May 13th, 2008
When I was dropped at the EuropCar rental office at 11:30 am in Avranches, I was told that the car I reserved, an automatic transmission, had been rented the day before and had gone into disrepair. I do not know how to drive a stick shift. So I was made to wait until 2:30 p.m. before a car could be found for me. Three hours of driving time (which would have put me in Saint Vougay) was spent sitting in the bar room of a local cafeteria, drinking cafe and listening to audio books.
By 3:00 pm, I was finally on the road. I had called Iffig Palud, the President of the Association (Amicale du 21 octobre 1942) who was to be my host and told him that I was going to be late. Little did I know at the time that 30 people were assembled to greet me. Somehow I missed the turnoff going west and found myself heading south to Rennes. I finally realized my mistake and turned around, but could not find the correct exit going in the opposite direction, and discovered I was now headed toward Caen, north. By this time I gone about 100 kilometres out of my way in total, and was still NOT on my way to Saint Vougay, WEST. I found a party of Welsh people who let me use their cell phone and I called Iffig again to tell him I would be later still. He was very patient with me and helpful, not letting on that I was letting down a group waiting for me. I would have really been crazy had I known that there was a reception planned.
On this third try, I finally got the correct exit and by this time I was fully accustomed to the French highways and road signs. I hit pedal to metal and sped straight for Saint Vougay. I sped past
many "camera" warnings and hoped I had not been "flashed" (and thus later to be fined) for speeding. Iffig told me later that the fines are very hefty, so I am still holding my breath. I pulled into the nearby town of Landivisiau because Iffig had warned me not to try to find Saint Vougay by myself. It was 6:15 p.m. I had made the drive in 2 hours. (approximately 218 kilometres). I found a mechanic's garage open, and again depended on the kindness of strangers for a telephone.
Iffig, his wife Martine and son Guenole arrived in 15 minutes. By this time the rain was pouring down in buckets. We thought it was pretty funny when Iffig had trouble driving an automatic, but he and Guenole rode with me and we followed Martine back to Saint Vougay. First we dropped my luggage off at Iffig's house and then went down the road to another farmhouse. A large covered shed stood beside the house, and as we pulled in I could see a group of villagers waiting with a table laden with wine and food. They hovered under the roof as the rain came down. I cringed wondering how long they had been waiting for me.
When I got out of the car, everyone applauded. I was dumbfounded.
Iffig and I stepping through puddles to the shed
1. D.Morvan (Marie Josee, wife of Jean-Louis)
2. Jean-Paul Palut, Amicale
3. Jean-Louis Morvan, Amicale
4. Yves "Iffig" Palud, President of Amicale
5. Alain Goasdoue (Brest44)
6. Robert LeJeune (Brest44), driver of the Jeep
Rear: Eric Pouliquen (Brest44),Jeremy Costiou (Brest44)
7. Regis Jan (Brest44 MP), flowers in Saint James
8. Vincent Seite (Brest44 and Amicale)
9. Herve Simon, Amicale (owns house where B-17 wing made into shed wall)
10. Jean Claude Abgrall, Amicale
11. Jean Leost, an eye-witness to the plane crash.
12. Laure Goasdoue, daughter of Myriam and Alain
13. Myriam Goasdoue (Brest44)
14. Pierre-Luc Quenel, grandson of Jean-Louis Morvan. 
Louis Kerbrat honored me with roses. Louis was an eye-witness to the
plane crash 65 years ago.
As mentioned in another post, the uniformed men in these photos are dressed like U.S. G.I.'s but they are Frenchmen who represent Brest44, an organization formed to honor and remember the liberation of France after WWII. They are an exhuberant and loving bunch who join with Saint Vougay's association, Amicale, in the same goals. There were many wives and other women present who did not join the photographs (or were taking them).
There were more people who came to the reception but finally left after the rain began and after my many phone calls about delays. I apologize to those folks, and am so grateful to the many more who stayed to welcome me. Amazing!!
Jean Leost was an eye-witness to the plane crash.
Gisele LeBorgne (back to the camera) was my interpretor for the day. A teacher of English in Brest, Gisele saved my whole day of arrival with her wonderful translations.
Gisele Le Borgne
Gisele Le Borgne translating my conversation with
Vincent Seite, "General Patton"
Every minute was a photo-op!
After the champagne (and red wine) reception, we walked in a group up the road to where a memorial has been built to commemorate the American crew of "The Big Bitch" who crashed in a Saint Vougay field on October 21, 1942.
The Amicale association has planted oak trees around the memorial, one tree for each crew member.
The Amicale association bought flowers for me to place on the memorial. I brought little flags from Saint James which we added to the tribute. Thank you, Amicale, for your countless, thoughtful gestures.
Left to right Iffig's wife,
Martine Palud, with the umbrella,
Monique Bramouile handing me the flowers, and
Yves "Iffig" Palud, President of Amicale, standing behind Monique.
And it rained and rained. The sky cried. 
The plaque on the Memorial.
Destia and Rodney Hermes, relatives of the bombadier, Lt.Thomas Morgan, were the first family to show up in Saint Vougay. The large portrait on the left of the plaque is Thomas Morgan, and the Hermes' trips to Saint Vougay were instrumental in the Amicale forming and dedicating this memorial. Thank you Amicale, thank you, Destia and Rod. Nine relatives, including the only living survivor, navigator Lt. Robert Jackson (age 89) came to Saint Vougay in 2007. 
The Memorial
I am pointing out my father's face to Martine and Yves "Iffig" Palud. 
Time again for photos! 
Time again for more rain!
Brest44's U.S. Army Jeep. I was transported in this magnificent, authentic WWII vehicle directly into the village for our dinner. Jeep was driven by
Robert Le Jeune, while "General Patton"
Vincent Seite and
Regis Jan(M.P.) rode in the back seat. Robert beeped the horn all the way which made a very festive, attention-drawing arrival!!
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# posted by bevjackson @ 9:32 PM
