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Russell Joseph Duet, 85, a native of Chackbary, La., and former resident of Thibodaux, La., died Saturday, April 9, 2011.
Mr. Duet attended Thibodaux elementary and middle schools. He quit school in the eighth grade to help support his family. He enlisted in the U.S. Navy Sept. 1, 1943 at the age of 17. A coxswain V6, he attended landing craft school at Camp Peddleton in Oceanside, Calif., where he trained to operate and drive WWII’s famous “Higgins Boats”, LCVP, Landing Craft, Vehicle and Personnel used in amphibious assaults. Assigned to the landing craft unit No. 30, he was then transferred to Treasure Island, Calif. for more training in gunnery and aircraft identification. On April 1, 1944 boarded the transport ship the USS Marmacdove, headed for the Pacific Theater of War where he bravely drove and beached Higgins boats transporting troops and equipment in the invasion of the Mariana Islands of Guam, Saipan and Tinian. Awarded the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Ribbon (1 Star), American Area Ribbon and Victory Ribbon. Honorably discharged on April 8, 1946, serving his country for two years, seven months and seven days. After WWII, Russell earned his GED in 1949 from the Orleans Parish School Board and in 1950 graduated from the Delgado Mechanical College in New Orleans as an electrician. After working for Westside Electric Co., he was then employed with Chevron serving as electrical foreman at Leeville in the southeastern division. He also worked as an electrical superintendent for Rouse’s Supermarkets for 25 years in Thibodaux and Houma, overseeing the electrical installations of Rouse’s grocery stores. In April of 2008, Russell had the pleasure to travel to Washington, D.C. with the Louisiana Honor Air Program to visit the WWII Memorial – a visit that he enjoyed very much.
Russell was a member of the Mardi Gras Krewe of Chronus in Thibodaux and a lifelong member of the Veterans of Foreign War Post No. 5097. He served at the President of the Family Motor Coach Association, “The Cruisin Cajuns” in 1994, an honor that he was very proud of. Traveling in his motor home was a hobby that he enjoyed in his years of retirement.
He is survived by his wife, Audrey Thibodeaux Duet; daughter, Christine (Leonard) Lemoine; two grandchildren, Ryan and Caroline Lemoine; brother, Malcolm (Pat) Duet; sisters-in-law, Billie Duet and Bonnie Bergeron; nieces, Kelly and Kitty Thibodeaux and Ceilie Crochet; and nephews, Douglas and Kye Duet, and Steven, Barry and Kenneth Perque.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Wilson and Josephine Ordogne Duet; two brothers, Dudley and Victor Duet; and one sister, Lillian Duet.
The family offers special thanks to his caregivers Carol, Leola, Jokora, Mary, Annette, Betty, Ethel, Michelle, Sharon and Fran as well as Heart of Hospice, Rev. Gil of St. Edmonds Catholic Church, Monsignor Robert Angelle, Drs. David Baker, Kevin Hargrave, Frank Bacque, Norman Anseman, Kyle Lavergne and James Arterburn and the staff at Our Lady of Lourdes Rehabiliation Center.
Pallbearers were Barry Perque, Steven Perque, Douglas Duet, Lenny Lemoine, Ryan Lemoine and Taffery Percle. Honorary pallbearers were David Duet and Kerry Cedotal.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that contributions be made to: The Russell Joseph Duet Veterans of War Memorial Fund, The Community Foundation of Acadiana at 1035 Camellia Blvd. #100, Lafayette, LA 7008-6679 or www.cfacadiana.com. (Landry’s)
