PVT Jessie Claiborne Thibodeaux

courtesy of Melissa Daigle

PVT Jessie Claiborne Thibodeaux was born 30 Mar 1918 in Elton, Louisiana. He was the 2nd of 4 children, 1 girl then 3 boys, born to Felix and Martha Faye (Marcantel) Thibodeaux. His father farmed rice in Jefferson Davis Parish, Louisiana. The family later moved to Calcasieu Parish where his dad worked as a carpenter. Jessie was able to apprentice as a carpenter and work 48 weeks in 1939 earning a reported $1500 for the year. In 1940 he was working for T. Miller & Sons in Lake Charles, Louisiana. Jessie married Anna Lee Alexander in 1942 and in April 1943 the couple had a son.

Jessie was drafted in September 1943. After completing his basic military training he was sent to England and then, after the D-Day landings to France. PVT Thibodeaux was transferred from the replacement depot to Headquarters and Headquarters Company 3rd Battalion 116th Infantry on 14 Jun 1944. He was then transferred to L Company 116th Infantry to serve as a rifleman on 19 Jun 1944. He fought with the unit through the hedgerows, the bocage, in the approach to Saint-Lo until wounded by artillery fire on 9 Jul 1944 and was evacuated to hospital. In addition to his wounds he suffered an infection and died of his wounds on 13 Jul 1944. 

PVT Thibodeaux was repatriated in 1948 and re-interred in the Orange Grove Cemetery in Lake Charles, Louisiana.