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Former WWII prisoner of war hosts members of French family that hid him from GermansRobert Henry, left, returned a favor to the Dardenne family by hosting Ghislain and Josette Bertrand, niece of Irene Dardenne, who first hid him.visit,’ said llenrv. “You looked forward toBy BILL ZIMMERMANGazette Staff WriterCHERRY TREE — After successfully exiting his B-17 bomber by parachute, Robert Franklin Henry saw a German tighter plane heading his way. Henry's plane had been experiencing engine trouble when it was hit by German fighter planes over eastern France during World War II on Oct. 14, 1943. It was returning to England following an air raid in Schwein-furt, Germany that resulted in 60 U.S. planes being lost.I lenry was out of the plane, hut was an easy target. I le was certain that he would be shot, but the same German pilot who was blasting at his plane decided that I lenry had suffered enough.“When he went by, he waived at me, said I lenry. “I le could have shot me easy.”1 lenry s life was spared by the enemy; it wasn’t the last time that I lenry would encounter mercy and kindness during the violence and mayhem of WWII as lie served in the Army Air Corp.After safely landing after his first and last dive from a plane, I lenry eventually came in contact with Irene Dardenne and her family, who offered to give him a place to stay at their home in Vrigne-Aux-Bois in northeast France. Hie act of kindness sparked a friendship that has lasted more than 58 years.Now, at his home near Cherry free, I lenry, 87, is giving a member of the I )ar-denne family a place to stay.Josette Bertrand, 75, and her husband Ghislain, 75, have been visiting Henry since July 21. They are from Eloing, France, and Josette is the niece of IreneDardenne.Josette was about 15 when Henry was staying with her aunt, and she rode her hike to the house almost every day.“She never failed coming down there toher coming.Josette learned some I nglish in school and was excited about the chance to practice the language.Robert Henry; fifth from right, and his late wife La Rue, fifth from left, posed for this photograph taken by a French newspaper in 1983 at the home of Irene Dardenne, fourth from left.(Gazette photos by Tom Peel)“I would go to see Robert and try to speak to him, but it was very, very hard, said Josette. “it was great for us to have anAmerican at home.’’“But very dangerous.' added I lenry. Josette and Henry kept in contact for many years; tins is the second time she has been in the I Jnited States to visit him. Henry made his first trip to France in 1983 with his wife, FaKue, who died in 1986. (heir visit was documented in two French newspapers. I lenry also attendedthe wedding of losettes cousin’s son in1994, and visited again in 1997.Josette came to attend the wedding of Henry ’s granddaughter Sabrina on luly 26, and it has been the high point of her(Continued on page 12
Newspaper Details
Indiana Gazette
Indiana, Pennsylvania, US
Sat, Aug 02, 2003
Page 1
Full Page
Clipped by
Candie H.
USA 16 Mar 2019
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