French American Veterans Day: Honoring a U.S. Army Engineer

by William E. Lloyd
The Army Engineer Association Magazine, August 1999

Evreux, France June 26, 1999

Some 80 American veterans and their wives attended the French American Veterans Day Celebration held at the French Air Force Base Aerienne 105 "Commandant VIOT". the activities on t he former US Air Force Base were started with a wreath laying ceremony with full military honors at the memorial dedicated to PFC Roger J. Boender, Company C 821st Engineer Aviation Battalion.

Pvt. 1st Class Boender's Battalion was a SCARWAF (Special Category Army with Air Force) unit assigned to Evreux Air Force Base. In the mid 50's the base was converted from what had been wartime airfield to a major US Air Force installation. The project was enormous, from the construction of aircraft hangers, runways, taxiways, control tower, mess halls, barracks to all the administrative facilities for several thousand airmen. An on-base trailer park was also constructed with 300 trailers to house married personnel and their families.

Pvt. 1st Class Boender was fatally injured in a 1955 construction accident on the Air Base. The memorial was dedicated in 1956 by Major General Robert M. Lee, then 12th Air Force Commander and Colonel Earl Worley, the first US Air Force Base Commander at Evreux, to a soldier "Who gave his life in the service of his country and his fellow men." Several years later, the trailer park was named "Boenderville" in honor of Pvt. 1st Class Boender.

Representing the American veterans, Major General Charles L. Wilson, USAF (Ret) and Col. James McDonald, USAF, Air Attache, American Embassy, Paris laid a wreath at the memorial to Pvt. 1st Class Boender. Col. Ariel Pavillet, French Air Force, Base Commander then placed a wreath for the French Airmen and veterans of the base.

With presentation of arms, the national anthems of France and the United States were played. Gen. Wilson and Col. Pavillet then inspected the honor guard of French Commandos that participated in the ceremony. Guests of honor were Mrs. Oralie Worley, window of Col. Worley and her daughter Cheri Sherrill. Mrs. Worley was also present at the original dedication of the memorial in 1956.

The French American Veterans Day Celebration was hosted by the French Air Force for veterans of the US Air Force's 465th Troop Carrier Wing (TCW) and the 317th Troop Carrier Wing (TCW) and their families. From 1954 to 1967, thousands of Evreux-based US Air Force personnel flew and maintained first the C-119 "Flying Boxcars" of the 465th TCW, then the C-130 Hercules of the 317th TCW for NATO cargo and airlift support missions around the world.

The French hosts rolled out the red carpet for the American veterans. Preceding the memorial ceremony, there was a reception in the City Hall with the Mayor of Evreux, who was a young administrator with the city government when the American were stationed at the Air Base. Following the memorial ceremony there was an elaborate "open house" celebration on the base including lunch with the requisite speeches; military demonstrations; a tour of the base; and visits to the prominent facilities. The day concluded with a banquet for the American veterans and former French employees of the US Air Force who were entertained by the SHAPE International Band and the French Air Force Band.

One of the many highlights of the day's events was visiting one of the original 300 trailers that were used for base housing. The trailer had been recovered from a long forgotten resting-place, transported to the base, and restored by the French Air Force. It was a simple surprise that brought back many memories. Susan Germano celebrated her first birthday in one of these trailers and brought pictures with her of that celebration. Susan's mother, Dorothy, told of life in the trailer for 2 years, waiting for her husband, Charles Germano, to return home from his frequent flying missions. Charles Germano is now deceased.

The Air Base's mission for the French Air Force is little changed from the days of the US Air Force. They are flying C-160 Transall aircraft for NATO cargo, airlift, refueling support missions. The C-160 can refuel in flight all of the NATO jet fighter aircraft and the squadrons assigned to Base Aerienne 105 flew a record number of sorties supporting the NATO Kosovo war effort. The French American Veterans Day celebration was a huge success, made even more memorable by the fact that the planning for this event was on going while the French Air Force was providing full NATO support to the air campaign in Kosovo.

The entire weekend was an opportunity of a lifetime for the American veterans to rekindle old memories and old friendships. The defining event that made all of the veterans proud to be part of the celebration was the ceremony at the memorial of PFC Boender.

Col. Pavillet and Col. LeMao, Deputy Base Commander, and the French Air Force Commanders before them, have preserved, maintained, and honored the memory of PFC Boender and the Corps of Engineers for over 30 years.

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