 |
|
About Herbert Brill Articles/Media Works of Art Available Art Contact Home |
|
 AIR FORCES ESCAPE AND EVASION SOCIETY ARTICLE Fall 2005 "Herb Receives a French Decoration" Nontron, France By Millicent Brill  Herb Brill is presented with the French Legion of Honor by General Michel Kreher in a ceremony on July 16 in front of the monument near Grassac, near where Herb was shot down on December 31, 1943. Millicent Brill proudly observes as the honor is bestowed on her husband. Herbert Brill, my husband and member of the board of AFEES, was decorated as a Knight (Chevalier) of the Legion of Honor on July 16, in the township of Grassac, Charente, France, by General Michel Kreher of France. The ceremony was held in the area where Herb and Bill Weber met a young French medical student on January 2, 1944. They had walked about 80 km from where their B-17 - piloted by Coleman Goldstein and on which they were the navigator and engineer, respectively - had made a forced landing near Montendre on December 31, 1943, near the northwestern coast of France. Despite his parents' fears and objections, the young student, Roland Mapas, put them in touch with members of the French Resistance on that day, starting an almost nine-month adventure. Herb chose the site for the ceremony, at a monument at the junction of four roads in the Forest of Horte, to honor his French friends and fellow members of the Resistance killed by the Germans. Among the names on the monument is that of Rene Chabasse, head of a group of resisters known as the B.O.A., forerunner of the Section Speciale de Sabotage. It was Rene who asked Herb if he would help their group with sabotage. He was killed by the Germans on February 21, 1994, in Angouleme. More than 100 people attended the dignified and moving ceremony, held in front of the monument, decorated with French, American and English flags. Beside General Kreher, others present included the American Consul General in Bordeaux, the Deputy of the Charente and the President of the Conseil General of the Charente, as well as several officers of the French army and mayors of several towns.  We were happy to have nine members of our family, our sons Eric, Robert and David - and their wives and children, as well as two friends from California, all of whom came to attend.  The Legion of Honor medal before being awarded to Herbert. In a position of honor, sitting behind Herb, was Edmond Duruisseau, 95, whose family played an important role in the Resistance. 
Edmond Duruisseau (seated) with family and friends.General Kreher began the ceremony, explaining that the medal, by order of President Chirac, cited Herb's work with the Resistance during 1944, including his participation in the battles of Javerlhac and the liberation of Angouleme, sabotage of railways, and recovering arms and supplied dropped by parachute. He mentioned that after the war, Herb studied painting with the renowned Fernand Leger, in Paris, from 1949 to 1951, our many visits to France since and our purchase of a house in the center of the region so we can be in touch with the people who helped him evade. After the ceremony, Herb and I hosted a reception in the Town of Grassac at the social hall. Speeches were made by General Kreher, the American Consul General, the Deputy and President of the Conseil General, the president of the S.S.S. and by Roland Mapas. Roland, now a retired doctor living near Angouleme, described having heard Herb and Bill speaking English in the woods on January 2, 1944. He realized they were American aviators and rushed home to a small house close to the social hall in Grassac - to tell his parents. He emphasized that, with this light hair and blue eyes, Herb was thought to be a German spy by Roland's parents who were afraid to let in the two Americans. They were convinced otherwise when, at a meal they prepared at Roland's insistence, Herb and Bill did not want to drink any wine! Many of the guests were emotionally affected to hear how Roland met the two Americans. The final speech was given by Herb, who lightened the tone to one of friendship and celebration. He thanked the other speakers and told why he chose France, and specifically the town of Grassac, in which to be decorated, when the ceremony could have been performed in the States. He said he will never forget Rene Chabasse and the other brave Frenchmen which whom he worked. He introduced members of families who helped him evade - the Duruisseaus-Vitals, the Mapas and Bernys in Charente, and the Lasrets, Reytiers, and Villards in Haute-Vienne, some of whom have attended AFEES reunions. He added a word of dedication to my brother, whom he had never met, and to the other 9,000 Americans who are buried in the cemetery in Normandy which we visit every year. Finally, he introduced our family and friends.  Taken in Grassac, France at the reception after the ceremony. |
 Herbert Brill ARTICLES
BOOKS |