Upload
ngotuong
View
221
Download
0
Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
1
OGPAT—AFreshLookOperational Group (OG) PAT was one of thirteen OSS teamsparachutedintosouthernFranceinthesummerof1944fromAlgeria.PATwas theonly sectiondropped into thedépartementknownastheTarn(Capital:Albi)intheMidiPyrénées.ThoughthedeedsofsomeoftheOGgroupshavebeenwelldocumented,littlehasbeenpublishedonOGPAT.Last year an American journalist who lives in the Tarn received aFulbrightgrant to research their story.MeredithWheeler, formerlyawriterandproduceratABCNews,sharessomeofherdiscoveries:
Yankeedoodle,doordie…..
ByMeredithWheeler
OGPATatBlida,AlgeriainMay1944
Summer,1944.JustpastmidnightonAugust6th/7th,fifteen
AmericanparatroopersjumpedfromaSterlingbomberandfloated
downintotheTarn—occupiedFrance—underthelightofawaning
2
moon.“Wewerescaredtodeath,”saysGeorgeMaddock,oneof13
whosurvivedthemission.
StirlingBomberofthekindconvertedforparachutingOSSOGsintoFrance
ThenightflightfromtheirbaseinBlida,Algeriahadtakenabout
threehours.Tobreakthetensionandkeepuptheirspirits,
LieutenantConradLaGueux,PAT’scommandingofficer,suggested
theysing.
LieutenantConradLaGueuxwas22yearsoldwhenhewasputincommandof
OGPAT
“Wesanglikemad,”wroteMichaelDemarco,inanunfinished
3
memoir.“Oldsongs,newsongs,evenafewFrenchsongs.”Staff
SergeantBernardGautier,adescendentofFrenchCanadians,knew
alltheFrenchwords—butwastonedeaf.TheysangYankeeDoodle—
twice.“I’maYankeeDoodleDandy,YankeeDoodledoordie….”Two
ofthemenwouldindeedbedeadwithintheweek.
AsthebombercrossedtheBlackMountainsofsouthwestFrance,
anti‐aircraftfirelitupthesky.“Likethe4thofJuly,”GeorgeMaddock
recalled.“Nice—untilwefoundoutthattheywereshootingatus.”
Theack‐ackmissed,butsignaledtheirarrivalinenemyterritory.
Over100maquis‐–theruralresistancefighters—werewaitingatthe
dropzone,aremotehilltop,gazingskywardinanticipation.Never
beforehadAlliedsoldiersparachutedintothisremotepartofthe
Tarn.
LieutenantMichaelDeMarcovividlyremembersthenighttime
jump—hookingontothestaticlineandrunningtowardthatempty
blackrectangleintheaircraftfloor—thegapingvoid:
“Iwentoutthehole[and]seemedtostopandhangsuspendedinthe
air.Ilookedupatthekhakichute.Itlookedbeautifuluptherewith
theblueskyandstarsallaround.”
Tohisrightandleft,hesawhiscomradesfloatingtoearth.
“Theairwasheavyandwecamedownslowly.Alreadytheroarof
theplanehadlefttheskyandnowwecouldseethelightsmovingon
theground,hearpeopleshoutandyell….Whenwegotalittlecloser,I
sawthatIwouldhavetotryandavoidatreelanding.”
4
DeMarcotuggedonhissuspensionlinesandmanagedtomissthe
trees.Theunitmedic,SergeantAugustusKitchenwasn’tsolucky.He
ricocheteddownthroughthebranches,gashinghisface.
StaffSergeantRobertoEsquenazi,aCuban‐American,wasmore
seriouslyinjured.Thejumpwasatlow‐altitude—about500feet‐‐
andhelandedawkwardlyonhisgear,breakinghisleftleg.(The
barrelofhisMarlinsubmachinegunbentfromtheimpact.)
EsquenaziwasswiftlyspiritedawaytoaFrenchdoctor.Hewould
spendtherestofthemissionhiddenintheatticofachateauowned
bytheResistanceleader(atsomeperiltothefamilywhowerein
residence).
ChateauBousquetnearVabreintheTarnwhereS/Sgt/RobertoEsquenaziwas
hiddenintheatticwhileherecoveredfromabrokenlegsustainedduringthe
parachutejump
5
S/Sgt.RobertoEsquenaziwithOdileDerouville(seated)andhermother‐in‐law
LouiseinVabre(phototakenaftertheliberation)ThehusbandofOdile,Guy
Derouville,wastheheadoftheMaquisdeVabre,thegroupinchargeofthedrop
zone.OdilespokeEnglishandsupervisedthecareofthewoundedAmerican.
