DOB/DOD: April 17, 1885 (Terrebonne, Canada) – May 15, 1970 (Shelton, CT); 85 years old
MARITAL STATUS: Married Florence Lillian Dewy Poirier (1893-1977) on May 27, 1914, in New York City. Married Alice Corrine Cunningham Poirier (1909-1969) on August 25, 1924, in New York City.
CHILDREN: One son, Hermas (1925-2004). One daughter, Corrine Annette Poirier Braud (1926-1971).
LOCAL ADDRESS: 34 West Main Street, 7 Mott Avenue
SERVICE NUMBER: 109800
CANADIAN ENLISTMENT: Served 3 years in the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery.
U.S. ENLISTMENT: Enlisted in the Connecticut National Guard on June 21, 1916. Was assigned to the 5th Horse Cavalry, Troop A, and the 26th Infantry Division, 102nd Machine Gun Battalion, Company D. Discharged January 25, 1919, with 10% disability.
UNIT: 102nd Infantry, Company D
FAMILY: Born to Hermes Poirier (1854-?) and Josephine St. Louis Poirier (1858-1900), both born in Canada. Siblings are Evaline (1886-1959), Ora (1888-1975), and William (1899-?)
CIRCUMSTANCES: Participated in the Chemin Des Dames, Soissons, Chateau Thierry, and St. Mihiel campaigns. Wounded and gassed on March 16, 1918. Awarded the French War Cross (Croix de Guerre) for action at Chemin Des Dames while in Base Hospital #2, Paris, France. He was in the hospital for two months.
OTHER: Served as Commander of the State of Connecticut Disabled American Veterans (DAV) organization. Member of Norwalk’s Jeremiah O’Brien DAV post.
From The Norwalk Hour May 16, 1970
HERMAS POIRIER SR. DECORATED VETERAN DIES IN SHELTON
Hermas J. Poirier Sr., 85, of 13 Elliot Street, a past national officer of the Disabled American Veterans and a long-time worker on behalf of veterans, died Friday in Long Hill Convalescent Home, Shelton, after a long illness. He was the husband of the late Corrine Cunningham Poirier, who had been long active in veterans’ auxiliary activities. Mr. Poirier was born in Montreal, Canada, and has been a resident of Norwalk for over 50 years. Until his retirement, he had been employed by the United Engineering Company of New Haven. Mr. Poirier was a veteran of World War I, United States Army, and was an adopted member and official of the Jewish War Veterans, a life member of the Frank C. Godfrey Post 12 American Legion, a life member of the Disabled American Veterans Jeremiah O’Brien Chapter, a member of the Mulvoy-Tarlov-Aquino Post Veterans of Foreign Wars, the Central Barracks No. 867 World War I Veterans and of the Yankee Division. Mr. Poirier had been adjutant and a past commander of the Central Barracks. He was a member of the Purple Heart Association, an organization for those wounded in action. He had been National Aide-de-Camp of the Disabled American Veterans and was a past commander of the Yankee Division Association. Mr. Poirier began his military career by serving two years with the Royal Canadian Garrison Artillery Station in Quebec and a year in Halifax, Nova Scotia. He took a post with the Motive Power Department of the New Haven Railroad in New London. He enlisted in Troop A, 5th Cavalry, Connecticut National Guard, in New Haven. Poirier left Niantic in June 1916 with the National Guard for Mexican Border duty. On October 22, 1916, he left the guard. On October 5, 1917, he sailed aboard the HMS Megantic for France. In France, he was assigned to Company B, 102nd Machine Gun Battalion of the 26th Yankee Division. He saw action at Seicheprey, Chateau Thierry, Verdun, St. Mihiel and Chemin Des Dames. Mr. Poirier was gassed and wounded and, at a base hospital, was awarded the Croix de Guerre by General Marshal Petain for meritorious and extraordinary duty on March 16, 1918, near Soissons. Mr. Poirier is survived by a son, Hermas J. Poirier Jr., a daughter, Mrs. Corrine Braud, both of Norwalk, and 10 grandchildren. The funeral will be held Monday at 8:30 AM from the Collins Funeral Home, 92 East Avenue, to St. Thomas the Apostle Church at 9 o’clock for a requiem mass. The interment will take place in St. John’s Cemetery. Friends may call at the Collins Funeral Home this evening from 7 to 9 o’clock and Sunday from 3 to 5 and 7 to 9 PM. Services will be conducted Sunday at 7:15 PM by World War I Veterans, Sunday at 7:30 PM by Disabled American Veterans and Yankee Division, and Sunday at 7:45 PM by American Legion and Veterans of Foreign Wars.
Buried in St. John’s Cemetery, 223 Richards Avenue, Norwalk, CT. The plot number is unknown.
Photo pending
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