| Harry D. "Jack" Lafield
(Automobile salesman and decorated soldier of World War II) | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Born | June 7, 1924 Coushatta, Red River Parish, Louisiana | ||
| Spouse | Kate Brown Lafield Children: | ||
| Religion | Southern Baptist | ||
| Military Service | |||
| Service/branch | United States Army | ||
| Years of service | 1943 to 1946 | ||
| Rank | Staff sergeant and machine gunner | ||
| Battles/wars | World War II: Pacific Theater of Operations | ||
| Awards | Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of Operations Ribbon Three Bronze Stars | ||
Harry D. "Jack" Lafield (June 7, 1924 – July 4, 2018) was an automobile salesman in his native Coushatta in Red River Parish, Louisiana and a highly decorated United States Army soldier in World War II. It was believed that during his business career he had sold at least one vehicle to nearly every resident of Red River and surrounding parishes. Often he sold at least one car for each business day.[1]
Lafield was one of three sons of Joseph Henry "Jodie" Lafield and the former Florence "Doll" Jackson. He was a champion athlete in track and basketball at Coushatta High School, since renamed Red River High School. In 1943, he was drafted into the Army in Shreveport, a month after his marriage of seventy-three years to the former Kate Brown. The couple had four children, Joseph Henry "Jodie" Lafield, Harry Lane Lafield, Trudy Lynn Lafield Abboud. and Byron Lafield.[1]
He was a staff sergeant trained at Camp Abbot, Oregon, and the Mount Rainier Ordnance Depot in Tacoma, Washington. On May 26, 1944, he was sent to New Guinea and then the Philippines and Japan. He supervised the laying, testing, and maintenance of wire communications and the adjustment and repair of radio sets and wire lines. As communications chief, he fought on New Guinea, the Gulf of Leyte, and Luzon. He became a machine gunner while stationed also in Burma. He fought in the Battle of Driniumor River in 1944. For his military success, he received the Asiatic-Pacific Theatre of Operations Ribbon, with three Bronze Stars, and Philippine Liberation Ribbon, the Good Conduct Medal, Victory Medal, and Combat Infantryman Badge.[1]
After the surrender of the Empire of Japan in August 1945, Lafield served for several weeks as part of the occupation forces in Fukuoka and Osaka, Japan. He was honorably discharged from the military on January 9, 1946.[1]
He was formerly the president of the Coushatta Lions International and a member of the town council. He was over the years a deacon, Sunday School superintendent, and a choir member at the First Baptist Church of Coushatta.[1]
Lafield died in Coushatta at the age of ninety-four. After services at his church, he was interred at Springville Cemetery in Coushatta.[1]