AsMichaelDeMarcounfastenedhisparachuteharness,henoticeda
manandaboyhurryingtowardshimwithalight,andthought:
“Friendorfoe?”Hedulygavethepassword‐‐whichtheFrenchman
ignored.Instead,themaquisardslappedhimonhisbackandgrabbedhismusettebag,saying,“Iwillcarrythisforyou!”inheavily
accentedEnglish.Theboyrolledupthechuteandtheyheadeddown
thehilltojointheothers.“Ihadneverdreamedthatmylanding
wouldbereceivedlikethis,”wroteDeMarco.
6
OGPAT’sofficialorderswereto“harassanddestroytheenemy,cut
Germancommunicationsandsupplyroutesandstrengthenthe
resistancemovement”.Buttheoverarchinggoal—whetherthey
knewitornot—wastotieupenemyforcesinthesouthwestin
anticipationoftheimminentAlliedlandinginProvence—Operation
Dragoon.
Theteamnotonlyaccomplishedthatmission,theyalsohelped
turnedthetideintheregion.LikeallofFrance,theTarnwasstill
undertheyokeofNazioccupation.Withintwoweeks,thesouthTarn
wasliberated.Some4500Wehrmachtsoldierssurrenderedto12OSS
menandafewhundredResistancefighters‐—mostofthempoorly‐
armed,under‐trainedmaquis.Asinagameofpoker,skill,luckand
bluffallplayedarole.
ThreemembersoftheOGPATTeaminMarch1944inAlgeriaRT/5RobertSpaur,T/Sgt.JosephL.VezinaandT/5RaymondPicard
Buttheirsuccesscameatacost.TwoOGPATmenwereshotdead
duringanambushofaGermanpatrolonaremotemountainroad.It
7
wasOGPAT’sfirstexperienceofcombat.Thevictimsincludedthe
tone‐deafSergeant,BernardGautier,andT/5RobertSpaur.Abouta
dozenGermanswerealsokilledorwounded.
S/Sgt.BernardGautier,killedattheambushnearLeRialet
T/5RobertSpaur,killedintheambushnearLeRialet
TheGermanswhosurvivedbroughtbacknewsthatstunnedthelocal
Wehrmachtcommand:TheattackersincludeduniformedAmerican
commandos—notjustrag‐tagmaquisards.Untilthatmoment,the
8
warhadbeen500milesnorthinNormandy.Nowitwasontheir
doorstep.
TheResistancedidtheirbesttofanGermananxietiesbyinflatingthe
sizeoftheAmericanpresence—whichafterdeathandinjuryhad
shrunktojust12men.Germancollaboratorsweretold,however,
thattherewereatleast50—maybe75or100—American
commandosinfiltratingthehills.Combinedwiththeambush,the
disinformationcampaignsoweduneasethatturnedtopanicafterOG
PAT’snextactofsabotage.
Sixty‐sixyearslater,thosetwofallenOSSmenarestillhonoredin
thiscornerofFrance.Theirnamesareinscribedontwowar
memorialsandeveryyeartheFrenchveteransorganizea
remembranceceremony.ItwasatonesuchmemorialthatIfirst
stumbledontotheirstory.
9
MarkerstonehonoringBernardGautier&RobertSpauratthesiteofthe
AmericanambushnearLeRialet(Tarn)
MyhusbandandIhavehadahomeintheTarnfor20years,notfar
fromthehilltopwhereOGPATparachutedin.IcarrytheAmerican
flagatceremoniesinournearbytownofCastres—usuallythe
November11thRemembranceDayeventandV‐EDayceremonies.
(TheFrenchveteranshadbeensearchingforanAmericanporte
drapeau—andinvitedmetodoit.)Whilenotaveteranmyself,Ifelt
honoredtotakepart—andthewaytheytreatedtheAmericanflag
impressedme.
Intheirprocessions,theprotocolofficeralwaysmakesapointof
placingtheAmericanflagatthefrontoftheparade.Whenthey
10
realizedthatIdidn’thaveaflag‐holdingbeltortheproperwhite
gloves,theygavethemtome.
November11thRemembranceDayceremoniesinCastres,France;
MeredithWheelerservingasAmericanflagbearer
Theseceremonies‐‐onFrenchsoil‐‐wheresomuchbloodwasshedin
bothworldwars,inanationthatsufferedthetraumaofenemy
occupationforyears—areparticularlychargedwithemotion—even
foranAmericanonlookerlikeme.
