RAIDERS LeFrancois, Wilfred Sylvio

John Robertson

Administrator
Staff member
  • SURNAME
LeFrancois
  • FORENAME
Wilfred Sylvio
  • UNIT
2 Raider Bn (Company A)
  • RANK
Second Lieutenant
  • NUMBER
0-8229
  • AWARD
Navy Cross
  • PLACE
Makin Atoll 1942
  • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
born 26.05.1901, Gananoque, Ontario, Canada
father Adelard D. LeFrancois
mother Mae LeFrancois
wife Anne Krone (nee Dohrn) LeFrancois
1920 graduated Watertown High School
2 years Syracuse University
employed F.W. Woolworth Store
1930 enlisted in Marines
served China, Nicaragua, Puerto Rico, Japan and Korea, USA
final rank Major (23 years service)
died 09.06.1952 due gunshot wounds received in Korea when on active duty (Aged 51)
buried Fort Rosecrans National Cemetery, San Diego, San Diego County, California, USA. Plot Q, 686
 

CITATION:

Navy Cross : The President of the United States of America takes pleasure in presenting the Navy Cross to Second Lieutenant Wilfred S. LeFrancois (MCSN: 0-8229), United States Marine Corps, for extraordinary heroism and conspicuous devotion to duty while serving as Platoon Leader of the First Platoon, Company A, SECOND Marine Raider Battalion, during the Marine Raider Expedition against the Japanese-held island of Makin in the Gilbert Islands on 17 and 18 August 1942. By his discriminating disposal of the advance guard, Second Lieutenant LeFrancois enabled it to engage the enemy effectively, initiating the fire with great success. Displaying exemplary leadership and determination, he led his platoon in advance until severely wounded in the right shoulder by enemy machine-gun fire. Throughout the engagement, his aggressiveness, courage and utter disregard for his own personal safety were in keeping with the highest traditions of the United States Naval Service.

WEB LINKS:

https://valor.militarytimes.com/hero/7627
https://marineraiderassociation.org/lefrancois-wilfred-s/

FINDAGRAVE:

https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/3413535/wilfred-s-le_francois
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