It is my pleasure the share some photos from the recent Memorial Day remembrance ceremony in Draguignan, France.   These photos were supplied by Peter Hodgson and his wife who were in attendance for the ceremony.

In closing, I want to share a beautiful poem that was in The Atlantic Magazine written by William H. McRaven (retired Naval Officer).

I Remember

by William H. McRaven (retired Naval Officer)

I remember the heat.
A dry, suffocating torrent.
The blazing, burning sun
baking the tarmac.
No clouds, no trees,
just a furnace of hate.
I feel the hate.

I remember the heat

I remember the dust.
Filling our nostrils, caking our mouths.
It rained from the sky
and rose from the ground.
With every turn of the tire
and step of the foot there was dust.
Dust, everywhere dust.

I remember the heaviness.
The helmet pressing on my head,
the armor squeezing my chest.
I remember the weight of life and death
at the end of our guns.

I remember the fear.
Aboard the eight-wheeled coffin,
surrounded by a thin shield of steel.
The fear of the streets.
The fear of the smiling people.
The fear of no return.

I remember their faces.
So young and so stoic.
Why couldn’t they have been old men?
Not the young.
Not the young who would never grow old.

I remember their faces.
I cannot forget their faces.

I remember the loss.
The searing pain of the unfilled boots,
the solemn speeches,
the lowered ramp and the flag-draped coffin.
A hole so deep in my heart
only God could fill it

I remember the letters.
Written again, and again,
and again, and again.
When will the letters stop?
Why were they so young and stoic
and brave and caring?
What will I say this time?

I remember the sorrow.
The sound of “Taps” on the hillside
covered with the graves of heroes.
A tearful widow, a weeping child,
a folded flag.
I remember the sorrow
so clearly.

Their shadows grow dim
and I fight to remember.
Their stories grow old
and I must fight to remember.

Their shadows grow dim
and I fight to remember.
Their stories grow old
and I must fight to remember.

About a year ago I wrote about Operation Dragoon and a ceremony held in Draguignan, France to remember and pay tribute those who served and gave their lives for freedom.  While last year’s ceremony was extra special because  it was the 80th Anniversary of Operation Dragoon (see post from Aug 2024 for details), there will be a ceremony this year on Memorial Day, 25 May, 2025 held at the Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan, France.

If any of my readers  are planning a trip overseas this year, perhaps you can put this on your travel agenda.  The remains of two 417th squadron members: Edward Graybill and Harvey Klein are interred here.

Here is the formal invite:

—————————-

Dear friends and partners, 

We are honored to invite you to the Memorial Day ceremony, which will take place on May 25, 2025, at the Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan. This event is a solemn occasion to pay tribute to those who served and sacrificed for our freedom. 

To facilitate your reception and for security reasons, we kindly ask you to confirm your attendance by providing the full names for all those who will be present. 

Thank you for your understanding, and we hope to see you at this moment of remembrance. 

Sincerely, 

Jenny Hofschneider

Cemetery Associate-Guide

American Battle Monuments Commission | Rhône American Cemetery
553 Boulevard John Kennedy | 83300 Draguignan, France

T +33 (0)4 94 85 48 52

www.abmc.gov | Join us on Facebook

I have received an inquiry from France regarding information on 1st Lt. J. W. Berryhill (pilot) and 2nd Lt. R. L. Rodgers (Radar Operator).  Both were members of the 417th and tragically died in November of 1944 when their Beaufighter, BT287 Sad Sack II” crashed into Mt.  Arpette in France.

The inquirer is looking for any photos of these two men to (in his words) honour “…heroes who died for his liberty”.

The town of La Ferrière has a monument with plague recognising the death of these 2 men.

Both Rodgers and Berry were stationed in Dijon at the time.  I have a limited number of photographs from the 417th’s time in Dijon and most have no names associated with the individuals.  Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Jackie

I was recently contacted by the son of Charles Lwellyn Thomas, a member of the 65th Signal Battalion and  served in Europe during WWII.  Amongst his father’s collection were these two photos of the 416th’s P-61 called “The Great Specked Bird”.  These are a welcomed addition to the collection.

