Lee Broussard

Born in December 1925 in Loreauville, Louisiana, Lee R. Broussard learned about the attack on Pearl Harbor on December 8, 1941, while at school, as telephones and radios were scarce in his town. His two older brothers joined the military shortly after the war began, but Broussard had to wait until he turned 18 to enlist.

In 1943, he joined the U.S. Navy for basic training at Camp Elliott in San Diego, California. He was initially assigned to the USS Midway (CV-41) to train with amphibious landing forces. However, because he could type and knew shorthand, he was sent to Pacific Fleet School in Hawaii, where he graduated at the top of his class. Following graduation, Broussard was assigned to Fleet Admiral William F. Halsey’s 3rd Fleet Staff. On September 2, 1945, he witnessed the formal Japanese surrender aboard the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay, a pivotal moment marking the end of World War II.

After the war, Mr. Broussard returned to Louisiana and currently resides in Lake Providence.