Resolution No. 1: Post Name Change to Croteau-Coutts-Ford Post 24
Origin: Executive Committee
Submitted by: Adjutant Croteau-Coutts Post 24
At a regularly scheduled meeting of the American Legion Croteau-Coutts Post 24, Marlborough, New Hampshire held on 8 December 2020, on a motion made by Charlie Seaver, seconded by John Fletcher, the following resolution was adopted by a vote of
7 to 0:
WHEREAS, each Post of the American Legion is authorized to adopt a name for the Post in honor of a deceased veteran; and
WHEREAS, the Marlborough Veterans at a meeting in 1919 voted to join the American Legion and agreed to form a local post. Members voted to name the post in honor of a local resident, Private Clarence J. Croteau who enlisted in the Army in 1917 and deployed to France as part of the American Expeditionary Force during the First World War. He was a member of Company D, 358th Infantry Regiment, 90th Division and participated in the Meuse-Argonne offensive. Clarence J. Croteau died in France on 26 September 1918 at the age of 22; and
WHEREAS, the town of Marlborough lost another young man during World War II, 2nd Lieutenant Charles Beverly Coutts. Second Lieutenant Coutts, an Army Air Corps Bombardier, died in the line of duty in the Pacific Theatre of Operations. Charles was a member of the 61st Bomber Squadron, 39th Bomber Group, Very Heavy and was reported missing on 28 April 1945. Members of Clarence J. Croteau Post 24 voted unanimously to change the name of the Post to Croteau-Coutts Post 24 in 1947 to honor another fallen hero.
WHEREAS, during yet another foreign war in Southeast Asia, Marlborough lost another fine, young man who is still remembered fondly by members of the community as well as several Post members. Warrant Officer Marshall H. Ford, 22, was reported as missing in action on 7 January 1968 in Vietnam. Ford was attached to the Army’s 1st Air Cavalry Division as a helicopter pilot. The helicopter he was piloting was shot down by enemy fire on 7 January while providing command and control for a unit of the 12th Cavalry. Because of the heavy hostile fire in the vicinity of the aircraft, search and recovery operations were delayed until 16 January. On that date, elements of the 12th Cavalry reached the crash site and found the helicopter had burned. WO Ford was officially listed as killed in action on 17 March 1968.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT: Croteau-Coutts Post 24, Marlborough, New Hampshire supports this application to honor all three “sons” of the town who lost their lives in action against enemies of the country in three separate wars.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED THAT the name of the Marlborough, New Hampshire American Legion Post from this date be renamed and designated:
Croteau-Coutts-Ford Post 24.
ADOPTED this 30th day of December 2020.