LAVASSEUR, ARCHIE JR Jan 14, 1945 age 21 KIA Belgium

ARCHIE LAVASSEUR JR. b. Oct 20, 1924 Detroit d. Jan 14, 1945 Killed in Action Belgium

Pfc Messenger 36875550  Army 331^st Inf 83^rd Div M Company

Buried Henri-Chapelle Cemetery, Belgium

Parents: Archibald & Rose (Badore)

Siblings: Harvey K., Marvin K., Dorothy Lenore

In 1930 Archie Sr. was a barber with his own shop. The family lived at 8730 Avis Ave., the Springwells area near Patton Park. It may have been a big house back the in that day, but what’s left on that block now really doesn’t leave clues among the garbage, garages and one deteriorating house.  In the 1950’s my family often visited friends in that area, recent immigrants from Germany. Business must have been good for Archie as the family had a live-in servant, a young 16 year old girl. Then they moved to 15141 Westbrook in Brightmoor, an area that has fared far worse than Springwells. At that time Archie was a carpenter working on a Detroit Zoological Park project. From 1935-37 the federal Works Projects Administration (WPA) built an animal hospital, administration building and provided for major landscaping. So many of our current public structures greatly benefitted from the WPA, and wonderful structures still grace the parks, city downtowns, and great art deco post offices across the country.

 

Young Archie graduated Redford Jan 1943 and had already registered for the draft in Dec 1942. His yearbook interests were building model planes for U.S. and keeping bees. His draft registration describes him as 140 lbs, hazel eyes with brown hair at 5’8”. Employer was F.W. Woolworth.

On July 16, 1944 Pfc. LaVasseur joined M Company from the 41^st Replacement Battalion. July 20 he was lightly wounded in action and transferred to the 104^th Evacuation Hospital. He rejoined M Company Nov 5 after temporary duty at 83^rd Headquarters.

Moving to the Hurtgen forest the 83^rd thrust forward from Gressenich to the west back of the Roer – it entered the Battle of the Bulge 27^th Dec.
January 14 1945 various battalions of the 83^rd cleared out woods from Langlir to Courtil encountering dug-in high velocity enemy gun fire. 4 KIA, 44 WIA, 3 MIA.
During the operation the regiment had its first experience in fighting in heavy woods and under winter conditions. Then came January 15, enemy resistance, attack and counterattack. Artillery fire was lighter than the previous day, nevertheless, the casualty count: 6 KIA, 21 WIA, 8 MIA; that resistance was lighter was probably not relevant to Archie.

He was awarded a Purple Heart w/Bronze Oak Leaf Cluster.