Eugene Gordon Drouillard – Colonel, United States Army

From a contemporary press report:

Eugene Gordon Drouillard, 84, an Army Colonel who retired in 1969 as inspector general of the Military District of Washington, died of congestive heart failure December 25, 1997at Walter Reed Army Medical Center.

Colonel Drouillard began his military career in 1940 when he was called to active Army service with the Wisconsin National Guard. During World War II, he commanded a rifle company in combat operations in Europe and twice was wounded in action.

His postwar service included duty in France, Germany and Fort Benning, Georgia. Later he served in Korea and again in France. During his final military assignment, he was chief of staff for Task Force Washington in the 1968 riots that followed the assassination of the Rev. Martin Luther King Jr. While serving in the Army, he graduated from the University of Maryland, the Command and General Staff College and the Advanced Infantry Course.

His decorations included a Legion of Merit, two Purple Hearts, four Bronze Stars, an Army Commendation Medal and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Colonel Drouillard, a resident of McLean, was born in Cleveland. He had lived in the Washington area since 1962.

In retirement he was influential in the placing of a memorial for veterans of the Battle of the Bulge in Arlington National Cemetery.

Survivors include his wife, Bonnie Harris Drouillard of McLean; three daughters, Suzanne Miller of Chapel Hill, N.C., Michele Physioc of Vienna and Lisa Drouillard of McLean; and three grandchildren.

On Thursday, December 25, 1997, Eugene G. Drouillard, of McLean, VA. Beloved husband of Bonnie H. Drouillard and loving father of Suzanne, Michele, and Lisa. Mr. Drouillard is also survived by his brother Donald F., and 3 grandchildren John, Paul, and Felice.

Services will be held Friday, January 9, 1 p.m. at Ft. Meyer Chapel.

Interment to follow with full military honors at Arlington National Cemetery. In lieu of flowers contributions may be made to Disabled American Veterans, P.O. Box 14301, Cincinnati, OH 45250-0301 or charity of choice.

Michael Robert Patterson

Michael Robert Patterson was born in Arlington and is the son of a former officer of the US Army. So it was no wonder that sooner or later his interests drew him to American history and especially to American military history. Many of his articles can be found on renowned portals like the New York Times, Washingtonpost or Wikipedia.

Reviewed by: Michael Howard