Editors Note: the following is a series of email correspondence betwe=
en
Deborah Ziegler, the French Tourism Office, and O.T. Ziegler to the Mayor o=
f Villaines...courtesy of Deborah Ziegler.
******************************************************************
Hello All,
Happy New Year! I just got an email from=
the
office of tourism in Villaines la Juhel, the village where Ron Baker was ki=
lled
and Ziegler,Newland, and Nicholson were taken prisoner.
They have translated Daddy's book into
French and want Dad's permission to print copies of the book. I have no ide=
a if
it is the entire story or just a portion of the book that occurred near the=
ir
town.
Thought this was an interesting side not=
e on
what can happen when you write down your memories.
Daddy's story (which is attached) was
expertly edited by the late Colonel MacCord.
Blessings to All,
Deborah (OT Ziegler's kid)
******************************************************************
And then one from the French Tourism Office
******************************************************************
Dear Deborah and Gary,
Thank you for giving us news from you and
all the lovely photos of your trip in the steps of the 167th Company in
Normandy.
A very happy new year to you, your dad a=
nd
your daughters.
I'm glad that villaines left you good
memories; even if for your dad it meat the end of his dreams of freedom as =
it
is where he was captured by the Germans, for you and me it has been a pleas=
ure
to meet .I hope we will meet again, that the only positive point that came =
out
of those terrible times.
As you know we have translated into Fren=
ch
your dad's story, and we would be happy if your dad allowed us to publish t=
his
translation for the inhabitants of Villaines, who would then, besides the
monument in the memory of driver Baker, have another testimony, and a better
knowledge of a man, your father, who risked his life to save us from Nazi
Barbary.
We cannot publish this translation witho=
ut
his or your permission. We will send you a few copies of the book.
Hope we will hear from you soon.
Yours friendly
<=
/span>
Guy Soutif.
Office de Tourisme Intercommunal de
Villaines-la-Juhel
26 rue Jules Doitteau
53700 VILLAINES-LA-JUHEL
Tél. : 02 43 03 78 88 Fax : 02 43 03 77 92
tourismeotsi.villaines-la-juhel@orange.f=
Ouverture :
lundi, samedi : 10h-12h 15h-18h mercredi, jeudi, vendredi 15h-18h
fermé le mardi
******************************************************************
And then a letter from O.T. Ziegler and the Mayor of Villaines
******************************************************************
July 12, 2008
Maire Alan Schmitt
53700 Villaines la Juhel
France
Monsieur Alan Schmitt,
My daughter Deborah told me of the kindness you and your staff showe=
d to
her while she visited your fair city this summer. As you know, I visited
Villaines la Juhel in August of 1944 under a very different set of
conditions. I was happy to he=
ar
that today the area is peaceful and thriving. Deborah tells me that to this=
day
the roof of the pharmacy bears some bullet holes to testify to what went on
there so long ago.
I have enjoyed viewing photos of the memorial built in Lieutenant So=
ldat
Ron Baker’s honor. Ron Baker’s nephew, Mr. John Wernick, speaks
very highly of you and his visit to France. Mr. Wernick has done a great de=
al
of research on his Uncle and continues to collect WWII memorabilia. He has a
jeep just like his Uncle drove on that fateful day. I also enjoyed seeing t=
he
photos of the pharmacy and of the town. It is nice to know that all these y=
ears
later – peace prevails.
Deborah mentioned that you reminded her of a famous American movie s=
tar,
John Wayne. She mentioned your height, facial features and the disposition =
you
display as the Maire of Villaines la Juhel. I too can see a similarity and =
hope
you find this complimentary, as members of the Ziegler family have always b=
een
fans of “The Duke”.
I hope you will accept my apology for not having visited Villaines la
Juhel. Wounds to my hip and leg and after effects of being on “short
rations” for the nine months that I was a POW restricted my travel for
some time after the war. Today, I must admit old age has also taken its tol=
l.
My 86-year-old body keeps telling me it has traveled further already than a
body has a right to. Though I must admit, after viewing the photographs of
Deborah’s trip, I think I would have enjoyed the visit to France.
I’m quite certain I would’ve liked to have had a beer with you =
and
heard about your father’s experiences during the war.
Thank you for the kindness and consideration you showed my family. My 23-year-old granddaughter enjoys telling her friends about the day she met = the mayor of a city in France and saw where her grandpa was shot and taken capt= ive by the Germans. Family memories and stories are like the threads of a tapes= try. They help us paint a picture of who we are and where we came from. You roll= ed out the red carpet and helped make some treasured memories for my family. <= o:p>
Sincerely,
Retired Major Orpha Theldon Ziegler