Edmond Louis Rachal

Edmond Louis “Eddie” Rachal, United States Army and Air Force Veteran, passed away peacefully April 14, 2016 at the age of 93. Funeral service for Eddie will be held at 10:00 a.m. on Monday, April 18, 2016 at Holy Family Catholic Church in Monett Ferry, with Rev. Kenneth Obiekwe and Rev. Kurian Zachariah officiating. Interment will follow at Rachal Cemetery in Marco, where Mr. Rachal will be laid to rest with full military honors. The family will welcome guests from 5:00 p.m. until 8:00 p.m. with The Rosary being said at 7:00 p.m. on April 17, 2016 at Blanchard - St. Denis Funeral Home in Natchitoches; as well as from 9:00 am until 10:00 am on Monday, April 18 at Holy Family Catholic Church prior to the services. He is survived by one son, Edmond T. Rachal and wife Sherri of Gonzales; four daughters, Becki Rachal, Debby K. Rachal and husband Mark of Marco, Shelia D. Zimmerman and husband Jeff of Gonzales, and Antoinette “Toni” E. Brossett and husband Tim of Cloutierville; nine grandchildren, Kari R. Stiles, Chase Brossett, Erin Z. Sons, Blake Brossett, Laura M. Zimmerman, Chase LeBlanc, Devon Zimmerman, Edmond M. Rachal, and Garrett Rachal; ten great grandchildren; Logan Faust, Noah Cheek, Isabella, Ember, and Ava Sons, Easton LeBlanc, Ethan, Victoria, Thomas, and Christian Brossett; one sister, Lucille R. Tamporello of New Orleans; and one sister in law, Anaise M. Rachal of Bayou Vista. He was preceded in death by his beloved wife of 55 years, Mary C. Hunt, his parents, Edmond Rachal and Antoinette Rosa Dalme; one granddaughter, Victoria Catherine Brossett; one sister, Rozelia Rachal; two brothers, Frank Rachal, and Dannie Rachal. Eddie was born September 23, 1922 to the union of the late Edmond Rachal and Antoinette Rosa Dalme in Odra, La. He began his career in 1941, serving as a member of the Civilian Conservation Corps. He went on to be drafted by the United States Army in December of 1942. While serving, he was part of the WWII European Campaign that landed on the Omaha White Fox Beach of Normandy on June 24, 1944. While serving with the 823rd Tank Destroyer Battalion, Pfc Rachal was captured by the Germans in August 1944 and held as a Prisoner of War until his liberation in 1945. He and his fellow soldiers received the Presidential Citation for their work at the Battle at Mortain, France. Medals received are as follows: POW Medal, Good Conduct Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Honorable Service Lapel Button WWII, Expert Badge with Machine Gun Bar, and Marksman Badge with Rifle Bar. Following the end of World War II, he received an Honorable Discharge from the Army and went on to enlist in the United States Air Force where he traveled the world protecting the freedoms of the American people. After many years of service, he retired in 1970 as a Technical Sergeant (TSGT), ending his military career. Eddie was an avid outdoorsman with a passion for hunting and fishing. Additionally, he was a lifelong devout Catholic who spent the early years of his life as an altar server and his later years as an usher and Eucharistic minister. Eddie was a truly great man who lived a life that will not soon be forgotten; he will be dearly missed by his family and friends. The family wishes to extend special thanks to Dr. Clemons and the nursing staffs of the VA Hospital in Pineville’s Palliative Care Unit and Community Living Center for the loving care of Mr. Rachal. Honorary pallbearers will be Chase Brossett, Blake Brossett, Chase LeBlanc, Logan Faust, Devon Zimmerman, Edmond Rachal, Garrett Rachal, Noah Cheek, Clyde Brossett, and Rana Rachal.