ANDOVER — The Andover Historical Society will be offering a special D-Day presentation, at 7 PM, on June 6. The program, “One New Hampshire Boy,” will be presented by Mary Jane Peabody, of Wilmot. She shares the untold story of a young man from smalltown central New Hampshire, Raymond Allo Cole, and how he came to be laid to rest in the American Military Cemetery in Normandy.

 Cole died early on D-Day, June 6, 1944, while leading his unit’s assault up the cliffs. Ms. Peabody’s narrative not only fills out the story about Ray Cole and his heroic achievements — virtually unknown until now — but also reveals new discoveries about how specific memories of him have been kept alive in France to this day.  Follow Ray’s journey, from being born the ninth of 10 children from a poor family in a small New Hampshire town, through foster homes, and into the Army during World War II.  

What was his mysterious connection to Andover, New Hampshire? Hear how he qualified for the elite Second Ranger Battalion, crossed the Atlantic on the SS Queen Elizabeth, made fast friends along the way, and became a “Climbing Leader” during the crucial Allied assault on the Normandy cliffs at Pointe du Hoc to silence the battery of German guns located there early on the morning of D-Day. Yes, Ray Cole was one of those memorialized by President Reagan as “the Boys of Pointe du Hoc.”

 Ms. Peabody’s research began while she was planning a trip to Normandy for the 80th anniversary of D-Day last year. With a longtime interest in World War II, she knew that visiting the beautiful, vast American Cemetery on the coast would be a high point of her trip and probably would be overwhelming. So she searched through the Cemetery’s records of its 9,388 soldier burials, hoping to find one soldier from this part of New Hampshire to learn something about, someone to relate to during her visit.  

She discovered that 38 New Hampshire soldiers lie at rest there. She found no one from Wilmot, but soon discovered the grave of Ray Cole, supposedly from next-door Andover. And the more information she found about Ray Cole — from genealogy research, census records, local historical societies, public libraries, military histories, and once or twice through sheer luck — the more she wanted to tell Raymond Cole’s story to others.  

All are welcome to come hear Ray’s inspiring story and learn about the twists and turns Ms. Peabody followed during her research into the history of this “One New Hampshire Boy.” The event will take place at the Stone Chapel at Proctor Academy, 194 Main Street, Andover.