Emiline Anne Bourgeois enlisted in the U.S. Army Nurse Corps on Feb. 10, 1945, a week after the U.S. 6th Army invaded Luzon island in the Philippines intent on liberating Manila from the Japanese. About six months later, she was there nursing wounded soldiers.
A Thibodaux native, she served her country through the end of World War II in the Philippines and a post-war, overseas assignment in occupied Germany.
She served stateside through the Korean War and the beginning of the Vietnam War era.
Bourgeois was honorably discharged as a major on Jan. 31, 1962, a rank few women attained back then.
Douce receiving communion from a lay minister dressed in her uniform, which is still a perfect fit.
Douce and I are related through the two brothers pictured in their Confederate uniforms. On the left is Paulin Adrien Ledet, Douce's grandfather, and on the right is François Amedee Ledet, my great-great-grandfather.
This year, via my research, dad is milking Veteran's Day for all it's worth! (I confess)
ReplyDeleteHe's had free coffee from Starbucks. We're planning on a free dinner at Golden Corral.
Most fortuitous was that (ironically), the microwave gave up the ghost yesterday. I discovered Home Depot offered a 10% Vet Day discount!
...and ergo, the new microwave will be delivered on Friday. ;-/
JCF, your father deserves all the freebies and discounts. Thank him for me for his service.
DeleteThanks, Mimi.
DeleteI just learned my dad spent a bunch of time (at the end of WW2) in a place very sadly in the news: Tacloban, the Phillippines. They are so in need of our prayers and help.
Maybe your Dad and Douce served in the Philippines at the same time.
DeleteThere are so many heartwarming/special parts to the story of this woman's life. So many questions, so little time. Is there a place where we can say "thanks", post birthday wishes, tell her we love her?
ReplyDeleteJCF--Cheers and thanks for your dad.
Let me think if there is a way, Bonnie. Maybe I could do a birthday post just before the date and take my laptop to her house to show her.
DeleteAnd, forgot to say that special, incredible, wonderful/deeply moved/good is the picture of the LEV visit. It is impossible to convey to others what that gift means to people who are cut off from attending church each Sunday. Moved to tears I add my thanks to the gentleman in the picture who has brought her this gift and moved to tears that it is still important to her life.
ReplyDeleteBonnie, I agree that the picture of Douce receiving communion is a very nice touch by the reporter and the photographer.
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