In2005,theancienscombatantsaskedmetocarrytheAmericanflag
atasmallerceremonyinthehillvillageofLeRialet(population:44).
(ThisisnearthesitewhereOGPATandamaquisunitambushedthe
Germanpatrol.)AspecialAmericanguestfromWashingtonD.C.was
expectedfortheannualwarcommemoration.
11
FlagsdippedinhonorofthedeadattheRemembranceceremonyatLeRialet
(Tarn)
ThatwashowIfirstmetNormaLaGueux.AretiredCIAofficer,sheis
thewidowofConradLaGueux,commandingofficerofOGPAT.
NormahasloyallyattendedtheceremoniesinLeRialetformany
yearssincethedeathofherhusband.Herpresenceisgreatly
appreciatedbytheoldmaquisardswhorememberOGPAT.
12
NormaandConradLaGueuxvisitingtheTarnin1989
Becausethevillageissoremote,theceremonyissmallerandmore
intimatethaninCastres—andmorepoignant.
Afterthecolorguardproceededuptothewarmemorial,twoelderly
Frenchveterans,graveanddignified,steppedforwardtothegranite
stone.Theirnavyjacketsjangledwithwarmedals.Thefirstmanread
inaloud,solemnvoice,eachofthetwelvenamesinscribedonthat
monument—includingthetwoAmericans,SpaurandGautier.
Aftereveryname,theotherveterancalledouttotheassembled
crowd:“MortpourlaFrance”—“DiedforFrance”.Thiswasdonefor
theAmericanstoo.“BernardGautier—MortpourlaFrance.Robert
Spaur,MortpourlaFrance.”LaMarseillaisewasplayed,followedby
13
TheStarSpangledBanner—atinnyrecording,butstillheart‐
wrenching.
ThoughIspokebrieflywithNorma,Istillhadnoideawhytwo
Americansoldiersdiedonthisunlikelyhillside,farfromanybattle
sites.IknewnothingaboutOSSmissionsinFrance.Iwasalso
perplexedbythesurnamesofthedeadAmericans—Gautierand
Spaur.TheysoundeddecidedlyFrench.
Itwasn’tuntillastJunethatallthesemysterieswereclearedup.
AnewAmericanConsulwasappointedinToulouseandhemadeit
hisbusinesstoattendWWIIcommemorativeeventsintheMidi‐
Pyrénées.LastJune,DavidBrownlaidflowersandspokeatthe
ceremonyinLeRialet.
AmericanConsulinToulouseDavidBrownplacesfloweratthe
14
RemembranceceremonyatLeRialetinJune2009
ThepresenceofanofficialrepresentativeoftheUnitedStateswas
greatlyappreciatedbytheFrenchveteransandtheAmerican
expatiateswhotakeaninterest.TheConsulalsovisitedasmaller
stonememorialdownthehillside,atthesitewherethefatalambush
tookplace.
Engravedonthat,inFrench,istheinscription:“Tothememoryofthe
Americanheroes,BernardGautierandRobertSpaur,whofellherein
combatonAugust12th,1944”.AclusterofAmericanslookedonas
DavidBrownlaidanotherwreath.
Alsopresentwasalocalhistorian—orsoIthought—especially
arrangedbytheancienscombattantsforthebenefitoftheAmerican
Consul.Heexplainedhowthemenhaddied.GilbertBrialspokewith
greatauthorityandhisstoryenthralledusall.AsIlistened,myjaw
dropped.“Wereyoupresent?”Iasked.Itsoundedlikehewasgiving
aneyewitnessaccount.“Oui,”hereplied.“IjoinedthismaquiswhenI
was19.I’m83now.”
15
GilbertBrial,formermaquisards,explaininghowthetwoOSSmendied
WhileMonsieurBrialhadn’twitnessedtheactualambushinwhich
SpaurandGautierlosttheirlives,heturnedouttobecloselylinked
tothechainofeventsthatledtotheambush.Thatmorning,overone
hundredinexperiencedmaquishadattackedasmallpartyof
GermansinLeRialetwhiletheywerescavengingforfood.Nineteen‐
year‐oldGilbertBrialwasarmedwithaStengun.Forhimandmost
oftheyoungmaquis,itwastheirfirstexperienceofarmedcombat.
16
GilbertBrialin1944
Thoughthemaquisout‐numberedtheGermans,10to1,allthe
Germansescaped,exceptforonewhowaswoundedinthearm.The
onlythingshotdeadwasacow—byaccident.TheGermancommand
sentreinforcementsuptoLeRialet—anditwasthesesoldiersthat
OGPATattacked.
