Published Aug 13, 2026, 12:04 PM EDT
The late Louis Vernon Landry received the award almost 80 years after serving in the conflict.
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Published Aug 13, 2026, 12:04 PM EDT
A World War II veteran has received a special military honor some 80 years after his service. Army Capt. Louis Vernon Landry, a former physician from Bossier, La., served in World War II and on Aug. 12 posthumously received a Bronze Star Medal. He served in the conflict in the Southwest Pacific and England, treating wounded soldiers under fire. He earned a combat medical badge for his service, which made him eligible for the Bronze Star Medal. But it was not presented to him before his death, leading his family to seek recognition for Capt. Landry. Now, 80 years later, an army colonel presented the medal—awarded to those who show heroic or meritorious achievement in a combat zone—to Larry Landry, Capt. Landry's son, and the rest of his family in a ceremony in Bossier, according to KSLA 12 News. "It was important because it had never been formally presented," Larry Landry reportedly said. "The local VFW [Veterans of Foreign Wars] was a great help and said, 'Yes, we want to do that.' So, we worked with them. It just kind of grew from a small seed to a big tree." The honor comes as most World War II veterans are no longer around to share their stories. "I really think it is especially important for our Greatest Generation," Veronica Ten Eyck, Capt. Landry's granddaughter, told KSLA. "To be able to go back and make sure that their work in the past is being recognized is really important." State Rep. Raymond Crews, local veterans, and other members of Landry's family attended the ceremony, where the Bossier City mayor proclaimed it "Dr. L.V. Landry Day" in Bossier City.
