Bernhard H.Holst

Hello. Thanks for showing this beauty. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Hugh. Thank you for bringing me up to date ref. US Navy and alcohol. Plus other necessities for service men. You may be aware of the French military long standing policy of the BMC (Bordel Militaire de Campagne )? Even Dien Bien Phu was so "equipped" with no survivor. The Frejus site for a time had a virtual wall listing the names of those personnel whose remains were not recovered but sadly discontinued that. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Hugh. Thanks for this post describing what I call a typical French welcome. The anniversary of the Allied landings in the south of France is every year a festive occasion. I happen to believe the US Navy to be dry to this day. So a stay at port must be welcome. I witnessed some blowouts during the evacuation of civilian personnel from the northern part of Vietnam following the 1954 armistice, handled by US Navy vessels at our unit's landing spot. Our PX was next door with beer and wine to be had for everyone with money. A former officer of my regiment, retired Brig. General Jauffret resides in St.Raphael and was until very recently much involved in the several ceremonies taking place in the area. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. In the 1980's the French Government made an agreement with Vietnam to recover all those remains of fallen members of French military incl. Indochinese personnel which could be recovered for reburial at a French national site. The site was established at Frejus within sight of the Mediterranean Sea over which French origin military personnel traveled to reach Indochina. The remains so gathered were reburied at Frejus and the total number of remains are listed as 26,000 plus. A large number have their individual graves. Again very unfortunately the registry contains a numerous errors, distortions etc which should have been easily avoided and in my view puts a very commendable enterprise into a shaky light. An example is my former company sgt.major ( adjudant de compagnie ) Marechal des Logis-Chef Manuel Bonastre listed with several errors in his single entry ( regt., rank, dod). Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Brett. Thank you for your kind message. I am planning to place a list of fallen members of my former unit on this forum. This in order to provide a readily visible indication of their having been among us and fighting the good fight. Until their life ended so early... But health matters delay such fairly easy activities again and again. BTW: the entry for Trooper Tran Van Mau in the mentioned registry is without obvious errors of which are many in this and the other registry Memoire des Hommes established and maintained by the French Defense Ministry in which he, Trooper Tran Van Mau is not listed. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello readers. I was lately successful to locate the particulars of the fallen Trooper Tran Van Mau by consulting the registry of the French National Site of those personnel who died during the French phase of the Indochina conflict. Trooper Tran Van Mau has his last resting place in Frejus, France. On this anniversary of the combat of the heights of Khe Non I remember those I personally knew and all others who gave their lives so long ago. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Jock. Thanks for showing this photo. I wonder who this pair are: brother and sister or wife and husband, girlfriend and him? Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andreas. Until 1948 the French version was awarded. Wikipedia has extensive coverage/details. BTW:You may also like the Order of the Dragon of Annam if you have not already seen it. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Andreas. based on the ribbon color it is indeed awarded by the French authorities as Officer grade as you are certainly aware of. And a beauty. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Grey C. Absolutely right.I certainly did not have my wits ready. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Chris. Thank you for this translation which I believe gives the German original a realistic English version. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello. I read the last name as " Gastgeber ". Cannot read the first name. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Kevin. Of passing interest may be the Waffen-SS' method of applying their usual training programs to all the potential "leaders" (not called officers) including those to be assigned to strictly administrative duties. This did give Waffen-SS formations the means to fall back on such personnel in case of emergency situations. BTW: this writer was evacuated during 1943-1944 to a place not far from what is now Bad Arolsen which was the training center for future administrative leaders. We shared training grounds for field service exercises so had opportunities to observe them being trained and they were run through the grinder. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Kevin. Thank you for clearing this up. Bernhard H. Holst

Hello Kevin. I am not familiar with the cards one of which you pictured in ID 2. However I noticed in the rt. lower corner the mention " wenden" ( turn-over). What would be listed on the reverse, I wonder? Bernhard H. Holst