Rowland J. Lavallee
LAVALLEE, Rowland J., 87, Oxbow, in Caribou, January 1, 2010. A Masonic sevice will be held 2 p.m. Friday, Jan. 8 at the Chapel of the Maine Veterans’ Cemetery. Arrangements are in the care of Stimson-Ouellette Funeral Home.
OXBOW – Rowland J. Lavallee, 87, died Jan. 1, 2010, at the Maine Veterans' Home, Caribou, after a long illness. He was born June 17, 1922, in Harrisville, R.I., the son of Harry and Amilda Lavallee.
Rowland loved hunting and fishing, and was an avid life member of North American Hunting Club and NRA – National Rifle Association. He served 20 years as a master instructor in hunter safety in Connecticut and served 10 years as a pistol marksmanship instructor for the NRA. He regularly contributed in Disabled American Veterans, Paralyzed Vets of America, NRA and U.S. Shooting teams. He was a weaver by trade until volunteering for the U.S. Navy to fight in World War II. After basic training, HA-1C Lavallee trained as a Navy medic and by early 1943, he was accepted aboard the USS James O'Hara and sailed in convoy to the Mediterranean Sea where the O'Hara – APA-90, was involved in invasions in Sicily and Salerno, Italy. Upon returning stateside, the APA-90 was transferred to the South Pacific where she was involved in five more invasions in Saipan, Angua, Leyte and Luzon in the Philippines, and then into Iwo Jima. HAP/C Lavallee went into Iwo Jima on D-Day and helped evacuate wounded veterans of the 3rd Marine Division. More than 400 casualties were evacuated to the O'Hara and the wounded were transferred to Guam. After completing his obligations to the Navy, PHM No./C Lavallee was discharged in December 1945. After four months of civilian life, Rowland volunteered for service with the U.S. Army in the mine planter division on the East Coast, from Maine to Rhode Island. Tech. 4th Grade, Lavallee was discharged from the Army at Fort Banks, Mass., April 26, 1949. He immediately re-enlisted in Jacksonville, Fla., with the U.S. Air Force where he served for 15 years with SAC – Strategic Air Command, as a B-29 gunner and KC – 8th & 13th AF – 97G boom operator. He served two tours over Korea as a B-29 bomber gunner flying out of Yokota, Japan. He also served flying status as a deterrent to communism and was awarded the Cold War Citation. Tech. Sgt. Lavallee retired from the U.S. Air Force, April 30, 1964, having served his country honorably during World War II, Korean War and Vietnam War, with three branches of the armed services. The Department of the Navy awarded him the Combat Action Ribbon, Oct. 26, 2000, to add to his many other medals and ribbons. Upon his retirement from the military, Rowland worked as machinist in Connecticut until 1987 when he moved to Oxbow.
He is survived by one brother, Harold Lavallee of Mentor, Ohio; a sister, Norma Quinn of Topsham; and a niece, Carole Mahoney of Coventry, R.I. He is predeceased by two brothers, Alfred J. and Raymond J. Lavallee.
Rowland's joy in life was time spent with friends he made through his life memberships with Veterans of Foreign Wars LeBlanc-Junkins Post, Ashland; his master mason membership with Pioneer Lodge of Ashland; his Shriners membership with Aroostook Shrine, Presque Isle; and his Anah Temple membership in Bangor.
A Masonic service will be held 2 p.m., Friday, Jan. 8, at the chapel of the Maine Veterans' Cemetery, Caribou, by members of the Pioneer Lodge, with military honors after. Arrangements are a service of Stimson-Ouellette Funeral Home, 114 Exchange St., Ashland. To leave online condolences, please visit www.ouellettefuneralhome.com.
