At Large
D-Day and the Aging Frenchman
He lived a double life under Nazi occupation — and loves what America did to liberate France.
(Page 2 of 2)
Along with a son and daughter-in-law, he gave me a tour of the impressive German battlements at St. Malo — admitting, ruefully, that he may have helped to quarry some of the stone used in their construction.
Late in the summer of 1944, with the German forces in France either under siege or fleeing, 300 German soldiers were holed up in heavily fortified Cézambre island in the middle of St. Malo harbor. It is a mark of how stout the Atlantic Wall was at its strongest points that these soldiers withstood a fierce Allied bombardment for three weeks. After running out of food and water, they finally surrendered. They were totally deaf, but otherwise unhurt.
A widower now for four years after 65 years of marriage, Mr. Bidet is very much the paterfamilias — living in St. Malo in the midst of adoring children, grandchildren and great grandchildren. He enjoys life to the full and feels proud of his own contribution to the success of the Allied invasion.
About the Author
Andrew B. Wilson, a frequent contributor to The American Spectator, writes from St. Louis.
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IMKessel| 6.16.09 @ 10:25AM
Welcome to the true believers, jeans.
Old Texican| 6.16.09 @ 11:32AM
I spent a lot of time in France during the 70s, when many WWII surviving Frenchmen were still out and about.
Almost Every time I ordered a meal or a drink, (In my Texican accent, Heh), I got a free glass of wine from one of those older gentlemen.
I must mention that I always wore my Stetson and boots when in Europe. The response was so common that I still get a tickle out of it...
"Ahhh Texxxxaaaas...merci' beau coup...to your fathers."
Pete| 6.16.09 @ 12:03PM
Too bad the younger generations of French people have been (re)educated just like in the US.
Marc Jeric| 6.16.09 @ 3:00PM
I visited those Normandie beaches on the 1985 anniversary. It was of interest for me to see a number of elderly German officers walking the Omaha Beach - they must have been wondering how those Texas rangers could have done it. Another sight was the graveyard with 9,900 American graves - with names of those 20-year olds from Kansas, Nebraska, etc. Why did they have to die so those salon communists in Paris could discuss the inferiority of Americans?
Al Adab| 6.16.09 @ 3:07PM
Ah Old Texican my friend, you put it well. I envy you for I have not made a pilgrimage to Normandy. nonetheless I would second your sentiments but must wonder, would we find the courage to do it again?
=Old Texican| 6.16.09 @ 6:10PM
Al Adab
God bless you, sir.
Will we do it again?...Heh!
We ARE doing it again...in Iraq and in Afghanistan.
Without us, those poor people would still have NO chance at liberty.
With our help...those people have a CHANCE at freedom.
Every one of our soldiers and Marines are volunteers...every single one.
Not one of them expects glory or pillage. Not one of them.
Thank God for these kinds of young men. I am frightened that our present admin simply doesn't get it either.
One day soon...the worry about these young men and women joining "terrorist ranks" may come true...if "terrorists" fight for our constitution as they each one swore to do.
Al Adab| 6.16.09 @ 6:45PM
Texican, it's just Al, thanks.
I have friends right today who are over there. Let us all pray that we never have to defend out Constitution against our own government.
Richard Baker| 6.16.09 @ 6:49PM
Sad that the next generation of Frenchmen were raised to think of the US as terrible. I think it's because DeGaulle hated for the Americans to do anything for him, so said General Bradley. Makes me wonder how many times we have to save the French from themselves. To the Maquis and the rest of the Resistance, Vive La France!
Pingback| 6.16.09 @ 8:35PM
The American Spectator : D-Day and the Aging Frenchman | France Today links to this page. Here’s an excerpt:
Alan Brooks| 6.16.09 @ 9:28PM
French believe in Liberte Egalite and Fraternite-- zat eez why so many Frenchman fraternized with zee Boches 1940- '44!
Mike Lee| 6.16.09 @ 10:32PM
We did it for them because for all of their ungratefulness they were a free nation attacked by a dictatorship. We don't have to always like each other but that is what free nations do.
Nick| 6.16.09 @ 11:11PM
The French are still paying the price for all the priests and nuns their ancestors murdered during the Reign of Terror.
Frank| 6.17.09 @ 2:46AM
True this generation of French people dont realize what we did for them twice.DeGaule was the first to start this hate America idea,Got American troops out of France France out of Nato.But The Soviets could have marched to the Channel anytime they wanted if the US didnt have thousands of Troops and equipment in Germsany for more than 40 years.
Some of the Marqui faught bravely--Especially when they realized the germans were going to lose.They helped a lot then,but were more brutal than the Germans who treated the French pretty well ,always hoping they might join them in the war.They did produce a lot for the German war effort,but the Allies gave them probably more civilian casualties than the Germans.With bombing raids,and the fighting after the invasion.DeGaule thought the Free French Did so much to liberate France,but maybe Polish ,Even Japanese Americans did more.
matt jones| 6.17.09 @ 3:45AM
hardly a counterpoint this is. rather it is an adjoining highlight which is cheapened by the unneccessary comment on President Obama's appearence. apparently the idea that people hate America are so denoted by those who criticize, yet here we are, constantly making criticisms under the right to free speech. while those who do not learn from the past are doomed to repeat it, those who do not consider how America responds to current crisises are under the very same category of those who fail to realize the impact these United States have.
Richard Baker| 6.18.09 @ 12:07AM
Al Adab:
Read Patrick Henry's speech on Liberty and Death. Also read Mr. Jefferson's Declaration of Independence. If Liberty and Freedom aren't worth fighting for then why have millions fought for just that over US history? Remember, Barry Goldwater said in 1964 that "Extremism in the pursuit of Liberty is no vice". Good advice, that.
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You can see how to do this in the videos, but basically you need to jump up when the Hydra is about to strike. He will rear one of his heads back to attack and his eyes will bulge out. Poptropica When this happens, jump up in the air and then try to land on top of his head. That head will get knocked out. When all five heads get knocked out, the Hydra will be asleep and you can click on him to get one of the scales. Poptropica I’ll have a full written walkthrough very soon, but in the meantime, here are some answers to some of the frequently asked questions about Mythology Island. Having trouble? Post a question in the comments and I’ll try to answer it!
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