Aggie WWII casualty finally comes home

1,784 Views | 13 Replies | Last: 1 yr ago by ABATTBQ87
CanyonAg77
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AG
https://wacotrib.com/news/local/history/world-war-ii-flyer-declared-dead-in-1943-to-be-buried-in-west/article_98a2c2f2-d7cb-11ec-b021-53746335db7e.html

Quote:

The remains of 1st Lt. Louis Girard will soon make their way home to his family and be interred in West, nearly 79 years after he was lost in battle during World War II, but not too late to give peace of mind for surviving family members.

Girard and his U.S. Army Air Force crew on his B-24 bomber reportedly crashed in Romania during an Allied bombing raid against Axis oil fields near the city of Ploiesti in August 1943, according to records from the Defense Prisoner of War/Missing-in-Action Accounting Agency.

The War Department declared Girard dead in fall 1943. The McLennan County native was 20 years old.


Quote:

"He left Texas A&M and hitchhiked to Canada to join the Royal Canadian Air Force," Clay said.
An article in the Fort Worth Star-Telegram from shortly after Girard's parents received notice of his death and information from the POW/MIA agency confirms Clay's account.

Girard enlisted in the RCAF around February 1941, after the U.S. Army Air Forces declined him because he was too young at age 19, according to the article. He completed his pilot training in November that year and became a night fighter pilot, the article states.

Helen and Bud have a portrait photo of Girard in his Canadian uniform.

I suspect most here will recall that the Ploesti Raid is where Lloyd Hughes, '43, also died, and earned a Medal of Honor for his actions.
OldArmy71
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Very moving story.
Cen-Tex
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Glad they were able to ID him. That leaves a little over 72k US servicemen & civilian personnel from WW2 still missing.
ja86
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Here!

And thank you for posting.
Teacher_Ag
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I don't live terribly far from there. I wonder if there is a graveside service planned and if it is ok for non-family to go to pay our respects.
CanyonAg77
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We've sent some inquires to the Corps, to see if they might be able to send some representatives. If anyone here knows the current leadership personally, you might inquire as well.

I know school is out, but surely some cadets could find time to attend.
BQ_90
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Might cross post on military board, they may have connection to leadership in the Corps
ABATTBQ87
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1941 Longhorn:



p_bubel
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TheSheik
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https://www.aderholdfuneralhome.com/obituaries/Louis-V-Girard?obId=24884557
Quote:

The remains of 1st Lieutenant Louis V. Girard, of West, who was killed in action on August 1, 1943 at the age of 20, while serving his country with the United States Army Air Forces during World War II will be returned to his family for burial.

Graveside Service will be held 10:00 a.m. Saturday, June 4, 2022 at St. Mary's Cemetery in West. Military Graveside Rites will be conducted by the Ft. Hood Honor Guard.


terata
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It's got to be a significant honor to have been a "fourth year private" you know, something to aspire to.
terata
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For LT Girard - Here.
dcbowers
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Was Marion C. Pugh one of the sergeants?

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ABATTBQ87
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dcbowers said:

Was Marion C. Pugh one of the sergeants?
Yes, that is correct
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