Local Purple Heart group seeking members

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Combat-wounded veterans are encouraged to become an active member of Terrebonne’s newly founded Military Order of the Purple Heart chapter. 

The national organization, which contains local chapters throughout the United States, started in 1932 for the protection and interest of “combat veterans” who received the honor of the Purple Heart for their military services. 

The Terrebonne chapter was established less than a month ago and is looking to expand its current membership from eight wounded warriors to at least 12 in order to sustain the chapter. 


Albert Lirette, a Vietnam war veteran and four-time recipient of the Purple Heart, brought the organization to Terrebonne Parish. 

 “Our job with the Military Order of the Purple Heart is to start this chapter so that we can help local veterans and their families,” Lirette said.  

The Terrebonne organization cited their major objective is to work with wounded soldiers and their families to provide any care and assistance necessary.  


Lirette said the need for such an organization is important since it provides a foundation for military veterans to communicate. 

“It’s very rare for Purple Heart vets to talk,” Lirette said. “So it’s a very special organization for wounded warriors.” 

For Lirette, his story of being drafted by the United States Army in 1967 and his deportation to Vietnam in January 1968 contains some not so fond memories, but he does not mind sharing.  


“Every city got hit in Vietnam. On my first day I saw things I didn’t want to see,” he said, mentioning the visual of soldiers wounded by snipers.  

The Vietnam veteran said there are more than 7,000 veterans in Terrebonne Parish, and he hopes for membership to escalate to approximately 150 members as he plans to open enrollment to combat wounded soldiers who served in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. 

Recognition for the Military Order of the Purple Heart continues to grow in Terrebonne Parish, as Lirette said there are considerations to change the color of the bridge connecting the Veterans Park on La. Highway 311 in Houma to Southdown Planation’s property from green to purple in honor of local Prisoners of War. 


Although Lirette has just begun recruiting members for Terrebonne’s newest military endeavor, he is optimistic about the organization’s outlook in the local area from conversations had with volunteers at the Regional Military Museum and Veterans of Foreign Wars locations. 

Any combat wounded veterans are encouraged to contact Albert Lirette at (985) 688-8548 or Jim Tuttle at (704) 915-9303 for more membership information.

“All purple heart recipients that are out there, please come forward and join our organization in Terrebonne Parish,” he said. 


Albert Lirette, a Vietnam war veteran and four-time recipient of the Purple Heart, rides in a Regional Military Museum jeep during one of Houma’s Mardi Gras parades. Lirette is promoting membership for combat wounded war veterans who can enroll in Houma’s new Military Order of the Purple Heart chapter.

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