A TOAST TO THE AMERICAN BOMBERS

(Revised January 2006)

By

Virgil R. Marco, Sr.

          On the morning of June 6, 1944 the invasion news swept across France.  The excitement of being free again created French patriotism beyond belief.  This excitement reached the village of Remilly-Aillicourt where at the crack of dawn many young men were seen pedaling their bicycles as fast they could to the nearby woods to become a resistance fighter. 

          Jean Cordier was already a Resistance fighter since the occupation of his country by the enemy.  His resistance activities were very secret.  During the day he gave the appearance of being very good citizen of the community.  By night he was a “Rebel” motivated by his love of France and the desire to see his country free again.  His “Rebel” activities were mainly sabotaging the enemy occupier’s railways delaying reinforcements reaching the Normandy front.  He also helped many downed allied airmen evade capture.  These underground activities earned him the “La Croix de Chevalier de la Legion d’ Honneur” medal from the French Government.

          One of his friends, Marcel Leonard, also with the resistance, informed him that two American airmen had traveled to their village looking for help.  They needed food and shelter for a few days before traveling on to Switzerland where they hoped to find freedom from the Gestapo pursuit.

         Jean was more than happy to offer help as he had previously assisted in hiding twelve American flyers in the woods at Mont-Dieu and helping them evacuate toward Sedan. 

         His new American, guests were Joseph A. Rhodes, a B-17 Engineer top turret gunner with the 305^th Bomb Group and Peter M. Clark, a B-24 tail gunner with the 445^th Bomb Group.  Joe Rhodes’ Bomber was shot down on April 24, 1944 near Leuze, France and Pete Clark’s Bomber was shot down on April 12, 1944 south of Liege, Belgium.  They both with help walked to Revin, France near the French-Belgium border where they met while hiding with the Maquis of Revin.

         Shortly after D-Day the ranks of the Maquis became so large that the Gestapo became suspicious of the activity in the nearby forest.  On June 12 the Maquis was attacked.  The war lasted three days.  Most of the Maquis were annihilated in their fight with the Gestapo or murdered when captured.  Joe and Pete were very lucky to escape with their lives.  They left the Maquis about June 20th with the hope of traveling to safety in Switzerland. 

 

         They traveled by train to Sedan where they met a truck driver, Marcel Leonard, the Chief of the FFI of Sedan.  This was unknown to Joe and Pete at the time.  Marcel was also a professional boxer. Marcel gave them a ride to Remilly-Aillicourt.  After arriving on Sunday, July 9, Marcel delivered them to Jean Cordier’s home where Joe and Pete were introduced to the community as Jean’s wife’s Dutch cousins from Revin.  They were evading the Nazis labor camp draft to avoid working in Germany.  They had arrived in time for the Baptism of baby Francis, Jean Cordier’s new born boy.

         Many of Jean and Alcidie’s friends arrived at the church for the baptism where Jean introduced his Dutch cousins and let everyone know that they could not speak French.

         During the Baptism the familiar roar of heavy bombers flying toward Germany caused a pause in the ceremony.  Everyone was silently listening to the planes when a woman spoke out in a loud voice, “If there were only some Americans here, I would offer them a drink!”  She was unaware that she was sitting next to two Americans, Joe and Pete. 

         The lady making this statement was Mrs. Charbonneau who operated the Poste Café in Remilly-Aillicourt.  Jean Cordier remembered that she once made the statement to him that she was saving a special bottle of cognac for the Americans when they arrived.

          Few people in Remilly-Aillicourt had a radio to listen to the French Broadcasts from London each evening giving them the true progress of the D-Day invasion.  Listening to these broadcasts was against the law resulting in harsh punishment if caught.  The good news of “freedom soon” was transmitted around the community and everyone had the feeling of great joy. 

          The next day after the Baptism Jean Cordier took Joe and Pete to the Poste Café for a few drinks.  When they arrived at the Café Jean reminded Mrs. Charbonneau of her statement about sharing her special bottle of Cognac with Americans.  Jean informed her that the two gentlemen with him were American airmen and it was time to open the special bottle of cognac.  The bottle was opened and a good time was had by all.

         After eight days with the Jean Cordier family, Joe and Pete moved to the home of Marcel Leonard in the village of Floing near Sedan.. Marcel provided them with a room in the attic.  Their food was brought to them by Madam Barre who was allowed into their room only after making a secret knock on their door.  Madam Barre’s husband was later arrested and executed by the Nazis because of his “Resistance” activities. 

         Life in the attic room soon became very boring to Pete Clark.  He managed to talk Marcel into taking him outside for a walk.  They walked to a place in Sedan called “Champ de Mars” were they played skittles with German soldiers.  Marcel and Pete won the first game and the German soldiers won the second game.  The Germans wanted to play a tie breaker but Marcel told them that he had a very important appointment.  Marcel was also afraid Pete might accidentally say some American words.  (This story was given by Marcel to his son.)

         Joe and Pete left Floing to meet the advancing American forces. 

They rode the train towards Mirecourt where they had a close call with German soldiers occupying seats near them.  One German soldier asked Joe Rhodes for a light for his cigarette.  Joe was acting as a “deaf mute” which was indicated on his identity papers.  Pete recognized what was taking place and quickly gave the German soldier a light. 

         When they arrived at Mirecourt, they found refuge with Mr. Adelphe Sarron  until September 2, 1944 when liberated by the advancing American ground forces.

         Jean Cordier died in January 2001 at the age of 93.  Alcidie died of cancer in 1969.  Marcel Leonard died in 1987.  Pete Clark died in 1994.  Joe Rhodes is still very much alive at the age of 83 years in 2006.

 

 

(Information and pictures in this article was supplied by Francis Cordier and Frederic Docq of Remilly-Aillicourt, France)