Post by El_Pescador on Nov 27th, 2007 at 12:01am
Shown above is yours truly being introduced to two former U.S. Marine fighter aces (Joe Foss at top and Jeff DeBlanc below) who shared the distinction of being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their individual actions in the Southwest Pacific during World War II. My opportunity arose on December 7, 2001 during the agonizing run-up preceding the Pearl Harbor Day parade that would follow the dedication ceremony celebrating the opening of the Pacific Wing of the National D-Day Museum in New Orleans.
Sadly, Joseph Jacob Foss passed away on New Year's Day of 2003 at the age of 87, and just today I was informed that Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc had succumbed to pneumonia on Thanksgiving Day - November 22, 2007 - at the age of 86. My pharmacist - and one of my close friends - was a high school student instructed by Dr. Deblanc (PhD in Physics) in Saint Martinville, Lousiana during the late 1950s, and they have kept in touch over the years.
The links below relate to Deblanc's achievements - God rest his soul - both in war and in peace:
http://www.iberianet.com/articles/2007/11/25/news/news/news25.txt
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pLRHaHpJTMk&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5NUUNx4AH3o&feature=related
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jefferson_J._DeBlanc
http://www.medalofhonor.com/JeffersonDeBlanc.htm
El Pescador