They’dwatchedastheGermansspedupthehilltoLeRialetinfour
motorcyclesidecars,spacedabout20yardsapart.Onesidecarhada
mountedmachinegun.
Withthehelpofmoreexperiencedmaquiswhohadbeenassignedto
guidethem,OGPATorganizedanambush.Theybrokeintofour
groups,spacedoutalongtheheavily‐woodedroadside.Eachgroup
wassupposedtotakeoutonesidecar.TheGermansfearedan
17
ambush,and,ontheirreturn,separatedtheirvehiclesby200‐yard
intervals,insteadof20.Theambushdidn’tgoquiteasplanned.
LieutenantLaGueux’sgroupwaswaitingatthefarendofthetrap.
Whenthefirstmotorcyclesidecarapproached,theyopenedfire,
woundingalltheoccupants.Thesidecarcrashedintoatree.Atthat
point,SergeantGautierleaptforwardtodisablethemounted
machinegun.Whenheturned,oneofthewoundedGermanspulled
outapistolandshotGautierintheback.Hewasinturnshotdeadby
T/5MarcelLandryandtheheadofthemaquisunit.
LieutenantDeMarcolaterwrotethatasheandafewmen“crouched
onthesideofthebank,aburstofmachinegunfirecutrightover
[our]heads.[I]turnedandsawthatT/5Spaurhadbeenhitandwas
dead”.
Afterthemedic,SergeantKitchen,verifiedthattheirtwocomrades
wereindeeddead,theAmericansmovedoffswiftlyintothesafetyof
thewoods.HeavilyarmedGermanreinforcementswouldsoon
arrive,butOGPATwaslonggone.Theycircledbacktotheirbase,
wheretheywereabouttoreceivethemostimportantorderoftheir
mission.
TwodayslaterT/5VincentQuercia,accompaniedbyaFrenchpriest
andafewlocals,recoveredthebodiesofSpaurandGautierand
buriedtheminthecemeteryofanearbychurch.Therewasafuneral
servicewellattendedbytheFrenchcommunity.
18
ThiswasjusttheopeningsalvoofOGPATmissionintheTarn.
MonsieurBrial’soriginalversionoftheseeventswasslightly
differentfromwhatIlaterunderstoodtobeaccurate.Nonetheless,
wewereallfascinatedbyhisstoryandIasked,“Haveyoutoldthisto
Frenchtelevisionorradio?”.“Non,”hereplied,witharesignedGallic
shrug.
TheAmericanConsul,DavidBrown,andIbothhadthesamethought:
Beforeit’stoolate,recordtheoralhistoriesofthesurvivorsofthese
events,particularlythosewhoknewandinteractedwiththeOSS
team.Timeisrunningout—asfewofthesemenarestillalive.Isoon
beganinterviewingtheoldmaquisardsandinvestigatingtheOGPAT
missionmorecarefully.EachdanglingthreadthatIpulledledto
moreastonishingwarstories.
MonsieurBrialbecamemyguidetoallthesitesconnectedtoOGPAT
intheTarn.Heshepherdedmearound,justasthemaquishadonce
guidedOGPAT.
19
ThestelemarkingtheDropZonecode‐namedVirgulewhereOGPATparachuted
inonthenightofAug.6th/7th,1944
Aftervisitingthedropzoneitself,markednowbyagreatstele,he
showedmethemaquisheadquarterswhereOGPATwassheltered
forthefirsttwonights.
Undercoverofdarkness,theyweretransportedinanoldtrucktothe
safehouseabout30kilometersfromthedropzone.Thejourneywas
dangerous,astheareawasundercurfew.Thedriverdidn’tdareuse
theheadlights,sotheonlyilluminationcamefromthelightofthe
moon.Fortunately,theydidn’tencounteranyGermanpatrols.The
truckbrokedown50yardsfromthefarmhouse‐‐forcingthemento
walkthelastbit.“Theyweren’ttooreassuredbythat,”Monsieur
Brialobserveddryly,aswetouredthesite.
LeReclot,thefarmhousethatservedamaquissafehousewhereOGPATspent
thefirsttwonightsbehindenemylines
TheoldfarmnowhasaplaquecommemoratingtheAmerican
20
connection.
ThemaquisawaitingtheOSSteamhadpreparedanelaborate
welcome.Thediningtablewaslaidoutwithtricolorribbonarranged
toformtheCroixdeLorraine—thecrosswithtwohorizontalbars,
symboloftheFrenchResistance.Bottlesofsparklingwinewere
chilledandglassesneatlylinedupontheribbon.
