Grave marker application and resulting headstone for Pvt Rene O. Harnois in plot 9A, Saint Charles Cemetery, Blackstone (Worcester county), Massachusetts.

Rene registered for the draft in Woonsocket, RI on 30 June 1942 and was inducted into the Army at Providence, RI on 2 March 1943.

On 8 August 1943, Pvt Harnois was transferred from the Parachute School, Fort Benning, GA to Company D, 508th PIR.  That was amended on the following day to send him to Company E instead..

But the 508th was in its latter stages of training at Camp Mackall, NC and Pvt Harnois was apparently deemed too far behind and was transferred to another parachute unit.  His departure was not reflected in the morning reports but whether it was a direct transfer or not, Pvt Harnois ended up in the 509th Parachute Infantry Battalion.

On 7 January 1944, Pvt Harnois was badly injured in a training accident. perhaps a parachute malfunction, as the 508th was preparing for the Anzio campaign.

The Hospital Admission Card File listed his diagnosis as a "Femur, shaft. Injury, non-battle", that had been treated with a "transfusion of another's blood," The injury was In line of duty.

Unfortunately, the admission report concludes with "Type of Discharge: Died."