The Louisiana Boys Who Never Came Home: Remembering Our D-Day Fallen, 81 Years Later
On the 81st anniversary of D-Day, we remember 33 sons of Louisiana who never came home. Their stories are written in blood and bayou soil.
June 6, 2025 – On the 81st Anniversary of D-Day
They were so young. Many had never left Louisiana before they found themselves on a ship bound for Europe. Some had just graduated. Some never got the chance.
On June 6, 1944, thirty-three sons of Louisiana died during the D-Day landings. Their names are etched in marble across the ocean and remembered in the hearts of the communities they left behind.
We remember you.
First Lieutenant James Holstun of Gibsland: Killed at 3 AM on D-Day. Parachuted in behind enemy lines. While leading a squad to capture an anti-aircraft artillery battery, was killed in action. Purple Heart. Buried at Normandy.
First Lieutenant Howard Brewster of Ruston: Died while in German airspace on a
glider. Member of the 84 th Troop Carrier Squadron. Awarded the Air Medal and Purple Heart. Buried at Normandy.
Technical Sergeant Francis Guillory of Eunice: Top Turret Gunner on B24; his aircraft disintegrated on flight over England after completing a mission in France. Awarded Purple Heart.
Staff Sergeant Alvin Rainey of New Orleans: Crew member, B24; his aircraft crashed in England after combat operations in Normandy. Awarded Purple Heart. Buried in England.
Staff Sergeant Clarence Uzee of Lockport: Died during landings at Omaha Beach.
Awarded Purple Heart. Buried in Lockport.
Sergeant George Weil of Rayne: Killed in action at Omaha Beach. First generation
American, immigrated with family who owned a frog farm in Rayne. Buried at
Normandy.
Sergeant Leonard Davis of Sabine Parish: Jumped in behind enemy lines with 101st. Died in a firefight in an apple orchard early on 6 June. Buried in Belmont, Louisiana.
Sergeant John Emanus of Sabine Parish: Jumped in with 82d Airborne behind enemy lines in the early hours of 6 June. Killed in Combat. Buried in Louisiana.
Sergeant John Hall of Oak Grove: Killed in action on Normandy Beach, member of 1st Infantry Division. Purple Heart. Buried at Normandy.
Technician John Bray of New Orleans: Member of 101 st Airborne, onboard C-47 with 18 other paratroopers, downed by enemy aircraft fire in route to drop zone. Buried in New Orleans. Purple Heart.
Technician Fields Rush of Pineville: Died of wounds on the beach at Omaha. Purple
Heart. Buried at Normandy.
Technician John Berlin of New Orleans: 101 st Airborne. Onboard C-47 with 21 other paratroopers; all perished enroute to jump zone. Purple Heart. Buried at Normandy.
Technician 5th Class Royd Keys of Winnsboro: Member of 29th Infantry Division. Died at landing in Normandy. Departed Normal College (NSU) to enlist in the war. Widowed a young British nurse. Buried at Normandy.
Technician 4th Class Luther Lockey of Shreveport: Assigned to 743d Tank Battalion. Died during landing at Omaha Beach. His body was never recovered.
Technician Alexander Oakley of New Orleans. Killed in action during landing. His
body was never recovered.
Machinist Mate Richard Harang of New Orleans: Killed in action on Omaha beach.
Buried at Normandy. Awarded Purple Heart
Corporal Sidney Manuel of Eunice: Killed in action at Omaha Beach. Purple Heart.
Buried in Eunice.
Motor Machinist’s Mate Glenn Soap of Shreveport: Killed during landing at Omaha Beach. His body was never recovered.
Corporal Albert Callais: Jumped in behind enemy lines, killed in action. Member of
82nd Airborne. Buried at Normandy.
Private First Class Frank Cheek of Rapides Parish. Killed in action during beach
landing. Purple Heart. Buried at Normandy.
Private First Class Bose Kelly of Shreveport: While in route to jump zone with 82d
Airborne, his aircraft was downed by enemy fire. Purple Heart. Buried in Shreveport, one of 3 brothers lost in the war.
Private First Class Houston Duhon of New Iberia: Died on Omaha Beach. Awarded
Purple Heart and Silver Star. Buried at Normandy.
Private First Class Reginald Brock of Rayville: Killed in action, Omaha Beach. 29th
Infantry Division. Purple Heart. Buried at Normandy.
Private First Class Claude Brownell of Madison Parish: Killed in action, Omaha Beach. 29th Infantry Division. Purple Heart. Buried at Normandy.
Private First Class Earl Howe of Marksville. Killed in action, Omaha Beach. 29th
Infantry Division. Purple Heart. Buried in Marksville.
Private First Class J.T. Pardue of Union Parish: Killed in action, Omaha Beach. 477th
Engineer Battalion. Purple Heart. Buried at Normandy.
Private Whitney Faulk of New Orleans: Killed in action on Omaha Beach. Purple
Heart. Buried in New Orleans.
Private Andrew Kling of Dutchtown: 82 nd Airborne. Killed in action behind enemy lines. Purple Heart. Buried at Normandy.
Private Joe Peters: 29th Infantry Division Medic. Died probably rendering aid to the wounded. Killed in action. Purple Heart. Buried at Normandy.
Private Simpson Courson of Bastrop: 101 Airborne Division. Killed in action behind
enemy lines. Purple Heart. Buried at Normandy.
Private Raymond Bell of LaSalle Parish: 29 th Infantry Division. Died during landing at Omaha Beach. Purple Heart. Buried in Rhinehart, Louisiana.
Private George Baragona of Slidell: Jumped in behind enemy lines with 82d Airborne Division; organized disparate team under chaos, fought and captured. Executed by Germans after capture. Buried in Slidell.
With gratitude to the Natchitoches Parish Journal for compiling these names. https://natchitochesparishjournal.com/2024/06/07/80-years-later-honoring-louisianas-sons-who-died-on-d-day/
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