“Whereistheenemy?”theAmericansurgentlywantedtoknowwhen
theyarrived.“Nothere!”laughedtheinsouciantFrench,asthey
poppedthecorksandpouredatoasttotheselong‐awaitedYanks—
whobroughtnotjustexpertise,explosivesandweapons—buthope.
ComparedtomostofFrancein1944,foodwasrelativelyplentifulin
thecountrysideoftheTarnandtheAmericansatewell.Thetwo
officers,LaGueuxandDeMarco,conferredwiththemaquischiefs,
consultingvariousmapspinnedtothefarmhousewalls.Meanwhile
therestofOGPATorganizedtheirgearintheattachedbarnand
preparedtobeddownonpilesofstraw.
21
Finallyat5.30am,whentheadrenalineoftheparachutejumphad
wornoff,LieutenantsLaGueuxandDeMarcowereshownupstairsin
thefarmhouse,tobedswithcrisp,whitesheets—anunexpected
luxuryontheirfirstnightbehindenemylines.MonsieurBrialstill
beamswhenhedescribesthecivilizedwelcomethattheAmericans
received:“Theydidn’texpectallthat!”CodesofFrenchhospitalityin
theTarnhadbeenuphelddespitetheadversecircumstances.
Theteamsleptlateintothenextday,watchedoverbythemaquis.
FourmembersofOGPATatLeReclotonAugust8th,1944
Wordoftheirpresencespreadfast.The17‐year‐oldGilbertBrial
walkedtwokilometersfromhisownmaquishideout,toseethe
miraculousAmericanparatroopers.“Wewereamazedbyalltheir
weapons,ammoandequipment.Wehadpracticallynothing,”he
22
recalls.TheFrenchalsomarveledatthenever‐endingsupplyof
LuckyStrikecigarettesandchocolate.
ButmostimpressivewasCorporalGeorgeH.MaddockofGary,
Indiana,whostood6foot7inches.TothisdayMonsieurBrialspeaks
ofhimwithawe.“Overtwometerstall!”hetoldme,shakinghishead
indisbelief65yearslater.
Despitetheirsmootharrival,OGPATandthemaquissoonhada
terribleshock.
ThenextnighttheGermansattackedVirgule,themountaindrop
zone.Thefouragentswhohadjustparachutedin(includingaBritish
SISIntelligenceOfficer)weresafe.Theyhadbeenswiftlymovedtoa
securearea.ButtheGermansseizedtheparachutedcontainerswith
allthevitalgear—weaponsforthemaquis,ammo,moneyandthe
preciousradios.Abadblow,butworsewastocome.
Sevenyoungmaquisardsinanearbysafehousewerecaught
sleeping.TheGermansburstinandshotthemdead.Thesewerethe
samemaquisardswhohadwelcomedtheAmericansthenightbefore.
23
Laroque,themaquishideout,thedayafteraGermanattackintheearlyhoursof
August8thkilledallsevenyoungmaquisardssleepingthere
WhenthatnewsreachedOGPAT,theyinsistedonhavingtheirown
base.Themaquisfoundthemanisolatedfarmhousenearbyin
heavilywoodedterrain.Theymovedimmediatelybutneverslept
insidethehouse,preferringtocampinthenearbyforestinpairs,
spacedwellapart,alwaysfearingasurpriseattack,alwaysonguard.
“Theytaughtussomethingthere,”MonsieurBrialsays.
24
SanFe,thefarmhousethebecameOGPAT’sbaseaftertheirfirsttwonightsatLe
Reclot.
Thatterrainisstillknownasthe“Boisdesaméricains”‐‐theAmerican
woods.
LocalsignsstillrefertothewoodsnearSanFeas“BoisdesAméricains”
25
WhereverthePATmenwent,theFrenchwhosawthemwere
heartened.DeMarcolaterwrote,“Itwasthefirsttimethe[French]
hadseenAmericans.Somecheered,otherscried,theyallwavedand
wishedusluck.”
TheOSSteamusedaroomatthetopofthehousetosetuptheir
radioforregularcontactwithHQinBlida.YoungGilbertBrialusedto
watchastheyunfurledthelongantennaoutthewindowandstaked
itonthelawn.Inthatwaytheyreceivedtheorderforwhatwas
probablytheirmostsignificantaction:Theyweretoblowupa
strategicrailbridgeneartheprosperoustownofMazamet,about15
milessoutheastofCastres,nestledagainsttheBlackMountainstothe
south.
