Private First Class Bourdeau was a veteran of World War II. In Korea, he was a member of Company E, 2nd Battalion, 23rd Infantry Regiment, 2nd Infantry Division. He was Killed in Action while attacking the enemy near Hill 931 during the Battle of Heartbreak Ridge in North Korea on 17 September 1951.

Bourdeau was awarded the Purple Heart, the Combat Infantryman's Badge, the Korean Service Medal, the United Nations Service Medal, the National Defense Service Medal, the Korean Presidential Unit Citation, the Republic of Korea War Service Medal, the European Theater of Operations Medal and the World War II Victory Medal.