Korean War Veteran
Louis Boucher

Interviewed by:
Jack Apatow

"It gave you confidence in yourself ... proud to be part of a team
... and also you learned discipline"

~ Louis Boucher
(Interview Video #1 00:04:04)

Louis Boucher's Story:

Louis A. Boucher was born on February 25th, 1933 in Haverhill, Massachusetts. After completing eight years of grammer school, and one year of trade school, he went to agricultural school for three years. He then decided to join the United States Coast Guard at age seventeen after receiving his father's permission, because jobs were scarce.

He served the United States during the Korean War. He had the rank Seaman 1st Class. During his service in the Coast Guard his locations of duty were Cape May, New Jersey; Rockaway Beach, New York; Baltimore, Maryland; Hampton Beach, New Hampshire and Boston, Massachusetts. He served from 1950 - 1953, and then from 1954 - 1957.

Some examples of his duties during his time in the Coast Guard include finding missing boats and drowning victims, helping out the fire department, searching boats with Geiger counters, patrolling boats, as well as the dangerous job of unloading ammunition.

Sometimes his duties would include standing guard all night long in an 85 foot high tower in all kinds of weather, looking for anyone in distress. He describes his military experience as one he would recommend to any young man today who doesn't know where he's going in life.

Mr. Boucher is now a retired firefighter living in Eastham, Massachusetts and winters in Tarpon Springs, Florida.