Guidedbythemaquiswhoknewtheterrain,severalreconnaissance
tripswereundertaken.Thestonebridge,builtin1888forthe
railroad,spanstheriverArnwiththreegreatarches.Allrailtraffic
runningeastfromMazamet—towardsProvence‐‐usedthatline.
OGPATbrought375poundsofC‐2plasticexplosivestodothejob.
Thefirstsabotageefforthadtobecalledoffwhenthetransport
organizedbythemaquisfailedtoturnup.Buteverythingworked
perfectlyonAugust14th—justtwodaysafterthelossofSpaurand
Gautier.
Anighttimesortiewasorganizedwithsupportfromthemaquis,who
capturedandbundledawaytheFrenchbridgeguards.The
demolitionteam,leadbyLieutenantLaGueux,setthechargesin15
26
minutes.LaGueuxseta30‐minutetimerandtheyallmadetheir
escape.Thedeafeningblastrattledwindowsupanddownthevalley.
Therailbridge,PontdeGauthard,onthemorningofAugust15th,1944,the
middlearchdestroyedbytheOSSdemolitionteam
Thecentralstonearchofthebridgewasdestroyed,blockingany
chanceofGermanreinforcementsbeingsentbytrainfromthesouth
27
TarntoProvence,wheresome94,000AmericanandFrenchforces
werelandingonthebeachesnearSt.Tropezthatmorning,August
15th.ThiswasthestartofthesouthernD‐Day—oneofthemost
overlookedcampaignsintheEuropeantheaterofwar.
AtGermanheadquarters,therewasconsternation.Thescaleofthis
sabotagewasnewandworrying.Theydecidedtomarshaltheir
forcesinCastres.InMazamettheyloadedatrainwitharms,
ammunition,suppliesandplunder.Itrequired44carriagestocarry
allthecargo.About60Wehrmachtsoldierswereonboardtoprotect
it.NormallythetrainjourneynorthtoCastrestook30minutes—but
thattrainwasdestinednevertoarrive.
ThistimeitwastheFrenchResistancewhoorganizedtheambush
withtheOGPATprovidingtheexplosivesandtheexpertisetoderail
thelocomotive.TheFrenchhadthemchangetheplacementofthe
chargesthreetimes.Thenanotherlastminutehitch.Newscamethat
theGermanshadtworailguardswalkinginfrontoftheslow‐moving
train.Thatmeantthedetonationdevicewouldhavetobechanged.
DeMarcowrote,“CaptainLaGueuxwasjustdoingthatwhenthecry
wentup,‘Herecomesthetrain!’Wecursed.TheCaptainhadnothad
timetoputinthepulldevice.Weallsweatedashecalmlytold
Fischertogetwire,pliersandcrimpers.Itwasdone,tapedand
replacedandtheprimacordchecked.TheGermanshadnotarrived.”
28
SiteofthetrainderailmentandambushoutsideofMazamet(Tarn)onAugust
19th
NonethelesstheGermanswereanticipatinganattack.Four20MM
gunsandfivesearchlightshadbeenmountedonflatcarsfor
protection.Thetraininchedforward,withtwosoldierswalking
aheadinspectingthetrack,lookingforanythingsuspicious.“It
creakedandstrainedasitroundedthebend,”wroteDeMarco.“We
couldheartheclankofthecarsbangingagainsteachother.We
waitedfortheexplosion.Woulditnevercome?Alreadyitwasdark
….Ifthehurriedconnectiondidnotwork,theGermanswouldsurely
escape.”
ButtheGermanscoutsneversawthecarefullyconcealedAmerican
explosivesthatblewthetrainofftherails.“Aterrificexplosionriffled
29
theairfollowedbytheblastofgrenadesandtherattleofmachine
gunsandsmallarmsfire.Soonanewsoundbrokein,theboomboom
ofthe20MMsfiring.Theysoundedlikecannonscomparedtothe
9MMand30calflying,”wroteDeMarco.“Thesectionwasclose
togetherhuggingtheground.”
ThecreamofthemaquisofVabrefoughttheGermansallnight,ably
ledbyaprofessionalFrenchofficer,PierreDunoyerdeSegonzac.OG
PATwasheldinreserve,shouldanyGermanstrytoescapeacross
country—justaswell,astheAmericanswereexhausted.DeMarco
says,“Theplanforthedaywastopepperandharasstheenemywith
longdistancefireuntilthemortarcouldbeputintoaction.Itookthe
sectionuptheroadanddownacreekbedtowait.Weweresotired
thatwhenbulletshitthetreesonthebank,noonenoticed.”
