Topics in History

World War II—Eleven Abbeville Heroes

 11.  Elson J. Landry

[No picture available.]

Elson J. Landry was the son of Alphonse Landry and Olivia David.  He joined the U.S. Marine Corps.

He was with the U.S. Marines who landed on Peleliu Island in the Pacific on September 15, 1944.  The American generals had thought that the island could be taken in one or two days, but they had underestimated the tenacity of the Japanese soldiers, who had been taught never to surrender.  Elson was killed on Peleliu Island on September 22, 1944.

Elson was married to Leona Perkins Landry and had one son, Jerry, who now lives in Tennessee.

Elson’s siblings were Maxie Landry, who served as sheriff of Vermilion Parish in the 1950s and as chief of police of Abbeville for twelve years, Purvis Landry, Wilson Landry, Therese Landry Langlinais, Addie Landry LeMaire, and Hazel Landry Duhon, who many will remember as the mother of Abbeville super athlete and football legend, Bobby Duhon.

Many of Elson's blood relatives still live in Abbeville.

This website was created and is  maintained by Gary E. Theall on behalf of the Vermilion Historical Society.
All copyrights are retained by the original authors of works appearing on this website.
All other copyrightable material © Vermilion Historical Society.
Privacy policy:  We do not share your nonpublic personal information with anyone without your consent.
This page was last updated on 11/16/2007.