Menzel, Rene Eugene (01054061): Difference between revisions
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'''[[Menzel, Rene | '''[[Menzel, Rene Eugene (01054061)|Rene Eugene Menzel]]''' (22 November 1919 – 10 May 2017) was a Ritchie Boy (from Netherlands; Catholic) who trained at Camp Ritchie in [[:Category:Class 11|class 11]]. | ||
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René Eugene Menzel was born on 22 November 1919 in The Hague, Netherlands, to Jean and Erna Menzel, and grew up largely in Brussels. He graduated from the University of Brussels as World War II began. When the German invasion forced the family to flee, Menzel enlisted in the Free French Army, was wounded by shrapnel, escaped occupied France on a falsified pass, reached Casablanca, and rejoined his parents in New York by way of a ship bound for Guadeloupe. | René Eugene Menzel was born on 22 November 1919 in The Hague, Netherlands, to Jean and Erna Menzel, and grew up largely in Brussels. He graduated from the University of Brussels as World War II began. When the German invasion forced the family to flee, Menzel enlisted in the Free French Army, was wounded by shrapnel, escaped occupied France on a falsified pass, reached Casablanca, and rejoined his parents in New York by way of a ship bound for Guadeloupe. | ||
He entered the U.S. Army, became a naturalized citizen while at Camp Ritchie (Class 11), and served with MII Team 415. Overseas he screened Channel crossers for intelligence risks, landed in Normandy on D-Day, and took part in liberating France; his detachment helped free tens of thousands of Allied prisoners. U.S. awards included the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star (with oak leaf cluster); France awarded him the Croix de Guerre. | He entered the U.S. Army, became a naturalized citizen while at Camp Ritchie ([[:Category:Class 11|Class 11]]), and served with [[Team MII 415|MII Team 415]]. Overseas he screened Channel crossers for intelligence risks, landed in Normandy on D-Day, and took part in liberating France; his detachment helped free tens of thousands of Allied prisoners. U.S. awards included the Purple Heart and the Bronze Star (with oak leaf cluster); France awarded him the Croix de Guerre. | ||
After the war Menzel worked for IBM World Trade, lived for years in Darien, Connecticut—chairing Planning and Zoning and later active in SCORE—and then in Williamsburg, Virginia. He died there on 10 May 2017. | After the war Menzel worked for IBM World Trade, lived for years in Darien, Connecticut—chairing Planning and Zoning and later active in SCORE—and then in Williamsburg, Virginia. He died there on 10 May 2017. | ||
== Research notes == | == Research notes == | ||
* Bronze Star and Purple Heart are explicit in the Darienite obituary (Eisenhower orders). Croix de Guerre kept in prose only. Oak leaf cluster noted in prose | |||
* Bronze Star and Purple Heart are explicit in the Darienite obituary (Eisenhower orders). Croix de Guerre kept in prose only. Oak leaf cluster noted in prose | * awards tuple lists Bronze Star once. Live rank_final 2nd Lt upgraded to First Lieutenant per obituary wartime grade | ||
== Gallery == | == Gallery == | ||
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* August 1943 — Assigned to Camp Ritchie (Class 11); naturalized while stationed there. | * August 1943 — Assigned to Camp Ritchie (Class 11); naturalized while stationed there. | ||
* 1944–1945 — Served with MII Team 415; Channel screening, Normandy landing, liberation of France / POW recovery. | * 1944–1945 — Served with MII Team 415; Channel screening, Normandy landing, liberation of France / POW recovery. | ||
* 10 May 2017 — Died in Williamsburg, Virginia. | |||
* Postwar — Career with IBM World Trade; later Darien civic service and SCORE. | * Postwar — Career with IBM World Trade; later Darien civic service and SCORE. | ||
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