An American veteran participates in the commemoration of May 8, 1945

For the 67th anniversary of the end of the Second World War, Mayor Antoine de Bellaigue, the city council and veterans invited residents to a mass on a Tuesday morning in Vierville-sur-Mer. It was celebrated by Monsignor Bernward Mezger, military chaplain of the 262nd German paratrooper battalion, visiting the landing beaches.

Charles Carré, 88, marked the meeting of his presence. The newspaper traces his journey: born in Brittany in 1924, he had emigrated with his parents to Canada and then to the United States at the end of the 1920s. Still French, he joined the U.S. Army at the age of nineteen, then was assigned to the 28th Division of the Pennsylvania National Guard as a machine gunner and interpreter.

Stationed in England since October 27, 1943, he landed in Vierville on June 22, 1944. He had spent three days in Bricqueville with René Gouesmel, the first Frenchman he met and became his friend.

According to the story of the cut, his first fighting took place in Cerisy-la-Forêt and continued until July 23. After the losses of the 28th division, he is reported to have been transferred to the 29th, then to have fought during Operation Cobra in Saint-Lô, Villedieu, Percy, Gathemo and Domfront, before Paris.

After the mass, wreaths were deposited at the monument to the dead and the delegations returned to their municipalities.

Reconstructed or uncertain passages:
- The military career and the transition from the 28th to the 29th division are reported according to the newspaper, without independent historical validation. The text associates the commitment of nineteen years and the beginning of the war in Europe, formulations that do not give a coherent commitment date; only the indication of age is retained.

Archive image: https://vierville.cordelle.eu/PhDoc12/2012-8mai-Bundeswehr-ViervilleL.jpg