Charles H. Audet, a Bronze Star and Purple Heart recipient who was one of the last surviving American paratroopers to fight in World War II, died on Memorial Day. He was 105.
Charlie leaves his sister, Corinne L. Prunier of Centerville; his brother, Raymond R. Audet of West Springfield; his brother Bernard P. Audet of Mississippi; and more than 50 nieces and nephews, and countless great nieces and nephews. Charlie lost his wife of 58 years, Eleanor, known as Ellie, in 2011.
Charlie, a U.S. Army corporal, fought for the entirety of the American involvement in World War II, partaking in four invasions — three by air and one by sea — over more than four years in Europe and Africa. He jumped out of planes behind enemy lines, spent months trapped in trenches under enemy fire, hiked across the North African desert and fought in freezing temperatures in one of the deadliest battles of the war.
Charlie was one of the first combat paratroopers in U.S. history and the final survivor of the original members of the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion, an elite paratrooper unit that fought in some of the war’s fiercest battles and helped save millions of people from the Axis powers.
After the war, Charlie lived a long, rich life with his beloved wife, Ellie. Together they were foster parents, dedicated church volunteers and each other’s lifelong dance partner.
Charlie was born in Sackville, New Brunswick, Canada, in 1918. His father, Philip, a barber, moved to Massachusetts for work, and his mother, Albina (LeBlanc), later followed with five children in tow. Charlie, one of 10 children, grew up in a four-room apartment in Fitchburg that, in his early years, still lacked electricity. The home was frequently full of people but also with laughter and love. In his old age, he could still recall the affection between his parents. “What we saw — how my father catered to my mother, my mother catered to my father — it was a complete love story all the way through,” he said.
In March 1941, Charlie was 23 and working as a hotel bellhop with admittedly little direction in life when he was drafted into the Army. Attracted to the adventure, he quickly decided to join the paratrooper unit and eventually went to the UK for training. From there, he helped carry out the first Allied airborne assault of the war, in November 1942, flying 12 hours to North Africa to seize a strategic airport in Algeria.
In September 1943, Charlie jumped behind enemy lines as part of the Allied invasion of Italy. Charlie landed alone, in the dark of night, near the mountainous region near Avellino. He regrouped with fellow paratroopers using a clicking device in the dark. A small group of them hid in the mountains for weeks, aided by friendly locals, and eventually detonated explosives to damage a Nazi-controlled bridge. The operation drew many Nazi troops to the area, weakening their position elsewhere.
At just 5-foot-2-inches, Charlie was one the smallest soldiers in the war. His uniform was custom-made, and because of his size, agility and close relationship with senior officers, he was often assigned to run messages between top commanders on the battlefield.
Charlie’s most difficult battle was in Anzio, Italy. He was part of the surprise amphibious invasion of the beaches of Anzio in January 1944 that successfully established a large beachhead. But the Nazi response was intense. Charlie became trapped in trenches with thousands of other Allied troops for nearly three months, under constant barrage from enemy fire, and only able to move around at night. Years later, Charlie described the physical and psychological toll of the battle, as he was confined in a small foxhole for many hours a day and did not bathe or take his boots off for months. But ultimately the Allied troops were victorious, eventually pushing forward to capture Rome.
Charlie also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, a grueling campaign across the forests of Belgium that largely extinguished the Nazi efforts on the Western Front. Yet the battle was also devastating for American troops — more died in the fighting than in any battle in U.S. history — and that included Charlie’s unit, the 509th. Of the roughly 750 members of the 509th who entered the battle, about 700 of them were injured or killed. That included Charlie, who was hit by German shrapnel in his arm. After a short recovery, he was back on duty, including as a guard during the German surrender in the Black Forest in May 1945.
After the war, Charlie graduated from Boston University and went on to a 27-year career running cost management at Fenwal, a maker of temperature-control systems. He retired in 1984.
Charlie would often say that his best moments were with his life partner, Ellie. They met at a dance hall in 1952, married a year later and stayed together until Ellie’s death in 2011, spending many of the years in between dancing. Charlie and Ellie fostered three infant children, and were tireless volunteers at their local church.
After Ellie’s death, Charlie stayed young by continuing to involve himself in his community. He lived in the same green ranch house in Framingham since 1957. In his 90s, he was still swimming laps at the local pool and volunteering at the local nursing home, pushing residents decades younger than him in wheelchairs. Last year, Framingham declared Charlie’s October birthday as “Charlie Audet Day” in the city, and this year, Charlie’s alma mater, St. Bernard’s High School in Fitchburg, plans to induct him into its Hall of Fame.
Uncle Charlie, as he was known to so many, was a true inspiration to nearly everyone he met. He had a steady presence, incredible resiliency and a joy for life. Even past 100, he remained the life of the party, swinging and twirling multiple dance partners at every wedding he attended.
He died peacefully surrounded by family at the Notre Dame Long Term Care Center in Worcester. Just days earlier, members of the younger generation of the 509th presented Charlie with the Saint Michael Patron of The Airborne Medal in the Notre Dame chapel.
Written by grand-nephew Jack Nicas, NYT contributor
Family and friends will honor and remember Charlie’s life by gathering for visiting hours in the McCarthy, McKinney & Lawler Funeral Home on Wednesday, June 5th from 4-7PM. His Funeral Mass will be celebrated in St. George Church, 74 School St. Framingham on Thursday morning at 10 o’clock. Interment will take place in MA National Cemetery on Friday morning at 10 o’clock.
Chesmore Funeral Home