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09-19-2021 04:47 PM
# ADS
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The Cross of Lorraine was my unit crest when I was in the Army Reserves, 79th ARCOM. 79th division in WWI and WWII. Now it's the 79th Sustainment Support Command. and moved from the East Coast to the West Coast. Which kind of sucks because it was always formed around Pennsylvania personnel prior to this. We wore the shoulder patch during Desert Storm but as each unit was placed under the command of another command, it is not our combat patch.
Be curious for more details on the two shells with the cross.
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These cases are French
75mm field gun. Each one carries the name of a village from the "Chemin des Dames" battle ground in the Lorraine region.
Cerny* and Craonne. The "Chemin de Dames" was one of worst battles for the French in WW1. the villages were both totally destroyed during the battle.
The cross of Lorraine is quite a popular theme on trench art pieces. It was also used by the Resistance in WW2.
The other case, with the tulip is also marked" Craonne" at the upper rim and "Lucy"; obviously made for a loved one. The workmanship
* Actually now CERNY-EN-LAONNOIS.
The villages were rebuilt after the war; but a kilometre or two from the original site of the village. Probably as a mark of respect.
Last edited by 30Three; 09-27-2021 at 04:09 PM.
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Originally Posted by
30Three
the villages were both totally destroyed during the battle.
It's amazing how much damage the French
people managed to rebuild and repair after WW1 and before the start of WW2.
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Costly WWI French
battles was for the Forts ~ Douaumont & Vaux were pretty bloody affairs with Germanys bleed France white policy in the battle of Verdun appalling losses suffered by both sides well above what was the norm in that era.
I put it alongside the other battle for massed casualties the Somme.
Pierre Henri Clostermann DSO, DFC & Bar flew Spitfires, Typhoons & Tempests in WWII a free French fighter pilot his aircraft carried the Cross Of Lorraine and code JF-E, he called his aircraft "Grand Charles" whether this had anything to do with de Gaulle I do not know.
Last edited by CINDERS; 10-01-2021 at 10:16 AM.
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The auto biography of Pierre Closterman is an excellent read.
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And that it is an air epic masterpiece "The Big Show"
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