The Flochets

Dear readers....Some memories of the Flochets..Have any of you ate a pigeon..not much meat but good..My eye getting better but need to wear something for five more weeks and eye drops..Phillip

                                                                           JMJ
The Flochets 1953
Chatelerault,France
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.
                                                                       Fishing..
  
One of the first real family thing I did with the Flochets was to go fishing, The day came we walk to the river (seine),Which I estimate was in the middle of town.On one side of the river was the predominate Communist.The town was separated by a bridge,In the middle of the river was a small Island, across the river you could see a church on the left and houses,,We had simple poles with just string and a hook,,The family chose spots to fish.I found one close to the shore.I got a bite then another and I gave a tug.I shouted and they all came near me as I pulled in a big fish,As I remember it was the only one we caught,So the Flochets ate a big fish that night,,
                                                                     Movie
There was a lot of excitement the movie in town had "Fernadel" a famous comedian and actor.He was staring in "La petite monde de Don Camillo" (Roughly translated "the little world of father Camillo:
It was the story of a priest who battles it out with the Communist Mayor of a town" I went with Guy to see the movie.there was a very long line.This did not stop "Guy" who got down crawled in between peoples feet and some how got him self to te head of the line.Fernadel was a good actor and I saw other movies with him in it.
                                                                     Paris
Guys father said he had been writing to his relatives in Paris and I was invited to stay with them for a couple of days.I got a three day pass and took a train from town to Paris.The Flochet relative met me.It was a different Flochet.He was well educated.fairly rich,He took me to his apartment..The first thing he did was have his small daughters move to a different room and I got there room.It was a small apartment.The table we ate on was by a window,As I look to my right I could see the Eiffel tower.The next day he took me around Paris..The first place was a plain building and inside was a collection of all type dishes cups every type of dinner ware.We went to the Louvre..and other places in Paris..

                                                                    Guy accident
   One day I went to the Flochet house and they said that guy had hurt his arm (sprain? Broken)He had his arm in a cast..Why mention this because I was learning something about my self (20 years old).In as much as I wanted to share in good times I also wanted to be there when things went wrong.I was at camp..I was not family...So as such I was not able to participate whenj it happened..However when his Mother got sick I went with him and saw her at the hospital..
Next the Monastery......Phillip Meyer S/sgt ret

The Flochet's - France - 1953

The Flochet's 1953
Chatelerault, France

The Flochet's

As I got to know the Flochets it was Guy and Allen that I knew the best. Allen the oldest and Guy around 8 years old. The few times I got to town the bus would stop right next to there house..There I would meet the whole family. I ate dinner with them a couple of times. They were very simple meals, vegetables from there garden and a pigeon. While it was still cold they gave me wine that was heated up.

Allen was studying to be a fixer of watches. Guy as we went along was picking up all the information he could and eventually got a good job with the American military (years later).One day of the year May 1st was the big day for the Communist in town. So we could go to town if we went to the local American club. The bus driver knew where I wanted to get off and I went to the Flochets. When the bus returned I was ready to get back on. One day I was restricted to post..So I did not have a pass. What did you do? I went to the back of the bus and hid behind the last seat. The Guard would go down the seats but never check behind the last one. A lot of soldiers did this One day the Communist citizens had a parade..It was very peaceful.

A favorite memory. One day Guy went to a summer camp. I had a bicycle (and old one) but it worked. I got the directions and headed out to see him. The road going there went along a forest..At one point I saw the sign "La Rond du Chen"..The small road I went down had trees on both sides,Then just like that I was in the camp. In the middle of the forest a large circle in the Forest on the edge a couple of small houses,,,It was beautiful..As I drove around the circle I found a road and there was Guy with other teenagers..On the edge of the road the remains of an old church..They were playing a game with small hoops. They would throw it and the boy would put out his hand to let it go on his arm,,I only stayed a short time and I had to get back to camp. I got back on the road and I took another route. As I went down a small hill I found they had just put fresh tar on the road and I got some on my khaki uniform.

