack Pearl Harbor! Pat Pinet was recalled to active status and allowed to rejoin his old unit and retake his old position as driver for the Commanding Officer. In 1942 his unit participated in the Louisiana Maneuvers.

In 1943 he was with the 10th Coast Artillery stationed in Narragansett Bay, Massachusetts posted as harbor defense. While there he worked with explosives and the mines that were to be put out in the water. In June 1943 he, among a large number of others with the 10th Coast Artillery, was send to the Anti-Aircraft Artillery School at Ft. Sheridan, Illinois. At some point after this, Pat Pinet was assigned to the 45th AAA Group. After further training at Camp Forrest, Tennessee & Camp Crowder, South Carolina, the 45th boarded the SS Uruguay destination England in the Summer of 1944.

The first assignment for the 45th was Normandy, landing on Utah Beach on D+10. They set up in the tiny hamlet of Audouville-La-Hubert, commanding nearby AAA units protecting Utah Beach. In October 1944 Pat Pinet, as Colonel Forman’s driver, was part of the advanced party coming from Normandy to Belgium where they were scoping out places to set up. Their new mission was to become a part of Operation Antwerp X, the Allied effort to defend the Port of Antwerp against the V-1. The 45th ended up setting up their new headquarters in Putte using the buildings and grounds of a brewery and the girls school. The Enlisted Men had their sleeping quarters a little further down the road in the malt factory. Their stay in Putte lasted from 2 November 1944 until New Years Eve. In the new year they moved to Brasschaat, to counter the new approaches coming from the North of Antwerp.

During Operation Antwerp X, his unit, and those in the 45th AAA Group were rocketed 154 straight days by V-1 buzz bombs and V-2 ballistic missiles. During the final weeks the offensive had petered out and by early April 1945 it was over. The 45th then moved for a time to Weser, Germany and were there on VE-Day. And then, it was over. And Pat Pinet was still a Private First Class. When he was asked in later life 'Why were you never promoted'? His response would always be: 'I was responsible for that vehicle and for getting that "good man" (Col. Forman) where he needed to be. I did not want to be responsible for other men's lives.' Another fond memory would come up often as well concerning his service with the 45th AAA officers: 'I was the only French speaking member of the Colonel's staff and as such all the officers took me along when they wanted to pick up French and Belgian ladies'.

In June 1945 the 45th moved to Maastricht as part of the postwar occupation forces, anxiously awaiting their return to the United States. Later that year they boarded a troopship in Le Havre, France. At this time Pat Pinet had become the caretaker for the 45th mascot dog ‘Quixote’. Not wanting to leave him behind he smuggled the small dog in his duffel bag aboard as it was against regulations to have live animals aboard. However walking up the plank the dog made a noise and the French captain yelled to one of his crew to get the dog off the ship. Pinet, still fluent, replied in French he wouldn’t have it. The captain, smiling this soldier spoke French, then allowed Pat to keep Quixote as long as he would keep him close.

Pat Pinet was separated in December 1945 at Fort Devens, Massachusetts and returned to Athol, Massachusetts. He married Yvette Chiasson in 1949 and together the couple had three children, Elsie, Annette & Thomas (Tom). Pat Pinet passed away on May 31, 1986, his wife Yvette passed June 1, 2017.

His son Tom would choose a military career and joined the USMC fresh out of high school in 1977. During the Gulf War his unit was part of Task Force Ripper racing through the Kuwaiti desert. In 1999 he retired as a Gunnery Sergeant. I had the pleasure of meeting with Thomas 'Tom' Pinet, at several times, 2018, 2019 and 2024.

Gallery

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