[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 153 (2007), Part 27]
[Senate]
[Page 36367]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




              TRIBUTE TO COLONEL JEFFERSON JOSEPH DeBLANC

 Mr. VITTER. Mr. President, I wish to acknowledge COL Jefferson 
Joseph DeBlanc, Sr., for his dedicated service to Louisiana and the 
United States of America. I would like to take some time to make a few 
remarks on his accomplishments.
  In 1940, Colonel DeBlanc left school in order to pursue a career in 
the military. After joining the Marine flight program, he enlisted in 
the Naval Reserve where he received elimination flight training. He 
continued his illustrious military career in the Marines, achieving the 
rank of captain on June 1, 1943, and transferred to the Marine Aircraft 
Group 11 overseas.
  In November 1944, he returned overseas for his second tour of duty. 
He joined the Marine Fighting Squadron 422 in the Marshall Islands and 
remained stationed there until May 1945, joining Squadron 212 in order 
to fight in the Okinawa campaign. In his two tours of duty in the 
Pacific at Guadalcanal and Okinawa, he shot down nine enemy aircraft. 
On December 6, 1946, President Truman awarded him the Nation's highest 
decoration for valor and bravery, the Congressional Medal of Honor 
``for his conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of his life 
above and beyond the call of duty.'' Colonel DeBlanc received this 
medal for shooting down five enemy Zeros in the Solomons. He went on to 
be decorated with more than 10 medals, including the Purple Heart, the 
Distinguished Flying Cross, and multiple Gold Stars.
  Colonel DeBlanc later received a master's degree in education. He 
worked with the St. Martin's Parish School Board and taught physics at 
Mt. Carmel in New Iberia. After his retirement from the Marine Corps 
Reserve in 1972, he served as a member in multiple organizations, 
including the Veterans of Foreign Wars and Medal of Honor Society.
  Colonel Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc, Sr., passed away on Thursday, 
November 22, 2007. Colonel DeBlanc was the last living World War II 
Medal of Honor recipient from Louisiana. Although he did not perceive 
his achievement as a fighter pilot as out of the ordinary, many 
Louisianans will long remember the gallantry, bravery, and valor he 
exhibited throughout his life.
  Thus, today, I am proud to rise to honor a fellow Louisianan, Colonel 
Jefferson Joseph DeBlanc, Sr., and thank him for his dedicated and 
tireless service to our country.

                          ____________________