Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc, Sr.

St. Martinville - A Mass of Christian Burial will be held at 12 noon on Monday, November 26, 2007, at St. Martin de Tours Roman Catholic Church in St. Martinville, for retired Colonel Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc, Sr., 86, who passed away on Thursday, November 22, 2007 at Lafayette General Medical Center. Interment will follow at St. Michael Cemetery in St. Martinville, with a full military detail. His son, the Rev. Fr. Jefferson DeBlanc, Jr., will officiate at the funeral Mass. Concelebrant will be Rev. Fr. Austin Leger, pastor of St. Martin de Tours Catholic Church. Server will be his grandson, Seminarian Michael DeBlanc, II. Colonel Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc, son of Frank F. and Noelie Barras DeBlanc, was born in Lockport, Louisiana, on February 15, 1921. He was one of Louisiana's most highly decorated veterans, whose military service record narrates of many heroic efforts during several campaign battles of World War II. In 1940 at Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, he signed up for the Civilian Pilot Program, then quit school to join the Marine flight program. He enlisted in the Naval Reserve as a Seaman, Second Class on July 29, 1941 and received elimination flight training at the Naval Reserve Aviation Base in New Orleans, for two weeks, before going to the Naval Air Station at Corpus Christi, Texas, to continue his training. He was honorably discharged from his Naval enlistment on October 15, 1941, and was appointed an Aviation Cadet, USNR, on the 16th of October. He was then commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Marine Corps Reserve on May 4, 1942, and was transferred to San Diego, CA to join Headquarters Squadron, 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing. On December 19, 1942 he was promoted to first lieutenant and further advanced his rank to captain on June 1, 1943. He was later transferred to Marine Fighting Squadron 122, also of Marine Aircraft Group 11, in July, and returned to the United States about six weeks later. In November 1944, Captain DeBlanc embarked on this second tour of duty overseas. He joined Marine Fighting Squadron 422 in the Marshall Islands and remained in that area until May 1945, later participating in the Okinawa campaign with the Marine Fighting Squadron 212. In his two tours of duty in the Pacific at Guadalcanal and Okinawa, he shot down nine enemy aircrafts. Captain DeBlanc was relieved from active duty on December 31, 1945. He then returned to his hometown of St. Martinville, LA, and was assigned to the 8th Marine Corps Reserve District. He then dedicated himself to furthering his education by earning a B.S. degree in physics and math from Southwestern Louisiana Institute, now University of Louisiana at Lafayette, in 1947; an M.A. Education (physics) from Louisiana State University in 1951 and a second master's degree in Education (mathematics) in 1963; and earning a doctorate (Ed.D) in Education from McNeese State University in 1973. On December 6, 1946 he stood before President Harry S. Truman, in the White House, and was presented our nation's highest decoration for valor and bravery, the Congressional Medal of Honor "for conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life above and beyond the call of duty." He earned the Medal of Honor for downing five Zeros in the Solomons on January 31, 1943. This prestigious honor bestowed upon him, placed him in one of the nation's most elite fraternities. Colonel DeBlanc was the last, living World War II Medal of Honor recipient from Louisiana. In addition to receiving the Medal of Honor, Captain DeBlanc was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross, Okinawa 1945; Air Medal, Solomons 1942, Gold Star in lieu of a second Air Medal, Ryukyu Islands 1945; Gold Star in lieu of a third Air Medal, Carolines and Okinawa 1945; Gold Star in lieu of a fourth Air Medal, Ryukyu Islands 1945; Gold Star in lieu of a fifth Air Medal, Okinawa 1945; Purple Heart, Solomons 1943; Presidential Unit Citation with one Bronze Star, Guadalcanal 1942; Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal with three Bronze Stars; American Campaign Medal and the World War II Victory Medal. Colonel DeBlanc retired from the Marine Corps Reserve on July 1, 1972, after serving six years as commander of Marine Air Reserve Group 18 at Belle Chasse Naval Air Station. He was employed with the St. Martin Parish School Board as a teacher of Math and Science, in St. Martinville, Supervisor of Math and Transportation, and he also wrote several grants for the school board and helped run the Nature Trail and Planetarium. He taught at AFCENT (Allied Forces Central Europe) in Holland, and taught Physics at Mt. Carmel, in New Iberia. He was also employed by South Central Bell for several years. He was a member of the Veterans of Foreign Wars, Marine Corps League, Medal of Honor Society, Fighter Aces Association, and the Third Order of the Secular Carmelites. He was a parishioner of St. Martin de Tours Roman Catholic Church, where he served as a Eucharistic Adorer, Reader, and helped lead the rosary before the daily Mass. He participated in the Cursillo Walk for a number of years, and also participated in the Senior Olympics. Col. DeBlanc was a former Boy Scout leader prior to entering the service. He was also a man of many interests and hobbies that included, tinkering with electronics, HAM operating, playing tennis, bike riding, computer technology, and he enjoyed cutting grass. Although he never thought that any of his efforts as a fighter pilot were heroic, he will long be remembered by many Louisianans, especially in the Acadiana area, for his heroism, bravery, and valor. He is survived by four sons, Very Rev. Jefferson DeBlanc, Jr., of Church Point, Richard DeBlanc and his wife, Irma Chavez DeBlanc, of Coteau Holmes, Frank DeBlanc and his wife Margaret Guidry DeBlanc, of St. Martinville, and Michael DeBlanc and his wife, Pamela Roy DeBlanc, of Parks; one daughter, Barbara DeBlanc Romero and her husband, Tommy L. Romero, of St. Martinville; seven grandchildren, Jonathan Romero and his wife, Marcie Bonin Romero, Christie Romero Broussard and her husband, David W. Broussard of St. Martinville, Estelle DeBlanc, Margie DeBlanc and husband, Dustin Robertson, of St. Martinville, Amanda DeBlanc, Blake DeBlanc, both of Parks, and Michael DeBlanc II, of St. Ben's Seminary, in Covington; and four great grandchildren, Trey Barras, Taylor Romero, Sean Broussard, and Beau Broussard. He was preceded in death by his parents; his wife, Louise B. DeBlanc; three sisters, Mathile, Marie, and Sr. Marguerite DeBlanc, O'Carm; and one brother, Brother Ralph DeBlanc, Maryknoll. The family requests that visiting hours be observed from 1:30 p.m. until 9:00 p.m. on Sunday and continue at 7:30 a.m. until 11:30 a.m. on Monday. A rosary will be recited at 7:00 p.m. on Sunday. Honored to serve as his pallbearers, will be members of the United States Marine Corps. Honorary pallbearers will be, his sons, son-in-law, grandsons, grandsons-in-law, great grandsons, Robert Thibodeaux, Alvin Cormier, Branan Bert Beyt, Jr., Gordon J. Delcambre, Jr., Edward Durand, and Louis B. Gary. In lieu of flowers, memorial donations may be made to Maryknoll Fathers and Brothers, Maryknoll, NY 10545, or to Lacombe Carmel, P.O. Box 476, Lacombe, LA 70445-0476 Pellerin Funeral Home, 112 New Market Street, St. Martinville, LA 70582 (337.394.9121), is in charge of arrangements. To read more about Col. DeBlanc's military career, go to www.medalofhonor.com/JeffersonDeBlanc.