Holiday today May 8

elgreaux said:

Interestingly, May 8 was Victory Day in Europe but not the end of WWII. Victory over Japan was not signed until September 2, 1945. My father was stationed in France on May 8, 1945 (at Fontainebleau), but did not get back to the US until April 1946 as his division wound down. On May 8, 2002, he was in St Barth and walked with the official procession from the old town hall to the old war memorial, and placed the wreath for the soldiers who died in the war. It was a very emotional occasion for him, with the French connection and memories of the war. He wore all white, with his army hat (same as in this photo) and his medals (including four European Theater campaign stars and an Army commendation ribbon for his assistance in getting the troops of the 42nd Infantry Division back to the United States)... during the ceremony someone leaned over to me during the ceremony and said, look it's a real US solider from WWII, who helped liberate France... and I replied, yes, it's really my father!

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elgreaux said:

Interestingly, May 8 was Victory Day in Europe but not the end of WWII. Victory over Japan was not signed until September 2, 1945. My father was stationed in France on May 8, 1945 (at Fontainebleau), but did not get back to the US until April 1946 as his division wound down. On May 8, 2002, he was in St Barth and walked with the official procession from the old town hall to the old war memorial, and placed the wreath for the soldiers who died in the war. It was a very emotional occasion for him, with the French connection and memories of the war. He wore all white, with his army hat (same as in this photo) and his medals (including four European Theater campaign stars and an Army commendation ribbon for his assistance in getting the troops of the 42nd Infantry Division back to the United States)... during the ceremony someone leaned over to me during the ceremony and said, look it's a real US solider from WWII, who helped liberate France... and I replied, yes, it's really my father!

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pascaleschmidt said:

My grandmother did her share during the war in Brittany by hiding many jewish families in the basement. She had a big sigh of relief when it was over. The germans were also especially cruel to the locals during their invasion.... thank goodness for all who helped stop this horror.

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pascaleschmidt said:

My grandmother did her share during the war in Brittany by hiding many jewish families in the basement. She had a big sigh of relief when it was over. The germans were also especially cruel to the locals during their invasion.... thank goodness for all who helped stop this horror.

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elgreaux said:

Interestingly, May 8 was Victory Day in Europe but not the end of WWII. Victory over Japan was not signed until September 2, 1945. My father was stationed in France on May 8, 1945 (at Fontainebleau), but did not get back to the US until April 1946 as his division wound down. On May 8, 2002, he was in St Barth and walked with the official procession from the old town hall to the old war memorial, and placed the wreath for the soldiers who died in the war. It was a very emotional occasion for him, with the French connection and memories of the war. He wore all white, with his army hat (same as in this photo) and his medals (including four European Theater campaign stars and an Army commendation ribbon for his assistance in getting the troops of the 42nd Infantry Division back to the United States)... during the ceremony someone leaned over to me during the ceremony and said, look it's a real US solider from WWII, who helped liberate France... and I replied, yes, it's really my father!

View attachment 57019

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pascaleschmidt said:

My grandmother did her share during the war in Brittany by hiding many jewish families in the basement. She had a big sigh of relief when it was over. The germans were also especially cruel to the locals during their invasion.... thank goodness for all who helped stop this horror.

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didier said:

wow Ellen, what a beautiful story. Your father was a handsome man. was your mother a war bride or was she an american?

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elgreaux said:

. . . Interesting that a lot of those young soldiers fighting Germany and Russia, were sons or grandsons of families who had fled from those countries at various times...

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