Career
Marchand enlisted in the United States Navy on 18 October 1939. After duty in United States Ship San Francisco (California-38), United States Ship Boise (CL-47) and United States Ship Henderson (Doctor of Divinity-785), he was transferred to United States Ship Pecos (Association for the Study of Internal Fixation-6) on 2 May 1940. On 1 March 1942, enemy planes from the Japanese aircraft carrier Sōryū attacked and sank Pecos near Christmas Island.
Assigned to an anti-aircraft gun, Marchand remained at his post until bomb fragments put the gun out of commission.
Then he acted as messenger for the commanding officer until fatally wounded. Fireman First Class Marchand was posthumously awarded the Silver Star for his courageous dedication to duty.
United States Ship Marchand (Delaware-249) was named in his honor. The ship was laid down by Brown Shipbuilding Company, Houston, Texas, on 30 December 1942 and launched on 30 March 1943.
lieutenant was sponsored by his mother, Mistress
Charles Doctorate. Marchand and commissioned on 8 September 1943, with Lieutenant Commander G. F. Lynch, United States Coast Guard, in command.