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Several hundred Bordelon's have served in WWII and other wars but I wanted to make special mention of a cousin who was killed May 23rd 1945 on his way from home during WWII.

Eugene served with the 654th Tank Destroyer Batallion which was attached and reattached to various units in WWII. They were mainly attached to the 35th Division of the United States- Patton's 3rd Army. 

He was killed in a plane crash in northern Europe on his way home. His remains were shipped home where a funeral was held for him in 1944. He is buried next to his parents Oscar and Corine Bordelon. Oscar,  lived with my grandfather Walter as a young man as seen in 1900 US Census below.

Though the generosity of David and Ann Gaule and Andy Graves, I was able to obtain more details on the specifics of this unit and my cousin Eugene. I want to thank and credit these two people greatly for the information provided below:

"Eugene served in two different Companies during the war. He served and trained with Company C, 1st Platoon as an assistant Tank Destroyer Driver up until 25 July 1944.

His job at this point in time would have been to control the radio. Eugene sat in the front right portion of the TD. This was in the lowest part of the TD. Above his head was a door hatch located under the big gun "90mm." Also up front there was a 30 Caliber machine they fired. 

Eugene lucky got to sit in one of three seats placed within the interior of the TD. The TD driver had an other seat next to Eugene. These two seats could be raised up so that when they were traveling "in non combat situations," They could place there heads out of the opened hatches to enable them to see to drive. The big gun was re- positioned away from their heads due to its very close proximity above them.

Of course under combat conditions the hatch was closed and they drove the TD by use of a periscope. The other lucky man to have the other seat would be the 90 mm gunner. The other two crewmen the TD Cmdr "Sgt", and the assistant gunner fired the 50 cal anti aircraft machine gun above the opened turret.

Generally in A, B and C Companies you had 12 TD per Company and a five man crew. One TD carried the Platoons Lieutenant making a total of six men. The men generally wore a "Rawlings" crash helmet while on the move due to it being a very rough ride in the TD. Combat times the steel pot helmet or both.

 As of 25 July 1944 Eugene was transferred to my Uncle's Company - "Company B" he was assigned to 1st Lieutenant McNaughts 3rd Platoon. He was a transfer to replace the many men KIA in this Company. Those killed in or very near to St.Lo on 21 and 24 July 1944.

A few reports indicate that he was a Tech 5. I will also tell you that due to a light wound in action on 29 Dec 1944, he more than likely would have received a Purple Heart. This particular incident occurred in an enemy tank on tank battle inside the town of Lutrebois, Belgium. Two of Company B's TD were destroyed many men KIA or severely wounded.

Eugene by the grace of God survived these without much injury. His tank destroyer was destroyed. His comrades were either KIA or severely wounded or like him less severely. Two men one not injured and one man a SSgt acting as Platoon Leader lost half of his arm in this incident. Each helped to rescue a wounded man who could not get out of the burning tank on his own. Sadly when the men got to the top of the turret the opposing German tank machine gunned them down killing the wounded rescued soldier, and also killing the heroic uninjured soldier.

The SSgt. received 4 to 5 more severe wounds during this Heroic incident he is a very dear friend of mine. For their heroic efforts each received the Silver Star.. There is more detail about this incident but this gives you some idea. I personally think what they did was deserving of the Medal of Honor. The second TD was burned completely killing all men inside. Very few remains!!

Eugene’s time with Company B was involved in many Heroics actions. Eugene spent the 25th of July in the town of St-Lo, France.

Eugene and his crew had one other close call just before the above mentioned one. This occurred on 19 Nov. 1944 when the TD was hit by a 120mm enemy mortar shell puncturing the radio but causing no causalities. He was briefly transferred to Hqts on 22 April 1945. He probably had returned to the US based on the "Point System."

Eugene and two other Battalion soldiers were tragically killed during an unfortunate plane crash on 23 May 1945 near Vosges, Northern France.  One soldier a Cpl.from the plane crash is buried in the Epinal American Cemetery, France.

Just so you and your family know the one day that Eugene spent in St -Lo it was under severe accurate mortar and artillery fire. Company B had experienced this since the onset of the towns initial capture on18 July. The Germans did not want to give up St- Lo, so easily - so they continued to shell St- Lo even after Patton's Breakout of Normandy.

As an example of the terrain of the town of St -Lo It was like the bottom of a soup bowl while the Germans had the rim allowing them "enemy" constant observation of our troops in the town a mere distance of 300-500 yards away. Even in the towns terrible destructive ruins many a sniper could be found.

Please add these two names "SSgt. Brock and Cpl. Brannon" into the story that I wrote you about in the last E-mail (29 Dec.44) because these are the two men who risked their lives to save the wounded soldier Pvt. Hall from the burning TD. Each was awarded the Silver Star. Cpl. Brannon was awarded his post since his death and SSgt.Brock was awarded his at a stateside amputee military hospital were here recovered for one year due to the many serious wounds he received. 

At approximately 1000 hrs. in the vicinity of La Bonne Eau, Belgium Co B -1st Platoon was hit by enemy tank fire. The Platoon was lead by SSgt. Brock acting Platoon Leader. The crewmen of your Uncle's TD were TD commander Sgt. Sheppard, Cpl Brannon, Pvt. Strickland, and PFC Hall the driver.The TD received hits from an 88mm APC one round hit below the drivers hatch, a second in the left drive sprocket. Both rounds entered the TD compartment and exploded the TD ammo. This blew the right side of the TD out and caused the tank to burn. 

SSgt Brock, and Cpl Brannon had been out on foot reconnaissance when the first action occurred. Immediately they returned and entered the burning TD to remove a wounded Pvt. Hall from the tank.

Due to the enemy tanks proximity the enemy witnessed the two men entering the burned TD and fired an additional round of "HE" high explosive shell into the compartment which also blew off part of SSgt. Brocks right arm. SSgt. Brock reached down and disposed of what was missing from his arm "just below the elbow joint" and threw it out of the turret, and under these conditions continued with Cpl. Brannon in the rescue of Pvt. Hall.

As the three reached the opened turret the enemy tank fire point blank heavy machine gun fire. Pvt.Hall and Cpl Brannon were KIA, and SSgt. Brock received 4 more severe wounds one included blowing out the bones in one of his legs. SSgt Brock was still able to escape and to crawl to a ditch were he was later rescued. Out of this incident three men survived Tech 5 Bordelon with a scratch, Pvt. Strickland a punctured ear drum, the extent of Sgt. Shepards wounds has not been noted. It is amazing that anyone survived!!

Many Infantryman, and tankers were killed in the taking and holding of the town.

Company B performed well during it's time in St -Lo many acts of shear Heroism took place without any support from any Infantry. 

The Company had very little recognition even though they helped to capture the town and remained there to defend it from a German Counter Attack. Four TD were placed in defensive positions at the main avenues of approach with very little or no Infantry support.

This was in case of a German Tank Counter Attack. "It would have been Tank on Tank"

The 4 TD's as of 20 July had to remain were they were placed because of the danger it represented to move them. The Platoons in this position would rotate with one another doing so under the cover of darkness.

On 21 July Lt. Alger the Companies Executive Officer went into the town to survey the TD positions to try to better place them. He did so with his inseparable friend Lt Thelen whose Platoon was in the town at the point in time. This was done under the approval of the Companies Captain sadly both men were both killed one other nearby tank Sgt was wounded but survived. The 4TD's never were moved. "