The 35th Infantry Regiment Association salutes our fallen brother, CPL Kermit Joseph Lejeune, RA18278472, who died in the service of his country on November 28th, 1950 in North Korea. The cause of death was listed as Captured-Died POW. At the time of his death Kermit was 23 years of age. He was from Richard, Louisiana. Kermit's Military Occupation Specialty was 4745-Light Weapons Infantryman.
The decorations earned by CPL Kermit Joseph Lejeune include: the Combat Infantryman Badge, the Purple Heart, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Korea Service Medal, and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Sergeant Lejeune was a member of Company K, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. He was taken Prisoner of War while fighting the enemy in North Korea on November 28, 1950 and died while a prisoner on March 31, 1951. Sergeant Lejeune was awarded the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Prisoner of War Medal, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation and the Republic of Korea War Service Medal.
Kermit's remains were recently identified. Below is funeral and biographical information. We will have 35th Infantry members in attendance.
A Mass of Christian Burial will be held on Thursday, December 14, 2017 at 11:00 A.M. at St. Edward Catholic Church in Richard for Sergeant Kermit J. LeJeune.
Sergeant Kermit J. LeJeune was one of the many unaccounted-for soldiers after the Korean War. He was in the US Army, Light Weapons Infantryman, Company K, 3rd Battalion, 35th Infantry Regiment, 25th Infantry Division. Awards: Purple Heart, National Defense Service Medal, Korean Service Medal, Republic of Korea Presidential Unit Citation, United Nations Service Medal, Republic of Korea War Service Medal, and Combat Infantry Badge.
He was taken as a prisoner of war while fighting the enemy in the battle zone of Chongchon Ricer, North Korea on November 28, 1950. He died while a prisoner on March 31, 1951. His death occurred at Camp #5 of malnutrition, and he was buried there. His family received official notification that he was missing in action in January, 1951. He was a resident of the Richard community. His parents were Lorenza and Ora LeJeune LeJeune. He attended Richard Elementary and then went on to attend Church Point High School. He was buried and listed on the Courts of Missing at the National Memorial Cemetery of the Pacific, Honolulu, Hawaii.
Fr. Wayne Duet, Pastor of St. Edward Catholic Church in Richard will be officiating for the services. Burial will be in the St. Edward Catholic Church in Richard. The Military will honor Sergeant LeJeune at the gravesite with the firing of 3 volleys, the playing of taps, folding and the presentation of the United States Flag.
The family has requested the visitation to be held on Wednesday, December 13, 2017 at 12:00 P.M. until 10:00 P.M. in the Duhon Funeral Home Chapel in Church Point. The Military will have the presentation of the awards at 6:30 P.M. in the Funeral Home Chapel. A Rosary will be recited on Wednesday at 7 o'clock in the evening in the Funeral Home Chapel in Church Point. A Tribute to his Cajun Heritage will be done following the recitation of the Rosary by his nephew, James Sattler. All songs played will be from the list of many great Lejeune Musicians of the past. Visitation will resume on Thursday, December 15, 2017 at 8:00 A.M. until time of the services.
Survivors include twenty nine nephews and nieces; a host of great and great-great nephews, and nieces.
Sergeant LeJeune was preceded in death by his parents, Lorenza and Ora L. LeJeune; four brothers, Irby LeJeune, Aaron LeJeune, Lorenza "Tee" LeJeune, Jr., and Louis "Vinus" LeJeune; three sisters, Earline LeJeune, Amanda LeJeune Janice, and Joyce LeJeune Howe; several nephews and nieces.
You may view the obituary, sign the guest registry and express condolences online to Sergeant LeJeune's family at www.duhonfuneralhome.com.
Duhon Funeral Home, LLC, (337) 684-5552, 701 S. Broadway Street, Church Point, LA 70525 is in charge of the arrangements.
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