Governor General Lt Gen Rt Hon Sir Jerry Mateparae with three U.S.Navy veterans who survived: Ray Plante, a 2nd class Radarman, also from Maine, Ted Picard, a 1st class Bosun’s Mate also from Maine and Frank Zalot from Massachusetts at the Salute 70 – Memorial Day Service and celebrations in 2012. They stayed in Paekākāriki village with their families.
The three men forged a life-long friendship in the Navy. Mr Picard was coxswain (driver) of an LCVP loaded with Marines in combat gear, Ray Plante was on the ship itself, and Frank Zalot was in the beach party of 25 sailors whose task was to manage the flotilla after landing their human cargo.
