Richard Floyd Bilodeau was born February 9, 1920 in New York Mills, NY to Neil Bilodeau (abt 1882-1969) and Denise "Jennie" La Manque (abt 1884-1969). His parents were married January 28, 1901 in St. Paul's church Whitesboro, NY. He was the youngest of their eight children which included Neil, Agnes, Dora, Albert, Arthur, James and Mitchell. His mom and dad were from Canada both coming to the United States in the late 1800s. The family lived in New York Mills and his dad worked for A.D. Julliard and Company. A.D. Julliard and Company was a major textile firm in the Utica, NY area that later became part of the foundation that funded the famous Julliard School. Richard attended New York Mills High School as was also employed by A.D. Julliard and Company before entering the service.

Richard joined the New York National Guard in 1940 and served with them for a year in Alabama, likely at Fort McClellan. He was released after a year of service. In October 1941 he registered for the draft. He was 5'-5" tall and weighed 138 pounds with brown eyes and brown hair at that time. As a former Guard he was officially recalled January 26, 1942 after Pearl Harbor was attacked and joined other NY Guard units in the 27th Infantry Division of the U.S. Army. His service number was 20270660.

After Pearl Harbor, the 27th Infantry Division was sent to the west coast and then to Hawaii before being sent to the Pacific. Pfc. Bilodeau joined them in Hawaii and served with them for the next 2 ½ years during their fighting on Eniwetok and Tarawa. As part of the 106th Infantry Regiment, he landed on Saipan on June 20, 1944, arriving five days after the initial invasion. Upon landing, the regiment began moving inland to link up with the rest of the 27th Division, which was already engaged in combat. For the next 10 days, the106th fought against stiff enemy resistance.

On July 27, 1944 Pfc. Bilodeau was awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action. His citation reads:

"... When both friendly and enemy fire were falling in an area occupied by his battalion's Command Post, Private First Class Bilodeau left the safety of his foxhole, when a pyrotechnic he had fired failed to clear trees, crawled into an open area through extremely heavy fire of both friendly and enemy forces, and again fired so that the signal might be seen. His actions stopped the friendly fire and resulted in the enemy fire being directed in a different direction, thereby preventing heavy casualties to his own unit."

Pfc. Bilodeau was killed in fighting on Saipan on June 30, 1944 (there are a number of dates recorded for his death such as August 7, 1944 and June 29, 1944. These were ultimately corrected to June 30, 1944). He was awarded the Purple Heart posthumously and buried in the Saipan 27th Division Cemetery, Plot 1, Row 7, Grave 234.When his belongings were recovered they included a couple of Rosaries, a Catholic prayer book, a Missal, an address book and some family pictures. He had $1.42 to his name and it was all returned to his father. At the request of his father his remains were also returned home and laid to rest on June 12, 1948 in the Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Whitesboro, NY in the Private Mausoleum of the Bilodeau family.

Author's note: His parents were married for more than 68 years, they died on the same day and were buried together in the same Mausoleum that Richard was laid to rest in. Also, if you know of a better picture for Pfc. Bilodeau please contact the author. 

This story is part of the Stories Behind the Stars project. This is a national effort of volunteers to write the stories of all 421,000+ of the US WWII fallen on Together We Served and Fold3.

(Please see - http://www.storiesbehindthestars.org).

Can you help us write these stories? Together We Served and Fold3/Find A Grave have smartphone apps that will allow people to visit any war memorial or cemetery and read these stories of WWII fallen.

If you noticed anything erroneous in this profile or have additional information to contribute, please contact Jim Greenberg at jim.greenberg@oneonta.edu.

SBTSProject/New York/Oneida

Sources

Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/292038007/richard_floyd-bilodeau: accessed January 31, 2026), memorial page for Richard Floyd Bilodeau (9 Feb 1920–30 Jun 1944), Find a Grave Memorial ID 292038007, citing Mount Olivet Cemetery, Whitesboro, Oneida County, New York, USA; Maintained by James Greenberg (contributor 51304974).

Hall of Valor website at https://valor.militarytimes.com/recipient/recipient-117023/?utm_source=chatgpt.com accessed on January 31, 2025.

Individual Deceased Personnel File for Pfc. Robert F. Bilodeau, National Archives, St. Louis, MO.

National Archives at St. Louis; St. Louis, Missouri; Wwii Draft Registration Cards For New York State, 10/16/1940 - 03/31/1947; Record Group: Records of the Selective Service System, 147

"News of Central New York Men in Service", Utica Observer-Dispatch, Utica, NY, February 21, 1943, pg. 8-D.

New York State Archives; Albany, New York; Collection: New York, New York National Guard Service Cards, 1917-1954; Series: B2001; Film Number: 28

"Pfc. Richard Bilodeau, 24, Dies of Wounds in Saipan", The Daily Sentinel, Rome, NY, August 1, 1944, pg. 7.

"Plan Dedication of Legion Post", Daily Sentinel, June 10, 1948, pg. 18

U.S. Army in World War II, The War in the Pacific, Campaign in the Marianas, Chapter XI, The Fight for Central Saipan – II, accessed at https://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USA/USA-P-Marianas/USA-P-Marianas-11.html on January 31, 2026.

"Wounds Fatal to Mills Man", Utica Daily Press, Utica, NY, July 31, 1944, pg. 11.

Year: 1930; Census Place: Whitestown, Oneida, New York; Page: 3B; Enumeration District: 0031; FHL microfilm: 2341354

Supporting Documents