Whenthemortarfinallyarrived,ithadonlytenrounds.Amazingly,
onescoredadirecthitonaheavily‐loadedtraincarriage.Atthat
point,theGermanssurrendered.Theentiretrainfullofarmsand
munitionswasnowinthehandsoftheFrenchResistance.Captain
LaGueuxwentforwardwiththeFrenchcommandertoacceptthe
surrenderofthe60Germans.“Itwasprobablytheantiaircraftunit
thathadfiredonourplaneonAugust6th,”wroteDeMarcoinhisEnd
ofMissionreport.SergeantKitchendressedthewoundsofthe
woundedGermanprisoners.
WhenwordofthetrainbeingcapturedreachedCastres,theGerman
Captain,GeorgesMärz,second‐in‐commandoftheoccupationforce,
wasabletopersuadehisColoneltosignthesurrenderhehadbeen
30
negotiatingallnight(anotherstrandofthisfascinatingstorythat
mustkeepforalaterdate).
Second‐in‐commandofGermanoccupationforcesintheTarn,
GeorgesMärz,thekeyGermanfigurewhonegotiatedthesurrenderofGerman
forcestotheF.F.I.
ThiswastwoweeksafterOGPAThadarrivedintheTarn.Awell‐
armedforceof4to5thousandmensurrenderedto12OSSmenand
afewhundredmaquis,ledbymembersofDeGaulle’sSecretArmy—
formerofficersoftheFrenchmilitary.
31
JubilantcrowdsinCastresgreetthemaquisimmediatelyaftertheannouncement
ofthesurrenderoftheoccupationforces.
OftheliberationofCastres,DeMarcosimplynotes:“Everywhere
therewasjubilation.”
Afterthesurrender,GermansoldiersbeingescortedoutofCastrestoprison
32
MembersofOGPATarephotographedwithmaquisardsinCastresonAugust
20th,aftertheLiberation
WhenOGPATtookpartintheLiberationDayparadeinCastres,it
was6’7”GeorgeMaddockwholedtheunit,carryinganAmerican
flag.
33
T/5GeorgeMaddock,the6’7”giantofOGPATleadstheunitintheLiberation
DayParadeinCastres.Theraindidnotdampenthejoy.
LieutenantConradLaGueuxshakeshandswiththeSous‐PréfectoftheTarn
duringtheLiberationDayfestivities,surroundedbytherestofthesection
34
T/5GeorgeMaddockcarryingtheAmericanflaginthepresentationoftheColors
intheLiberationDayceremony
35
In1989,ConradLaGueux,accompaniedbyhiswife,Norma,holdstheflaghis
unitparadedinCastresduringtheLiberationin1944.
Thatflagstillresidesinamuseumhere.Iwasproudtocarryitlast
Augustatthe65thanniversarycommemorationofthatLiberation.
MeredithWheelerparadedtheoriginalOGPATflagatthe65thanniversary
celebrationsoftheLiberationofCastresinAugust2009
36
GeorgeMaddockalmostlivedlongenoughtocarryithimself.Hedied
in2008.SofarasIknow,hewasthelastlivingmemberofOGPAT.
HehadretiredfromhisjobasahighschoolcoachinValparaiso,
Indiana,havingoncehadthedistinctionofplayingintheRoseBowl
in1949forNorthwestern.(Theywon—thelasttimethatever
happened.)
GeorgeMaddockin2007athishomeinValparaiso,Indianaholdingaphotoof
himselffrom1944.
Oneofmymostexcitingresearchfindswasavideointerviewwith
Maddockrecordedtheyearbeforehisdeath.Itisdevotedentirelyto
hisOSSexperienceswithOGPATinFrance.
“WewereDonovan’sboys,”hesayswithpride.“Thewarmadeaman
outofme.”
Themosttouchingmomentofthe40‐minuteinterviewishisreaction
whenaskedaboutthelossofSpaurandGautier.Hechokesup,flails
withhishandasthoughwardingoffablowandstrugglestomaintain
37
hiscomposure.“IknowIsaidI’danswerallyourquestions,butI’m
gonnatakeapassonthat,”hesays.“I’mfinallyoverit.Ittakesa
while….”Thatwas63yearsafterSpaurandGautierwerekilled.
Iunderstandnowwhythosetwo(andConradLaGueux)hadFrench
names.TheyallhadFrenchorFrench‐Canadianancestry.Indeed
theyallspokeFrench,oneoftheirqualificationsforthemission.
