Louis S. Sirois 98, died peacefully at home on Monday, July 14, 2014, surrounded by his loving family. Born in Pawtucket Rhode Island on June 16, 1916, Lou proudly served his country in the U.S. Marine Corps (1934-1938), the U.S. Army Air Corps (1939-1945), and the U.S. Air Force (1946-1965), and retired as a Chief Warrant Officer W3 after thirty years of military service. During WWII, he was stationed in the Philippines in December 1941 when Japanese forces invaded. In April 1942, American forces in the Philippines became prisoners of war of the Japanese and he survived the brutal Bataan Death March, a “Hell Ship” prisoner transport from the Philippines to Japan, and nearly four years of slave labor in Japanese captivity. During the course of his military career, Lou was awarded the Bronze Star, the POW Medal, the American Defense Service Medal, the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal with 1 Bronze Star, the World War II Victory Medal, the U.S. Marine Corp Good Conduct Medal, the U.S. Air Force Good Conduct Medal with 3 loops, the Philippine Defense Ribbon with 1 Bronze Star, the Presidential Unit Citation with 2 Oak Leaf Clusters, the Philippine Presidential Citation, the National Defense Service Ribbon, the American Campaign Service Ribbon, and the Armed Forces Longevity Award with 1 silver cluster and 1 bronze cluster.
Lou had been a member of the Military Officers Association, Cape Canaveral Chapter; the American Defenders of Bataan and Corregidor, Inc; and the Disabled American Veterans, J.L. Golightly Chapter 32. After leaving the military Lou worked for Shearer Volkswagen dealership in the parts department for 10 years, then retired a second time to travel the country in his motorhome.
Lou was preceded in death in 1974 by his first wife of thirty years, Joyce, and in 2009 by his second wife of almost thirty years, Melba. Lou is survived by his brother: Richard Sirois, his daughter: Gail (Glenn) Craig; his son: James (Terri) Sirois; his stepsons: John (Becky) Cox and Lamarr (Sue) Cox; his stepdaughter: Lavon (Jim) Hall; his son Ric DePaz Sirois, his grandsons: Tyler (Katy) Sirois and Jason Cox; his granddaughters: Megan (Justin) Keen, Beth (Mike) Hammock, Jennifer (Blaine) Crossman, Amy Lewandowski, and Carrie (Kyle) Aune; and his niece Sandra (James) Lew; and their daughters: Amy, Deanna, and Christi, and his nephew Michael Sirois, and 12 wonderful great-grandchildren.
In lieu of flowers, the family would ask that you consider a donation in Lou’s honor to the Disabled American Veterans, J. L. Golightly Chapter 32, 2265 N. Harbor City Blvd., Melbourne FL 32935, or to the United Service Organizations, Inc. (USO), P.O. Box 96860, Washington, D.C. 20077-7677, or to the American Defenders of Bataan & Corregidor Museum, 945 Main Street, Wellsburg, West Virginia 26070.
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