AUGUSTA — Hand-carved Eagle Canes will be presented to five special World War II veterans from Maine.

The canes will be presented Sunday at 1 p.m. by Maine first lady Ann LePage, retired Lt. Col. Peter Ogden and Andy Rice, a member of the Maine Wood Carvers Association. The presentation will take place at the home of Elmer and Alice Inman in Westbrook.

On June 30, 1943, 107 17-year-old volunteers, all from Maine, were sworn into the Navy. The group became known as the “Maine Victory Platoon.”

Five members of the platoon will receive Eagle Canes. They are Elmer “Tug” Inman, Daniel Deroch, Daniel Lorello, John “Jack” Coady and Clayton “Clayt” Manson. Their company commander was a young man named John Reed, who later became the governor of Maine.


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