More Later....Phillip Meyer

The Flochets

Dear Readers,The Flochets were the first family I knew in France,,,Many years later Allen named his son after me (Phillip)

Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

                                                            JMJ
Ingrandes ,France
566th Quartermaster Co.
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
Jan 53..Nov53
                                                             Ingrandes/566th QM Company
,,,,The first place I went to when I arrived in Chatellerault was to go to Ingrandes to the little Army post.
How little? just one short street, On the right side a chapel, the Orderly room 566th QM co. and barracks.the latrine and shower rooms.
The other side a small EM club Mess hall..Supply room,, a couple of other small buildings...On each side a boardwalk..The road was dirt and got very muddy..Down the road huge warehousers,,,and a railroad track that ran behind them,.....A short road led to the main road and the main gate was at the end of the road.So standing on the boardwalk on your left the main gate on your right further away the warehousers..
 I got a pass my first days there and went to town.The Army bus left from the main gate.The guard on duty would go up and down the bus and check our passes.In town it was the last day of the Christmas carnival.
You could smell the candy they sold as you went by,,at the end of the carnival were rides...I went on one of the rides and also tried to talk to some of the young people..Keep in mind I was 19 years old,,,Among the group of people I met the "Flochets"Allen the oldest and Guy his younger brother around 8?? I had to get back to the base for that magic hour of midnight.Guy seemed to know where I should go so he motion to follow him,Not far away the local Catholic Church.He took me there and I got the idea that was the bus stop.
As we waited a boy pass the Church and blessed himself..I never forgot that. Then Guy who was waiting with me motioned with his finger for me to bend down.I bent down to see what he wanted and he kissed me on the cheeks three times...and with that he left,,The bus came and I return to camp......
 The next day I had the day off and went to town early.It was not a long drive,I got off at the edge of town
and started walking.On the right I saw a store with a lot of books in it.I went in and got the owner to understand I wanted a English/French dictionary purchased a small dictionary and thats when I started to learn a little French..I went around asking people Ou ai (where is) until I found the Flochet house which was right at the end of town and one of the first stops for the Army bus..The Flochet house was surrounded a tall brick wall.In side on the right was a garden to the front his house on the bottom two floors were the Flochets on the top the head of the Communist party in Chatellerault..What a combination....So I met the Flochet family..The father a heavy smoker,,When I had a pass that would be my first stop..
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret

Winter Valley 52

Dear Readers.....Tommorow the 2 Aug ,,the day we attacvked the "million dollar hill"...We had a few wounded but it wasnt until later that I heard about the men who had died on the other side of the hill..We had cover they did not..A black soldier threw a grenade in a chinese bunker that made it possible for the rest of that company to get up the hill......Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret.

                                                                        JMJ

Kumwah Valley North Korea
"L" Co. 5th RCT 24th Div
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret
                                                                  The Valley winter 51
   We did spend some winter days in the valley even after Christmas (looking for some special papers on that)..Our small tents had been set up and the deep hole under them so the cold wind could pass on top..and not through our tents..The mess tent was close by...out in the rice paddies was the 555 Artillery or as it was called the "triple nickle" by now I was used to the shells being fired off.When we ate it was so cold the food would start to stick to the metal mess kit before we reach the end of the line. One night (Jan 52) I decided I wanted to sleep out side not in a hole.So I got my sleeping bag and put it next to the tent. I zippered the bag
and I could just see a little out of it,In the morning I noticed snow in front of my face.I zippered  the sleeping bag open and I was covered with snow that had fallen during the night....back in the hole again.Max off a hill was just a couple of days,,
                                                                      The Award
 It was a cold sunny day as we stood at attention in the frozen rice paddies.One by one were called up to receive the highest award an Infantry man can receive.(Note not a medal just an award).I received the
Combat Infantryman badge.....Only an Infantryman can receive it and he has to have been in combat.
It is one of the proudest award a soldier can receive,

                                                                      Note
Ten months in Korea.....one letter..........one shower,,,,(I was a lucky one).........Listen radio once..a bout three minutes
No haircut....
Phillip Meyer S/sgt Ret