Local WWII vets visit NO museum

Clouds on the horizon
November 6, 2013
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Clouds on the horizon
November 6, 2013
TPSB recognizes teachers, principals of the year
November 6, 2013

Four local World War II veterans were among 22 people who recently visited the National WWII Museum in New Orleans on a trip arranged by the Council on Aging and the Houma Rotary Club.


“It was one of the greatest days of my life,” said Andrew “Bill” W. Ford. “I will always remember it. My brother was in the Army, and he died at the Battle of the Bulge. We lost 18,000 boys there. I really got to learn about the battle at the museum.”

The museum highlights the American experience during WWII and features exhibits on artifacts from the war, D-Day at Normandy and military vehicles, planes and equipment used during the war.

Ford, of Houma, served in the Navy from 1946-48, and he also served as a regular, full-time officer, and a reservist in the Korean War. His brother Earl Ford served in the Navy during WWII.


Fellow veteran Ken Ferguson, also of Houma, helped arrange the trip.

“It was a wonderful trip,” he said. “It really perked me up. I can’t wait to take another trip. All the veterans that went told me they really appreciated the trip.

“I really liked when the Andrews Sisters sang for us, too.”


Members of the museum’s Victory Belles group perform tribute concerts for patrons at the Stage Door Canteen. During WWII, Patty, Maxene and LaVerne Andrews, a group of sister-singers from Minnesota, entertained Allied troops with their singing and dancing and participated in an eight-week USO tour in 1945. Their most popular songs include “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” “Rum and Coca Cola” and “I’ll be with you in Apple Blossom Time.”

Ferguson, 89, served in the Air Force as a B-24 navigator from 1942-45. He flew 64 missions while serving, even though the mission limit was 25.

“They couldn’t find anyone to replace me,” he said.


Veterans Al Grillot, 86, who served in the engineer corps of the Army from 1944-49 and as a reservist during the Korean War, and Herman Davis, 84, who served as an engineer in the Air Corps from 1946-50, both enjoyed viewing the “Beyond All Boundaries” movie during the visit.

“I think the museum is beautiful,” Grillot said. “The movie really got me with the bombs and the smoke. There were some tears shed there. We had a beautiful time.”

“It’s a great museum,” Davis said. “I really enjoyed everything, especially the movie.”


Both men are from Houma.

Herman Davis, Ken Ferguson, Al Grillot and Andrew “Bill” W. Ford were among 22 Council on Aging members to visit the National World War II Museum in New Orleans, courtesy of the Houma Rotary Club.