Last post included this photo of a man in Dad's unit:
Surely, Lt. Robichaud is "Frenchie." Here it is, 2014, and the heirs of our own EJZ finally figure this out. Would that these two have both lived long enough to have found each other, emailed each other, and arranged a meetup here on Earth. It is heart-rending to realize that that almost happened, but did not.
So, all right, we shall try to find this Lieutenant Albert, and what we find we shall report.
In the meantime, restful dreams, to them both.
Z
So far there is nothing found in the Trove that gives a clue to his identity. However, several sleepless nights and absent-minded days have brought back a memory that might pertain to this man. I remember Mom explaining to us kids about the nightmares Dad would have fairly often. Obviously he was reliving skirmishes in his dreams. One recurring line was:
"Hey, Frenchie! Look out! Look out, Frenchie!!"
Mills, Mills, and Brunner's 2002 OSS Special Operations in China introduces Team Jackal, including a subgroup, or "echelon," consisting of "Zarembo, . . . Robichaud . . . and . . . Zdrojewski."
For the moment we will concentrate on the introduction therein to Lieutenant Albert Robichaud. He had "completed two operational missions behind the lines in France, testing circuits of the clandestine travel routes operated by the combined ODD/British SOE 'DF Section' for Western Europe that were used to move people, equipment, money, and messages between Europe and London. The most important function was to move secret agents working for the British and OSS into France and other countries and to bring them out again to the London headquarters. The travel nets were also used for the return to England of downed airmen from the air attacks over Western Europe. So Lieutenant Robichaud was another combat OSS veteran redeployed from operations in France and a welcome addition to the team." (Mills, Mills, and Brunner, 2002, p. 83-84.)
So, all right, we shall try to find this Lieutenant Albert, and what we find we shall report.
In the meantime, restful dreams, to them both.
Z
1 comment:
Nice work! I have just been writing captions for my grandfather's WW2 photo album (CBI Theater, US Army Air Force, India-China-Tinian/Saipan); he had about 500 pictures, most of people and locations we only vaguely know, if at all. He passed away 8 years ago, and did not tell those who survive now more than a slightly fleshed out outline of what he did. But I found a good many of the identities of people and places, using several other collections and memoirs, plus the few stories he told us. So I know this process, and the joy that comes with making a discovery, even if the original collector / creator of the pictures is only watching from afar, and hopefully smiling. David Fletcher
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