The Great Specked Bird photos have also been added to the Planes collection.

Earlier this month I was contacted by Julie, an American living in France.  She was looking to locate relatives and any additional information on two members of the 417th NFS: Edward Graybill and Harvey Klein.  The reason for her inquiry is that later this month  the French community in Vauvenargues and Draguignan will celebrate the 80th Anniversary of Operation Dragoon (1944-2024).   Operation Dragoon  was the code name for the landing operation of the Allied invasion and the liberation of Provence (Southern France).  Julie was seeking contact for a relative of Graybill or Klein and any other 417th member who might be interested in attending this celebration.

Edward Graybill and Harvey Klein were members of the 417th NFS and died when their plane hit a power line in Vaunenargues on 9 Dec 1944.  Their remains  are interred at the Rhone American Cemetery in Draguignan, France.

Julie’s friend, Jean Pierre Briole (pictured above at graves of Graybill and Klein) is a “parrain”, or someone who sees after the graves of these two men.  Additionally, Jean Pierre also organises the reenactments of the U.S. soldiers in Provence with authentic uniforms, jeeps, etc…all to commemorate the liberation of the numerous communities in the region.  His latest endeavour is the 80th anniversary celebration of the liberation.

Past remembrances

A wreath is placed on a bronze plaque marking the liberation place

Invitation to the 80th Anniversary of the liberation.

While I was able to located a relative of Harvey Klein, I was unable to locate a relative of Edward Graybill.    If anyone reading this has any information of living family members of Edward Graybill, please get in contact.

Julie’s inquiry prompted me to look for any additional details on the lives of Graybill or Klein and their time with the 417th.  Here is what I can tell you:

Edward Curtis Graybill

Edward Curtis Graybill was born on Aug 28, 1924 to his parents Henry and Florence.  He had a younger brother, James.

In December of 1942, he enlisted for service as an Aviation Cadet.  He received his call to duty in late February 1943 and attended Basic Training at Pecos Army Airfield in Texas.  He completed Basic Training in January of 1944 and was sent to Luke Field in Arizona for pilot training.  After that training completed, he was sent to Mather field in California for B25 Bomber training and then eventually to Salina Air Base for Night Fighter Pilot training and Hammer Field for Night Fighter Operational training.

On October 11, 1944 Edward Graybill left the Hampton Road Debarkation point and was sent overseas to the Mediterranean Theatre of operations.  He was assigned to the 417th NFS and is pictured here along with Klein as part of the “Replacement Crews” on November 19th.

Harvey L. Klein

My search for information on Harvey Klein was less successful. I was able to located a relative, Gail, the daughter of Harvey Klein’s sister, Phyllis.  Gail had contacted me some years ago with an inquiry into Harvey.  I was lucky to have saved her contact info.  Gail was able confirm that Harvey was born in Chicago, the son to Ruth and Charlie Klein in the Chicago area in November of 1923 and was one of 3 children.  His brother, died young and his sister, Phyllis, died of breast cancer at the tender age of 38. Harvey’s father is said to have died of a broken heart having outlived his wife and 3 children. The deaths in Harvey’s immediate family meant that there was little information passed on to Gail about Harvey’s  life leading up to his time in the service.  She continues her search….

Graybill and Klein’s time with the 417th NFS

Edward Graybill and Harvey Klein were assigned to the 417th  NFS at LeVallon Airfield in France,  on 19 November, 1944.  They were part of a larger replacement crew of 22 arriving from the 19th Replacement Depot.  On December 9th,  1944, Graybill and Klein  took off on a training flight in their Beaufighter (V8875).   Both perished when their  plane hit a power line in Vauvenargues, France.  Their remains are interred at the cemetery in Draguignan, France.  Edward Graybill and Harvey Klein were just 20 years old when they perished.

In closing, I want to thank Julie, Jean Pierre and Gail for helping me to tell this story.

Peace,

Jackie