An 'example of courage'

The role of Cajun translators in World War II has been better documented than in the first war, but in both of them hundreds of Louisiana Cajuns became interpreters who were valuable not only in helping allied commanders speak to each other, but also helping them deal with the citizenry as they fought on French soil.

That was an important job, but his language skills had nothing to do with Theriot being awarded the Croix de Guerre.It took gallantry, not talk, to earn that medal presented to French and allied soldiers.

He earned his medal on May 28, 1918, when he was serving as liaison between the 28th U. S. Infantry which was fighting with the French 5th Tank Group. The units were part of the U.S. First Division, which was engaged in the Battle of Cantigny, a small village north of Paris that was then a German stronghold. The fight turned out to be the first American victory in World War I.

On that day, the First Division drove the Germans from the village, then, despite suffering more than 1,000 casualties, held it against repeated counterattacks. According to a history of the division, the victory was not only militarily important, but "the success raised the Allies' morale, convinced the British and French that the Americans were capable of operating in independent fighting units, and disproved German propaganda about American incapacity."

That history also notes that Cantigny "was the first significant use" of armies from different nations fighting together in the war. The U.S. division was supported by French airplanes, tanks and artillery. After that victory, French general Henri-Philippe Pétain signed the order commending Theriot for giving "the best example of courage" when, by himself, he took on five enemy soldiers, killing four and capturing the fifth.

The citation, which was printed in the St. Martinville Messenger on April 5, 1919, notes that "although wounded by bullet and knife," the 19-year-old Theriot "refused to receive first aid before the end of the fight."

His wounds were substantial enough that he was discharged from the army on September 27, 1919, and came home to Breaux Bridge, where he had been born May 9, 1900, the son of Charles Theriot and Sidonie LeBlanc. 

The 1920 federal census shows him back home, working as a sales clerk in a general mercantile store. The work apparently agreed with him. He married Celine Hanes on Oct. 15, 1921, and opened his own store in 1922.

He stayed in Breaux Bridge for the rest of his life, quietly earning the respect of his neighbors as a businessman and contributor to his church and community.

When he died in April 1959, his obituary noted that he had been a member of the St. Bernard church Ushers' Society and its Holy Name Society, chairman of the St. Martin Parish Red Cross and president of the Young Men's Business Club, and a commander of American Legion Post #133. He also served as president of the St. Martin Parish School Board on which he served for more than a decade.

In 1948 he was honored with the town's Outstanding Citizen Award, in recognition of his overall contributions to the community, and particularly for his work in selling war bonds and otherwise aiding the U.S. effort in World War II.

 

---

You can contact Jim Bradshaw at jimbradshaw4321@gmail.com or P.O. Box 1121, Washington LA 70589.