The modern day photographs are from the New Orleans Pearl Harbor Day Parade in 2001.  Jeff DeBlanc was one of the featured pilots in the 'Guadalcanal' episode of the current History Channel series 'DOGFIGHTS: The Greatest Air Battles'.  Both U.S. Marine veteran aviators are wearing the Congressional Medal of Honor about their respective collars as they participated in the festivities surrounding the Grand Opening for the Pacific Wing of the New Orleans D-Day Museum.

As a disturbing footnote, in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina the D-Day Museum felt the full force of the wrath exacted by the looters and vandals who essentially ruled much of the city for several weeks.



http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/El_Pescador/JeffDeBlancI.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/El_Pescador/JeffDeBlancIII.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/El_Pescador/FossChiefI.jpg


http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v235/El_Pescador/JJFossI.jpg

EP :'(

I've seen that show with Jeff DeBlanc a couple of times.  And I'd have no problem seeing again.  I loved hearing him tell the story.  Don' t know exactly where he's from in Louisiana.  He sounds like he might be from around New Iberia, Crowley or Eunice.  Wherever it is...I'll put it this way...he's surely eaten a few crawfish in his life.

sumrica wrote on Dec 9^th, 2006 at 12:03am:

"... He sounds like he might be from around New Iberia, Crowley or Eunice..."

Pretty close - Saint Martinville in Saint Martin Parish, Louisiana (county in other states).  My pharmacist attended Mass there last weekend, and recounted visiting with DeBlanc afterward.  The kindly old gentleman was in good spirits despite chronic vision problems.  A retired high school science teacher, Deblanc continues to serve the public as a docent in a local Nature Trail operation where he stresses conservation education and environmental awareness.

EP :'(