stonecutter
03-03-2006, 07:16 PM
France Recognizes New Living WWI Veterans By PAUL DUKE, Associated Press Writer
1 hour, 34 minutes ago
TOSNY, France - At age 107, Rene Riffaud has only hazy memories of his part in the "war to end all wars," but he's quite clear about why France has only now inducted him into the small and shrinking band of hallowed World War I survivors.
Simply put, Riffaud figured those who died were the ones who deserved the recognition: "I was more worried with living than looking back to the past," he told The Associated Press.
France, belatedly, disagrees. This week, the veterans minister approved a request from Riffaud's granddaughter that he be given an official veteran's card — nearly 88 years after the war ended.
That decision, and the rediscovery of another veteran thought to have died, has bumped France's tally of World War I survivors up to seven — a remarkable development raising the possibility that there may be others.
Riffaud was born in Tunisia, where he was drafted into a colonial regiment for France, he said. He now lives in a retirement home in the Eure region of Normandy, where he spoke to AP.
Riffaud, who is frail and uses a wheelchair since an accident six months ago, shied away from the bright lights of a television camera crew as he told of the destruction of the war.
He recalled being stationed in a forest near the Rhine River between France and Germany and spoke about lingering ill health caused by exposure to poisonous mustard gas. He said those who died deserved recognition — not someone like himself, who took no part in combat.
"I did the war my way," he said, clutching a black-and-white photograph of himself, dapper in his military uniform. "After the war, I was sick. I had suffered from the (mustard) gas without knowing it."
Riffaud said he never liked talking about military issues and was not a combat soldier.
"I expect no reward from anyone," he said. "My son had the veteran card, but I never felt the need for it. I am a 'poilu' because I was forced to see and do certain things."
The issue of how many survivors remain in France is important not least because the death of the last veteran is expected to be marked by commemorations nationwide.
Riffaud and Francois Jaffre, 104, join France's revered club of officially recognized "poilus," a nickname the French use when referring to its vets from the 1914-1918 war.
Rest of Story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060303/ap_on_re_eu/france_wwi_veterans
1 hour, 34 minutes ago
TOSNY, France - At age 107, Rene Riffaud has only hazy memories of his part in the "war to end all wars," but he's quite clear about why France has only now inducted him into the small and shrinking band of hallowed World War I survivors.
Simply put, Riffaud figured those who died were the ones who deserved the recognition: "I was more worried with living than looking back to the past," he told The Associated Press.
France, belatedly, disagrees. This week, the veterans minister approved a request from Riffaud's granddaughter that he be given an official veteran's card — nearly 88 years after the war ended.
That decision, and the rediscovery of another veteran thought to have died, has bumped France's tally of World War I survivors up to seven — a remarkable development raising the possibility that there may be others.
Riffaud was born in Tunisia, where he was drafted into a colonial regiment for France, he said. He now lives in a retirement home in the Eure region of Normandy, where he spoke to AP.
Riffaud, who is frail and uses a wheelchair since an accident six months ago, shied away from the bright lights of a television camera crew as he told of the destruction of the war.
He recalled being stationed in a forest near the Rhine River between France and Germany and spoke about lingering ill health caused by exposure to poisonous mustard gas. He said those who died deserved recognition — not someone like himself, who took no part in combat.
"I did the war my way," he said, clutching a black-and-white photograph of himself, dapper in his military uniform. "After the war, I was sick. I had suffered from the (mustard) gas without knowing it."
Riffaud said he never liked talking about military issues and was not a combat soldier.
"I expect no reward from anyone," he said. "My son had the veteran card, but I never felt the need for it. I am a 'poilu' because I was forced to see and do certain things."
The issue of how many survivors remain in France is important not least because the death of the last veteran is expected to be marked by commemorations nationwide.
Riffaud and Francois Jaffre, 104, join France's revered club of officially recognized "poilus," a nickname the French use when referring to its vets from the 1914-1918 war.
Rest of Story:
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20060303/ap_on_re_eu/france_wwi_veterans