Black Sheep Squadron loses Bourgeois

A member of the “greatest generation,” U.S. Marine pilot Lt. Col. Henry Mayo “Hank” Bourgeois was laid to rest Friday morning in Abita Springs.

Bourgeois was a pilot in the renowned “Black Sheep Squadron” in the South Pacific during World War II, reportedly the youngest member of the group.

A full complement of U. S. Marines flanked his casket at St. Jane de Chantal Church as they saluted his service to the country as a fellow Marine officer.

He was a member of the Corps for 20 years and after retirement worked with the aerospace industry.

His son Tom remembered him fondly, saying that he adopted all three children when he married their mother Mildred. He would entertain them with stories of his service, including one time when he became separated from the rest of his squad and crashed on an atoll in the Pacific. He survived on caterpillars for three days. Tom said he asked his father how they tasted and Hank replied, “I don’t really remember except I don’t want to eat them ever again.”

After World War II, he continued flying into China and transported spies into Manchuria. He also flew during the Korean War and had many “radar adventures” there.

Bourgeois taught flying to Marines and ended his military career in the U. S.

In addition to his service in the Marine Corps as a pilot and later in the aerospace industry, Tom related how his father built a 75-foot ham radio tower in their backyard. He was also an avid hunter, fisherman and hobbyist. He also collected swizzle sticks from around the world.

Bourgeois is survived by three children, Gerard “Gerry” Bourgeois and his wife Duff, Thomas Bourgeois and his wife Betty, Stephen Bourgeois and his close friend Mary Dolan; grandchildren Lucas and his wife Fran, Kristin and Michelle. In lieu of flowers, donations can be made to the National World War II Museum in New Orleans.