Flashback: That Time Eunice Was On "Rescue 911"

On July 12, 1994, floodwaters pulled Eunice boy Thomas Lemoine into a drainage pipe along US 190. A friend, police officers, a truck driver and Acadiana Ambulance medics pulled him out alive. CBS’s Rescue 911, hosted by William Shatner, re-created the rescue in Eunice for a February 1995 episode.

What Happened in Eunice on July 12, 1994?

The date: July 12, 1994. A massive rainstorm flooded parts of Acadiana, including some areas of Eunice. Thomas Lemoine and Adam Gustin went outside to play. The came upon ditch filled with water and began playing in it. That's when disaster struck.

Although a police officer, John Cormier, told the boys to get out of the ditch, Thomas and Adam continued to play in the drainage canal along US 190. The current sucked Thomas into a pipe under the water, leading to a harrowing situation.

Watch the Eunice Rescue 911 Episode

We'll let Mr. Shatner tell the rest of the story. From the February 14, 1995, episode of Rescue 911:

Who Rescued Thomas Lemoine?

According to a Eunice News article, several people stopped to help the boys. They were John McGee, Jr., off-duty police officers Ronald Papillion and Mark Edwards, Charles Tweedel, Marcus Callahan, and Joseph Soileau. Acadiana Ambulance medics Chad LeJeune and Mark Denette also played a role in rescuing Lemoine.

How Eunice Ended Up on Rescue 911

Eunice Police Chief Charles Manuel contacted Rescue 911's producers about the incident. The producers researched the story and then arranged to film the reenactment at the location where Lemoine nearly drowned. The segment was filmed in December 1994, only five months after the incident happened.

Daily World, December 7, 1994 (Newspapers.com)

Eunice News, December 11, 1994 (Newspapers.com)

The White House Letter and Other Honors

The incident also caught the attention of the White House. Gustin received a citation from President Bill Clinton commending him for his heroic actions. A couple of years later, Gustin and Lemoine visited Washington as part of a class field trip.

Eunice News, March 21, 1996 (Newspapers.com)

One of the men who helped the boys also received accolades from a state organization. The Louisiana Motor Transport Association named Joseph Soileau its 1995 Louisiana Driver of the Year. The organization cited Soileau's heroism in helping rescue Lemoine and his safety record as a truck driver when bestowing the honor upon him.

Daily World, July 16, 1995 (Newspapers.com)

According to Facebook and newspaper clippings, Gustin still lives in the Eunice area. However, we were not able to find any indication as to where Lemoine is today.

Officers Cormier, Edwards, and Papillion continued in law enforcement. Papillion eventually moved to the St. Landry Parish Sheriff's Office and its SWAT unit under Sheriff Bobby Guidroz. Edwards remained with the Eunice Police Department. So did Cormier, who retired as a captain. Cormier died in February 2022. He was 69.

John Cormier (Quirk and Son Funeral Home)

Flashback: That Time Lafayette Was on 'Rescue 911'

Seven Forgotten Facts About Lafayette

The area now known as downtown Lafayette was first settled 200 years ago. While the street grid of that original settlement is the same as it was then, the rest of the city has grown and changed exponentially. Let's take a look at some of those changes by taking a look at some of the forgotten facts in Lafayette history.

Gallery Credit: Ian Auzenne