anyone know about Tech 5 as a Rank during WWII. I was told that my Great uncle was an Airborn Ranger from Rhode Island. Raymond Riendeau. He had a rank of Tech 5 ??? How can I find out if this is true??? He died in the War. I want to get this information for my family.
(scottodonnell @ Jan 26 2006, 01:16 AM) [post=44867]anyone know about Tech 5 as a Rank during WWII. I was told that my Great uncle was an Airborn Ranger from Rhode Island. Raymond Riendeau. He had a rank of Tech 5 ??? How can I find out if this is true??? He died in the War. I want to get this information for my family. [/b] Scott, welcome aboard, and thanks for your great-uncle's service. T/5 was a specialist's rate, more than a corporal. You might want to check out http://wildbillguarnere.com, where there are a lot of US Army experts, who can help you. You'll enjoy this board!
Hi Scott, This would be T/5 [Tech 5/ Cpl] Raymond J. Riendeau, he was with the 2nd Rangers. He was on one of the landing Crafts heading for Pointe du Hoc, which was swamped and I believe he drowned. His body was recovered buried at Ste Mere Eglise and reinterned to the States at Rhode Island. Known as "tough guy" due to falling 150ft from a cliff in England, I believe at Bude, when training and surviving the fall with no bruises, scratches or broken bones. He was 23 when he died on the 6th June 1944. He is buried at Notre Dame cemetery, Pawtucket, Providence County, Rhode Island. http://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=66976370 Brithm
Hi, I'm actually Scott O'Donnell's cousin. I was doing a search on Raymond Riendeau myself and found this forum thru Google Search. Amazing forum, so glad I found it. For years we wondered what actually happened to my great Uncle Raymond, he was the godfather to my Dad. My grandmother, his sister, told me the story in the movie theatre after watching Saving Private Ryan. The movie was a bit rougher than the old fashioned war movies she liked, and it brought back a lot of tough memories for her with the news her brother wasn't coming home. We always thought that essentially what happened was he was KIA incoming to Omaha beach. We knew he hadn't fired his rifle, that was found still in plastic, but the thinking was that he didn't make it off that beach, at least that was a 3rd hand report to the family at the time. The reality is that it appears this was all wrong. He was part of the initial launch to Point Du Hoc as per the Rangers 2nd Battalion raid. Then all went wrong for him and his LCA as so much did that day for so many. I found out some of this from the AMC show "Greatest Raids: Rangers Lead the Way" when by chance I heard from another room in the house something about a Rhode Islander that was part of the "raid". They mentioned he was thought of as an all around "tough guy" and considered the best swimmer in the group. My Dad thought the "tough guy" reputation came from him being feared in general around the neighborhood back home, an immigrant neighborhood of Irish and Italians in Pawtucket, RI. It appears there was more to it though if he reportedly fell off a cliff 150 feet up during training in Bude, England. Wow, I'm blown away by this information. How did you come by this brithm? Attaching a pic from his training in England, I'm not sure where it is exactly but I am beyond fascinated by the story. This picture has accompanied me thru college, a 1 year stint in Japan, and now in my house for my kids to know who he was and what he did for this country. I am proud of him and my deceased grandparents who also served in WWII in different capacities, one island hopping towards Japan in the Pacific. I wish I got to know the men they were. I am humbled by what they did. Thanks, Mike Lunardelli
Came across this forum while looking for information on my great uncle Raymond Riendeau. Apparently I have relatives on this forum doing the same. Thanks Mike Lunardelli for the photo. Raymond's brother Lucien was my grandfather. He never talked much about him, but my grandmother always did. I believe she might have actually been engaged to Raymond before he died. I had seen a story written in a book previously about how he came to be nicknamed little tough guy. It was written by his company commander who survived the war. I previously wrote he grew up in Woonsocket. I was mistaken, he was indeed born in Pawtucket RI. He and his siblings, however were sent to Canada to live with relatives when their mother passed away. They returned when they were older.
Paul (and Mike and Scott, if you happen back this way), Have you had a chance to read Patrick K. O'Donnell's (any relation??) 'Dog Company: The Boys of Pointe du Hoc'? It mentions Raymond Riendeau quite often and describes the events surrounding his death in some detail. It was published in 2012 and is available in Kindle as well as in print. Good luck. Chuck
Paul, Mike and Scott appear to be my cousins. I remember Uncle Lucien and Aunt Helen. My grandmother was their sister Yvonne. I came across this forum while looking for information on her youngest brother's service and death in Normandy. I was thrilled to see the picture posted by Mike.
