African American, Alaska Highway, Company B. Born: 25 October 1912, Mansura, LA. Died: 15 June 1978, Marksville, Avoyelles, LA. Enlisted:12 April 1941 Jacksonville Army Air Field, FL and discharged 4 October 1943 at Walla Walla, WA.
Education: 8th grade. He married Rose Houston Jones in 1934 (1920-1996) and lived in Marksville, Avoyelles, LA. He worked on a farm that raised sweet potatoes, corn, cotton and he also bailed hay.
His WW2 draft card lists him as employed by George Chatelain. Willie had five brothers and five sisters. His father was Forest Lavalais, (1872-1953) a farm laborer, and his mother was Angeline McGee Lavalais, (1885-1945) a preacher’s daughter.
Willie was in Lt. Dudrow’s platoon, Company B. This platoon improved the 50 mile Carcross-Whitehorse road before starting work on the Alaska Highway. Willie was a cook and turned out excellent biscuits and pies. Everybody loved his cooking. He was described as a Black French Cajun and Lt. Dudrow called him Willie. Dudrow stated that he spoke in broken English and got his words all in the wrong place. He was happy and cheerful.
Serial #34072561
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