Alton Boudreaux

Native Beaumonter Alton Boudreaux was born on August 2, 1915, to Charles and Eula Landry Boudreaux. He was the youngest of their three children. Older brother Overton survived into maturity but little sister Leola died in early childhood. The family moved to Erath, Louisiana, when Alton was three, where Charles Boudreaux had a syrup mill and a blacksmith shop. Alton had a happy childhood there, learning to swim in the bayou. He entered first grade speaking only French, as did most of the other children. They were at once immersed in English and punished when they lapsed into French, even on the playground. When he was ten, the family returned to Beaumont, and he entered David Crockett Junior High School, where he did well. He graduated from Beaumont High School and attended South Park Junior College and Chenier Business School.

He worked for Swift and Company, Stanolind Oil, and finally Thames Drug Company, a chain of nine drug stores in Beaumont. He had been promoted to Assistant Manager of Number One when the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. In January of 1942 he enlisted in the United States Army Air Corps and in about three months time was sent to the Southwest Pacific Theater of war, assigned to the 68th Fighter Squadron (Ughting Lancers) unit of the 13th Army Air Force Command on duty in the Southwest Pacific.

He landed in Australia with the first American Air Force troops to reach that country.

He was in the first unit to occupy the Tongan Islands when the Japanese were threatening to cut the allied supply lines to Australia. After a stay in New Caledonia he added to his lists of firsts membership in the first army fighter squadron to be based on Guadalcanal.

After a rest in Fiji he moved into combat again, this time on Bouganviiie. Here on the morning that the Japanese started the second battle of Bouganville, he found himself alone in a foxhole. A six-inch shell screamed into the earth less than ten feet away, but he calmly dug himself out and resumed his duty. From here the unit moved to Middleburg Island in Dutch New Guinea. His last combat duty was in the Philippines, on Palawan.

He was awarded the Presidential Unit Citation and ribbon bar with star in recognition of his service in the Americal Division, which reinforced the First Marine Division in the Solomon Islands between August 7 and December 1942. He also received the American

Defense Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign medal with four bronze stars, and the Philippine Uberation Campaign with bronze star.

He was honorably discharged on May 17, 1945, and returned to Beaumont, resuming his position with Thames Drug Company, and eventually was promoted to General Manager of all the stores. When the company was sold to Sommers Drug of San Antonio, he remained with that company until it decided to return to San Antonio. He elected to remain in Beaumont and took a position as accountant for Gibson's Discount Store. His last position was with the City of Beaumont as Assistant Appraiser.

He married Ann DeRouen in 1953. They have no children. They retained family and friendship ties to New Iberia and Abbeville, Louisiana, and twice briefly resided in New Iberia. They now live in Beaumont and are members of St. Anne's Catholic Church.

Pallbearers will be family and friends.

David Funeral Home, 1101 Trotter St. New Iberia, La. (337)369-6336 is in charge of arrangements.