Remembering World War II

Donald James Boudreau

Name: Donald James Boudreau Rank: Private Service Number: 31468685 Service: Company G, 15th Battalion, 317th Infantry Regiment, 80th Infantry Division, US Army Date of Birth: October 13, 1918 Place of Birth: Yarmouth, NS Date of Enlistment: June 1, 1944 Place of Enlistment: Fort Devens, Massachusetts Address at Enlistment: Middlesex Co., Massachusetts Age at Enlistment: 25 Height: 5 feet, 8 inches Complexion: Light Brown Hair Color: Black Eye Color: Brown Occupation: Chauffeur / driver Marital Status: Married Date of Death: December 23, 1944 Age: 26 Cemetery: Wyoming Cemetery, Melrose, Massachusetts Donald James Boudreau was the son of James Joseph Boudreau (1895–1924) and Rose Mary (Thibault) Boudreau (1900–1986). His father was born in Yarmouth, NS; his mother was born in Brooklyn, Yarmouth Co., Nova Scotia. His maternal grandfather was born in Brooklyn, Yarmouth Co., and his maternal grandmother Evangeline Léonice Muise was born in Belleville, Yarmouth Co., NS. Donald had a younger sister Marjorie (1921-2019) and a younger brother Warren Albert Boudreau (1923-2000). His brother Warren also served, Private 1st Class, in the US Army in WWII from 20 April 20, 1943 – April 2, 1946. Donald married Arlene Veronica Overton (1920-2016) in Wilmington, Massachusetts, in 1939. Arlene was born in Wilmington. He registered for the US Draft October 16, 1940 in Wilmington and was working for Friend Brothers in Melrose, Mass. at the time. Donald was assigned to Company G of the 15th Battalion of the 317th Infantry Regiment which was in the 80th Infantry Division of the US Army. The 317th trained for two years in Tennessee, Kansas, Arizona, California, and finally New Jersey before departing for England in June 1944. Entering the European continent after D-Day, the regiment experienced its first combat in August 1944 when it assisted in closing the gap at Falaise and spearheaded Third Army's attack on Nancy, France. The 317th sat through the logistics shortfall that stopped the Third Army's advance during the "October Pause" in the fall of 1944. Then in November the regiment moved through the Maginot Line and prepared to attack Hitler's West Wall. In mid-December of 1944, German forces launched the Battle of the Bulge, or Ardennes Offensive, with a surprise attack in the Ardennes Forest with twenty-five divisions. The 317th was one of the first units to begin the movement north to relieve the beleaguered American troops in the Ardennes. Private Donald James Boudreau was Killed in Action in the Battle of the Bulge two days before Christmas on December 23, 1944. Donald was initially interred in Europe, but his family chose to repatriate his remains, and he was laid to rest at the Wyoming Cemetery in Melrose, Massachusetts in 1948.

Sources findagrave Backgound Photo: Infantrymen of the US First Army in Belgium’s Ardennes Forest as they advance to contact German forces at the start of the Battle of the Bulge. AP FILE PHOTO