by Bertrand Froger | 12 Feb 2018 | Discoveries, WW2 News
In memory of Jack Shea
Jack Shea, originally from Taft, California, is a sergeant and serves with Company C of the 1st Battalion of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment. With his division, the 101st Airborne, he jumped to Normandy in the night of June 6, 1944 in a territory invaded by the enemy. However, the vagaries of the weather, the German anti-aircraft defense and the stress of the crews lead to many approximate drops. Dropped away from his theoretical jump zone, Sergeant Jack Shea falls a stone’s throw from the city of Carentan. After having trained so long and hardly having touched the soil of France, the Sergeant is mortally wounded. Missing the call, he will be declared dead only on the 9th and his body will be transferred to a temporary cemetery and then repatriated to the United States.
The discovery of the helmet
However, it was in 2018, that his helmet insignia so special, he had taken good care to annotate his name, the ring still bearing the stigma of that night, was found during development work performed at an individual’s home. Today, the memory of Jack Shea continues through his owner, but also through the descendants of the Hero, including his passionate nephew who has already been enormously pleased with such an unexpected discovery. We will never forget Jack’s sacrifice, nor that of his two brothers, one of whom died in action in the Pacific. (Photo credits: Bertrand Froger – Jim Shea)
by Bertrand Froger | 5 Sep 2017 | Celebrations, Places, To be visited, WW2 News
Liberation road markers… in Britain!
The initiative of Jacky Cadoux is not the least. Inspired by the Road markers of Liberty established on our territory from Normandy to the Belgian Ardennes, this enthusiast realizes the project to erect on 5 Breton municipalities of the Bornes of the Liberation retracing the course of the 4th American Armored Division on this sector. The communes selected and participating in the project are Plumelec, St Jean Brevelay, Bignan, Locmine and Baud. These monuments will be placed this week and inaugurated on October 28, 2017 starting with that of Plumelec (56420) at 9:30 am!
And so many others projects!
Jacky Cadoux is also president and a very active member of the association Souvenir Militaire Center Morbihan which aims to perpetuate the Remembrance and the Memory of the military facts carried out in Brittany during the XXth century. The club is organizing its 3rd Military Antiquities Fair, which will take place on November 12nd in Locminé (56) (Halle des Sports, Rue de la Bouillerie), which will enable the association to finance other commemorative and memorial projects.
More informations on the page of the association:
Souvenir Militaire Centre Morbihan
(Credits photos : Jacky Cadoux, Souvenir Militaire Centre Morbihan)
by Bertrand Froger | 20 Jul 2017 | Celebrations, WW2 News
A beautiful parade in the streets
On July 14, an unusual event took place in the streets of downtown Carentan (50500). Indeed, there are about fifty vehicles accompanied by 200 reenactors who parade on the occasion of the national day, for the greater pleasure of young and old inhabitants. The highlight of the event: all these enthusiasts wore homogeneous outfits and preceded vehicles with the colors of the 2nd American Armored Division. This parade marks the completion of a journey lasting several days in the middle of the Normandy fields in the footsteps of the operations of 1944. To finish, the men did not hesitate to begin the songs of the American army during their walk.
An incredible historical rigor
This event, perfectly framed and organized by the City of Carentan and the local associations, is an integral part of the trip “CCB – 2nd Armored in Europe”. The CCB Group, whose reputation is well established, is keen to respect, during these trips throughout the continent, a maximum of historical rigor in order to preserve the quality of its presentations and to stick to the most realistic historical facts happened during the Second World War. Thus, dress code and vehicle markings were provided to participants from all over the world (USA, France, Belgium, Czech Republic, …). The impeccable result, as usual, was at the rendezvous.
by Bertrand Froger | 2 Jul 2017 | Celebrations, Historical events, Places, WW2 News
A monument for Benjamin F. Kitchens and Bert Espy Jr
On June 24th, following the invitation of our friend Christian Levaufre, we gathered to inaugurate the memorial in memory of the two American airmen Benjamin F. Kitchens and Bert Espy Jr in Périers (50). Day after day 73 years, when the two pilots join their formation after firing German vehicles, Espy’s P-47 propeller will cut the back of the Kitchens aircraft. This terrible accident ended with the Thunderbolt crash and the death of the two USAAF officers. After a long research work carried out over decades by the Levaufre family and the association Normandy 44, Espy’s plane is found (that of Kitchens was thrown) and its engine cleaned. It is thus affixed at the top of this memorial unveiled this June 24th, 2017 in the presence of the French-American authorities but also of the pilot’s niece. A beautiful tribute, the loop is closed, because maintaining the flame of memory is 365 days a year.
All died for our Freedom
“Not all died as Heroes, but all died for our Freedom,” is the sentence quoted on the panel explaining the misadventure of these two airplanes. It is well to remember that no war is proper, and that no war is conducted without error. Among the millions of people who died in the Second World War, many of them were victims of fratricidal shooting because of problems of location, accidents at sea, in the air and on the land. Thus, although all these young men had sacrificed their lives for the liberation of our continent, many of them would surely have been able to return home if these errors had not occurred. We do not forget them either.
by Bertrand Froger | 9 Jun 2017 | Celebrations, Places, To be visited, WW2 News
An inauguration in grand manner
On Monday, June 5th, 2017, more than 300 people gathered to inaugurate the new stele in honor of Major John E. Tucker on the bridge between Carentan and Saint-Hilaire-Petitville. In order to unveil this block of granite where are reproductions of the 1944’s steles and emblem of the American corps of engineers, many civil and military authorities have made the displacement. Among them: Mister Lhonneur, Mayor and President of the community of communes of Carentan-les-Marais; Mr. Fauny, Mayor of Saint-Hilaire-Petitville; George K. Mullins, veteran of the 101st Airborne Division, General Glenn Goddard, elected officials, orchestra, US Army with color guard … A ceremony punctuated with moving speeches at the height of the event.
The culmination of a memorial project
It was in 2016 that Bertrand Froger launched a call from his Facebook page (Normandy 1944, Follow the Guide!), Affected by the disappearance of the stelae in homage to Major Tucker killed in action in June 1944. They had been implanted following his death by his men of the 300th Engineer Combat Battalion and citizens of the area. The project is taking shape, supported by the two municipalities, and then a participatory fundraising campaign is launched. Hundreds of people relay this action, dozens contribute, individuals and associations. The objective is achieved and the funds raised. On June 5th, 2017, Major Tucker’s honor is safe and his memory preserved and honored.
by Bertrand Froger | 22 May 2017 | Collections, Places, To be visited, WW2 News
European night of the Museums
Annual and unconditional event for all those animated by cultural passion, the Night of Museums is an event not to be missed. Indeed, one evening in the year and all over the continent, the sites that wish to open their doors free, at reduced rates, while proposing many animations. The opportunity to visit a museum, a battery of artillery or any other memorial in a particular context and arousing an additional interest for the discovery of a place but in an environment changing from that habitual.
Visit of the Airborne Museum
On the occasion of the European Night of Museums, the Airborne Museum of Sainte-Mère-Eglise opened its doors until 11 pm last night. A varied program was proposed to visitors: a complete night tour of the site including the new temporary exhibition dedicated to Bastogne, embarkation and guided tour of the C-47 Argonia, plays offered by schoolchildren on the Normandy landing. It was the opportunity to enjoy the beauty of a site constantly evolving in a different atmosphere.
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