When Eldon J. Theard was born on September 30, 1920, in Louisiana, his father, Marcel, was 32 and his mother, Lillian, was 30. He had four siblings. He enlisted in the Army on February 18, 1941. He served in the U.S. Army during World War II as a Corporal in the 26th Infantry Regiment, 1st Infantry Division. He died on March 18, 1945 and is now buried in Saint Louis Cemetery Number 3, New Orleans, Orleans Parish, Louisiana, USA. His name is inscribed as Theard, Eldon I. on the monument.