By State Representative Charles Owen, LtCol (ret), USAF

On 6 June, 1944, possibly the most pivotal battle in the history of western civilization took place.  The concept of freedom was at stake on this day as the soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines and other warriors of the allied nations attempted to create a beachhead in Europe—in France, specifically.  The land, air, and sea forces of the allied armies in what became known as the largest amphibious invasion in military history undertook the operation to dislodge Hitler’s Fascism and tyranny from Europe.  Almost 133,000 troops from the United States, the British Commonwealth, and Free France took part in this battle of battles.   Casualties were high on this day, with over 2,500 American personnel losing their lives.

Our nation has paid and continues to pay great homage to the lives lost in World War II and on D-Day specifically.  

Our beloved Louisiana lost 33 of its sons on this day.   We also lost nearly 5,000 Louisianans in World War II and all of those lives are precious.    But on this 80th commemoration of what history has called “the Day of Days”, we need to take a moment and remember the men from Louisiana who died trying to get a foothold in Normandy.   The 33 includes 2 commissioned officers, both from North Louisiana.  It includes about 10 Non-Commissioned officer and the remainder were junior enlisted personnel.

Eighteen of our warriors are in their physical eternal resting places in France and England—in immaculately maintained American cemeteries.   Twelve were brought back home to be buried in the cemeteries with their families.   Three were never recovered and are memorialized in plaques in various places.

The names of the 33 bear repeating on this day.    We have our freedom in this country for many reasons, but one of them is because free men through the centuries have paid the price for us to keep that freedom.   With deference to all of our state’s war dead, this is a tribute to those from Louisiana who died on D-Day.  

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 84th 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 101st 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:  101st Airborne.  Onboard C-47 with 21 other paratroopers; all perished in route 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 JT. 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

Pvt JT Pardue Pvt Whitney Faulk

Private Andrew Kling of Dutchtown:  82nd 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:  29th 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.  

WW2 Fallen 100: WW2 Fallen – George Baragona, 82nd Airborne

Private Sidney DeRise of Rayne:  82d Airborne.   Died on 6 June. Purple Heart.  Buried in Rayne, Louisiana

Pvt George Baragona Private Sidney DeRise

SPECIAL THANKS TO Secretary Charlton Meginley of the Department of Veterans’ Affairs for helping compile this list and collate data. Meginley, a retired USAF Colonel, will be representing Louisiana at Normandy on the 80th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings.