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Contents |
Biography
Life Summary
Mitchell Lalonde was a long-term Texaco operator in Port Arthur, Texas where he lived with his wife, Ludie, and raised three daughters. He was born and raised in Louisiana. In his early twenties, he served in Patton's 11th Armored Division during World War II], fighting at the Battle of the Bulge and helping to liberate Mauthausen concentration camp. He never spoke about these events.
Birth and Parents
Mitchell Antoine Lalonde was born on June 30, 1920 but Mitchell and his family celebrated his birthday as if his birth year was 1921. Census records imply and his military records and death record state 1921 as does his tombstone. However, his birth and baptism records state he was born in 1920 as does his Merchant Marine record.[1]
He was born in Pecaniere, St. Landry, Louisiana, United States, son of Joseph Olide Lalonde (1889–1953) and Eugenie David (1887–1986).[1][2]
CCC & Merchant Marines
As a young man, he joined the CCC[citation needed] for a time then served one tour of duty in the Merchant Marines on the Steamship Oregon under master Ingvald C. Nilsen, from January 2, 1942 to January 30, 1942. While at Providence, RI, the Oregon was detained briefly from beginning the return mission[3]
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| Mitchell Lalonde Merchant Marine Experience 1942 |
German U-boat Near Misses
The delay was the result of surprise attacks on ships off New York harbor by German U-Boat U-123 led by Reinhard Hardegen[4]. This was the first attack the US had experienced, but attacks like these caused far more damage than that of Pearl Harbor. Patrol 7 of U-123 sunk nine ships from various countries and damaged one other off the eastern coast of the US between January 12-27, 1942.[5][6].
It is not clear why Mitchell only completed one tour, but he literally dodged a bullet. The Oregon was sunk on its next tour by U-156 captained by Werner Hartensteinon on February 28, 1942. The Oregon left Aruba with 78,000 barrels of Navy fuel oil heading for Melville, Rhode Island. The attack killed the ship's master, Ingvald C. Nilsen and five other men[7]. Werner's U-156 had attacked and destroyed two ships at Aruba 12 days earlier.
Army Training 1942-1944
Served in the United States Army 1942-1945 attaining Corporal
Served in World War II.
Service started: Oct 1942
Unit(s): 11th Armored Division
Service ended: Oct 1945
Mitchell registered for the first peace-time military draft in US history on February 16, 1942.[8]
He married Mary Ludie (Lanclos) Lalonde (1924-2006) on September 3, 1942, at Our Lady Star of the Sea Catholic Church in New Orleans, Louisiana during a private ceremony conducted by Father Cunningham.[9][1][10].
America had entered World War II so Mitchell reported for Army duty on October 12, 1942 in Lafayette, LA.
The 11th Armored Division activated on August 15, 1942 at Camp Polk, Louisiana where Mitchell participated in the Louisiana Manuevers starting June 24, 1943 then transferred to Camp Barkeley, in Abilene Texas on September 5, 1943. Ludie accompanied him working at a factory in Abilene where they made Army clothes. She told the story of eating waffles for the first time in Abilene.
Mitchell then participated in the dessert California maneuvers at Camp Ibis October 29, 1943.
Mitchell was then stationed at Camp Cooke in Lompoc, California on February 11, 1944. Ludie again joined him there. She worked at the camp laundry. They lived in a mortuary until they got a government trailer. It was here that they conceived their first child.
World War II Involvement Fall 1944 - Fall 1945
The division staged at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey from September 16-29, 1944 until departing New York Port of Embarkation on September 29, 1944, arriving in England on October 11, 1944.
Patton's 11th Armored Divison landed in France on December 16, 1944 assigned to attack German pockets of resistance on the coast of Brittany.
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| MItchell (2nd left from gun muzzle) with unit on tank WWII |
However, on the same day, enemy forces mounted a desperate attack in the Ardennes Forest of Belgium, so the Division was rerouted, rushed across France, and committed into action in what was soon to be known as the Battle of the Bulge.
American forces bore the brunt of the attack and incurred their highest casualties of any operation during the war.
Battle of the Bulge
The Battle of the Bulge was waged from December 16, 1944 to January 25, 1945. Though it wasn't known to Mitchell at the time, his first daughter was born as the division put the battle behind them on January 26, 1945.
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| Newspaper Birth Announcement for Judy Ann Lalonde |
From this time on, Mitchell's division continued rapidly through Belgium and Germany, skirting Czechoslovakia, to cross into Austria in April, reaching Linz on May 4th.
On May 5, the Division’s cavalry reconnaissance forces encountered and liberated the concentration camps of Mauthausen and Gusen, freeing thousands of starving and maltreated prisoners. Mitchell helped support the effort at Mauthausen.
The 11th Armored Division was deactivated August 15, 1945 and Mitchell was released from service Oct 22, 1945[11].
A map of the Division's movements can be found at The 11th Armored Division Legacy Group or Google map version Todd Boyum has developed from the details of this site.
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| Paris July 24, 1945 Mitchell Lalonde bottom row 6th from left |
Career with Texaco / Raising a Family
Mitchell returned home to Arnaudville, LA meeting his nine-month old daughter for the first time.
He applied for a job with Texaco. He was hired at .65 cents per hour, and the small family moved to Port Arthur, Texas where he worked as a refinery worker for Texaco until he retired on December 1, 1981.
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| Texaco Employee ID Card |
In 1948, they bought their first home in Port Arthur, TX where they lived until Mitchell passed away. That home in 1948 was $5,500.
Mitchell and Ludie had three daughters over 12 years.
Retirement & and Later Life
After Mitchell retired, they decided to do a bit of traveling visiting Germany, Canada, and France.
They traveled to Montreal in September 1987 to attended the the 300-year reunion and monument unveiling at Baie d'Urfe, dedicated to Jean Lalonde dit Lespérance, the earliest Lalonde migrating ancestor and soldier of the Carignan-Salières Regiment, sent by King Louis XIV of France in 1665 to address the problems being caused by the Iroquois in New France.
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| Lalonde Memorial Unveiled at Reunion |
In early September, 1992, Mitchell and Ludie celebrated their 50th wedding anniversary with their three daughters and their husbands, five grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.
Mitchell died from prostate cancer on September 24, 1992 in Port Arthur, Texas, at the age of 71. He was buried in Greenlawn Memorial Park, Groves, Texas.[12][1]
Sources
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 [https://www.wikitree.com/photo.php/c/c9/Lalonde-1481.pdf Mitchell Lalonde personal records from Todd Boyum uploaded on Wikitree Image Lalonde-1481.pdf showcasing birth-year discrepancy in official records:
- Birth Certificate: Louisiana File# 58, registered# 34305 filed 28Jun1927 (no orginal signature)
- Baptism: Louisiana: Saint Landy Parish, Leonville - Saint Leo Church
- US Merchant Marines, Book 114151
- US Army Discharge, Army serial no: 38260916
- VA Certificate of Eligibility Certificate# 4953-Tex-H. Date issued: 27Sep46
- Death Certificate, Texas, Jefferson County, City of Port Arthur, Reg# 03-542, issue date: 02Oct1992
- Tombstone Image
- Marriage Cerificate: Louisiana, Orleans Parish, Book 57, Folio 61, no. 19250
- US Merchant Marines, Book 114151 - tour page
- Providence RI, US postal date: 16Jan1942, post card from Mitchell to Ludie
See also:
- Maternal relationship is confirmed by an autosomal Family Tree DNA test match between Todd Boyum and Barbara Lantz, his 3rd cousin . Their most-recent common ancestors are Joseph David and Corinne Emonet, the great great grandparents of both Todd Boyum and Barbara Lantz. Predicted relationship from Family Tree DNA: 2nd - 4th Cousins, based on sharing 88 cM across 5 segments.
