RESERVE — O’Neil Boe, 95, died Sunday.

The former World War II paratrooper was known as one of the River Parishes’ true heroes.

“He was an everyman with a capital E,” longtime St. John the Baptist Parish School Board member Russ Wise said of Boe. “He was just a little old country boy who went to war and came home and went on about his life. His experiences made him unique and his personality just made him special.”

Boe of Reserve was born June 22, 1922, one of Jean Baptiste Boe and Josephine Klibert’s eight children. He grew up in St. John Parish, attended Leon Godchaux High School and left school to help support his family in the workforce.

Boe tried to fulfill his dream of becoming a military pilot but was unable to pass the physical assessment’s vision portion.

He was subsequently told by military leaders of a new division called the paratroopers.

“An old country boy like me asked, “Well, what do they do?’” Boe told L’OBSERVATEUR in 2014 for a 70-year anniversary story on the D-Day invasion.

“Sign me up,” he said after hearing about their mission.

Boe entered the service at 19, completed basic training at Georgia’s Camp Wheeler and moved to Fort Benning for airborne training. He was assigned to the 507th Parachute Infantry, Company B.

The weeks leading up to the D-Day invasion in June 1944 were spent studying maps. The first attack wave began with the paratroopers, who jumped at night in the pitch-black darkness and landed behind enemy lines.

Boe said General Dwight Eisenhower made small talk with the troops in the days and hours leading up to the attack.

A picture of Eisenhower addressing paratroopers, including Boe, is displayed in The National WWII Museum in New Orleans.

Boe told L’OBSERVATEUR his company’s objective was to protect the bridge on the Merderet River and prevent the Germans from blowing it up.

They completed their objective on the third day.

“You could have walked across that bridge and never have your feet touch the bottom,” Boe said in 2014. “You were just walking on bodies. It still bugs me. I just can’t describe it. You had to be there.”

Of the nearly 300 men in the 507th Parachute Infantry, Company B who parachuted into France during the D-Day invasion, only 52, including Boe, survived.

Among the many medals awarded throughout his service, Boe earned a Silver Star for his actions July 10, 1944. After the enemy captured his company’s radio, Boe, without orders, moved forward under heavy enemy fire, recaptured the radio and returned it.

“I just jumped up with my machine gun and got the radio back,” Boe said with a smile in 2014. “The award says, ‘For gallantry in action above and beyond the call of duty.’”

He said the feeling he got when he hearing those words was better than the medal itself.

Boe was honorably discharged in December 1945 and returned to the River Region to his wife Rose, whom he married during a week’s leave in 1943. Together, they raised five children, one girl and four boys.

As a paratrooper, Boe made 42 jumps, including three combat jumps behind enemy lines. Boe liked to say he never landed in a plane during a commercial flight.

Longtime friend Harold Keller called Boe a true gentleman who loved life.

The two attended the LSU-Army baseball game in February, a game in which Bow was honored.

“The Army coach came up, shook his hand and saluted him, saying, ‘It’s a pleasure to meet a real hero,’” Keller said.

Boe was often honored for his contributions.

On Feb. 21, 2015, American Legion Post Sgt. At Arms Benny Robicheaux hosted a gathering of members of the 82nd Airborne Division at his home to recognize Boe and present him with a framed and matted picture of that famous day with Eisenhower.

Commander Dave Gatt said honoring Boe was a rare opportunity for Legion members to honor one of their Post members who served in a war so long ago.

On May 7, 2015, attorney Daniel E. Becnel Jr. brought Boe to the WWII Museum to meet Eisenhower’s grandchildren.

At the time, Becnel said Boe had 60 people in the audience who wanted to speak with and take pictures with him, as well as get Boe to sign the iconic photograph of him with Eisenhower.