Seekingsoldierswhohadlanguageskills‐‐oftenfirstandsecond‐
generationAmericans‐‐wasoneofGeneralDonovan’scriteria,of
course,whenitcametoselectingmensuitablefortheOSS.They
weren’tallFrenchspeakersthough.MaddockspokeRussian,
EsquenaziandT/5VincentQuerciaspokeSpanish.
Mygreatregretisthatittookme15yearsoflivingintheTarnbefore
IdiscoveredthestoryofOGPAT.Itwasn’tuntillastyearthatIreally
understoodit.Sadly,inthatperiodConradLaGueux,Michael
Demarco,GeorgeMaddockandtheGermanCaptain,GeorgesMärzall
died—thoughtheywereallalivejust10yearsago.Fortunately,
MichaelDeMarcoleftbehindthebeginningsofhismemoirs,which
hisfamilyhasgenerouslysharedwithme.
Justbeforehedied,ConradLaGueux,whohadretiredafteralong
careerintheCIA,turnedhisthoughtsbacktohisfirstmissioninthe
OSS‐‐thatperiodofyouthfuldaringandadventure.
In2001,heinitiatedplanstore‐enacttheparachutejumpintothe
Tarn—57yearsaftertheoriginal.Hecontactedthemaquisveterans
intheTarnforhelp.Takenabackatfirstbythisextraordinaryidea,
38
theydutifullysetaboutgettingpermissions.Inthemidstoftheir
preparations,ConradLaGueuxdiedofleukemiainArlington,
Virginia.
Hemighthavebeensurprisedtolearnthatagroupofyoung
FrenchmanishopingtomountahistoricalrecreationofOGPAT.
Eighteen‐year‐oldThierryPauthe,wholivesintheTarn,contacted
theOSSSocietyformoreinformationaboutthemission.OSSSociety
President,CharlesPinck,referredhimtome.Hearrivedatmyfront
dooreagertoseeoldphotosanddocumentsandtohearthestory.
HeandhisfriendshadscouredtheInternet,locatingauthenticOSS
uniformsandkit.
ThierryPauthe,aFrenchresidentoftheTarnwhoispartofagroupof
reenactmententhusiastswhoareinterestedinOGPAT
39
Whethertheirreenactmentwillincludealowaltitudeparachute
jumpbymoonlightisindoubt!Butnowtheinterestinthisstorywill
notdiewiththeoldmaquisardswhoknewOGPAT.
ContemporaryphotoofFrenchrecreationenthusiaststargetingOSSOGs
SofarasIknow,ConradLaGueuxwastheonlyOGPATmember
recruitedintotheCIA.Hejoinedin1949,twoyearsaftertheCIAwas
40
founded.HeworkedmainlyintheFarEast‐‐wherehe’dalsoserved
fortheOSSafterleavingFrance.(HetrainedChineseparatroopers.)
HeservedinseniorpositionsinTaiwan,Burma,Cambodiaand
Vietnam.WhenSaigonfellonApril29th,1975,heleftonthesame
helicopterastheAmericanAmbassador,GrahamA.Martin.
ThereisanOSSGalleryintheCIAwithadisplaydevotedsolelyto
ConradLaGueux.NootherOSSofficerhasthatdistinction.
ThedisplaydevotedtoConradLaGueuxattheOSSGalleryintheCIAbuildingin
McLean,Virginia
ButhealsohasanunusualmarkofhonoroutsideintheCIAMemory
Garden.
41
MarkerforConradLaGueuxintheCIAMemoryGarden,McLean
Afterhedied,theveteransoftheFrenchmaquisorganizeda
memorialstone—madefromgraygranitelikethestonesinthe
Tarn—reading(inFrench)
ToCaptainConradE.LaGueux
FromtheCorpsFrancduSidobre
InAppreciation
August6th,1944,France
42
ConradLaGueuxwasburiedatArlingtonCemeterywithfullmilitary
honors.Hiswidow,Norma,senttheflagthatflewoverthatserviceto
themaquisveteransinFrance,whereithasaplaceofhonor.
ThePresidentoftheVeteransgroupassociatedthemaquisknownastheCorpsFrancduSidobre,GilbertBoyerandGilbertBrialstandingbesidethefolded,
framedAmericanflagthatflewoverArlingtonCemeterywhenConradLaGueux
wasburied.TheflagwasagifttothemaquisfromNormaLaGueux
Researchontheseeventscontinues.Thisarticleisjustaportionof
thestory.
4719words
43