og pat—a fresh lookphotos1 - oss reborn og pat—a fresh look operational group (og) pat was one...

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OGPAT—AFreshLookOperational Group (OG) PAT was one of thirteen OSS teamsparachutedintosouthernFranceinthesummerof1944fromAlgeria.PATwas theonly sectiondropped into thedépartementknownastheTarn(Capital:Albi)intheMidi­Pyrénées.ThoughthedeedsofsomeoftheOGgroupshavebeenwelldocumented,littlehasbeenpublishedonOGPAT.Last year an American journalist who lives in the Tarn received aFulbrightgrant to research their story.MeredithWheeler, formerlyawriterandproduceratABCNews,sharessomeofherdiscoveries:

Yankeedoodle,doordie…..

ByMeredithWheeler

OGPATatBlida,AlgeriainMay1944

Summer,1944.JustpastmidnightonAugust6th/7th,fifteen

AmericanparatroopersjumpedfromaSterlingbomberandfloated

downintotheTarn—occupiedFrance—underthelightofawaning

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moon.“Wewerescaredtodeath,”saysGeorgeMaddock,oneof13

whosurvivedthemission.

StirlingBomberofthekindconvertedforparachutingOSSOGsintoFrance

ThenightflightfromtheirbaseinBlida,Algeriahadtakenabout

threehours.Tobreakthetensionandkeepuptheirspirits,

LieutenantConradLaGueux,PAT’scommandingofficer,suggested

theysing.

LieutenantConradLaGueuxwas22yearsoldwhenhewasputincommandof

OGPAT

“Wesanglikemad,”wroteMichaelDemarco,inanunfinished

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memoir.“Oldsongs,newsongs,evenafewFrenchsongs.”Staff

SergeantBernardGautier,adescendentofFrenchCanadians,knew

alltheFrenchwords—butwastonedeaf.TheysangYankeeDoodle—

twice.“I’maYankeeDoodleDandy,YankeeDoodledoordie….”Two

ofthemenwouldindeedbedeadwithintheweek.

AsthebombercrossedtheBlackMountainsofsouthwestFrance,

anti‐aircraftfirelitupthesky.“Likethe4thofJuly,”GeorgeMaddock

recalled.“Nice—untilwefoundoutthattheywereshootingatus.”

Theack‐ackmissed,butsignaledtheirarrivalinenemyterritory.

Over100maquis‐–theruralresistancefighters—werewaitingatthe

dropzone,aremotehilltop,gazingskywardinanticipation.Never

beforehadAlliedsoldiersparachutedintothisremotepartofthe

Tarn.

LieutenantMichaelDeMarcovividlyremembersthenighttime

jump—hookingontothestaticlineandrunningtowardthatempty

blackrectangleintheaircraftfloor—thegapingvoid:

“Iwentoutthehole[and]seemedtostopandhangsuspendedinthe

air.Ilookedupatthekhakichute.Itlookedbeautifuluptherewith

theblueskyandstarsallaround.”

Tohisrightandleft,hesawhiscomradesfloatingtoearth.

“Theairwasheavyandwecamedownslowly.Alreadytheroarof

theplanehadlefttheskyandnowwecouldseethelightsmovingon

theground,hearpeopleshoutandyell….Whenwegotalittlecloser,I

sawthatIwouldhavetotryandavoidatreelanding.”

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DeMarcotuggedonhissuspensionlinesandmanagedtomissthe

trees.Theunitmedic,SergeantAugustusKitchenwasn’tsolucky.He

ricocheteddownthroughthebranches,gashinghisface.

StaffSergeantRobertoEsquenazi,aCuban‐American,wasmore

seriouslyinjured.Thejumpwasatlow‐altitude—about500feet‐‐

andhelandedawkwardlyonhisgear,breakinghisleftleg.(The

barrelofhisMarlinsubmachinegunbentfromtheimpact.)

EsquenaziwasswiftlyspiritedawaytoaFrenchdoctor.Hewould

spendtherestofthemissionhiddenintheatticofachateauowned

bytheResistanceleader(atsomeperiltothefamilywhowerein

residence).

ChateauBousquetnearVabreintheTarnwhereS/Sgt/RobertoEsquenaziwas

hiddenintheatticwhileherecoveredfromabrokenlegsustainedduringthe

parachutejump

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S/Sgt.RobertoEsquenaziwithOdileDerouville(seated)andhermother‐in‐law

LouiseinVabre(phototakenaftertheliberation)ThehusbandofOdile,Guy

Derouville,wastheheadoftheMaquisdeVabre,thegroupinchargeofthedrop

zone.OdilespokeEnglishandsupervisedthecareofthewoundedAmerican.

AsMichaelDeMarcounfastenedhisparachuteharness,henoticeda

manandaboyhurryingtowardshimwithalight,andthought:

“Friendorfoe?”Hedulygavethepassword‐‐whichtheFrenchman

ignored.Instead,themaquisardslappedhimonhisbackandgrabbedhismusettebag,saying,“Iwillcarrythisforyou!”inheavily

accentedEnglish.Theboyrolledupthechuteandtheyheadeddown

thehilltojointheothers.“Ihadneverdreamedthatmylanding

wouldbereceivedlikethis,”wroteDeMarco.

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OGPAT’sofficialorderswereto“harassanddestroytheenemy,cut

Germancommunicationsandsupplyroutesandstrengthenthe

resistancemovement”.Buttheoverarchinggoal—whetherthey

knewitornot—wastotieupenemyforcesinthesouthwestin

anticipationoftheimminentAlliedlandinginProvence—Operation

Dragoon.

Theteamnotonlyaccomplishedthatmission,theyalsohelped

turnedthetideintheregion.LikeallofFrance,theTarnwasstill

undertheyokeofNazioccupation.Withintwoweeks,thesouthTarn

wasliberated.Some4500Wehrmachtsoldierssurrenderedto12OSS

menandafewhundredResistancefighters‐—mostofthempoorly‐

armed,under‐trainedmaquis.Asinagameofpoker,skill,luckand

bluffallplayedarole.

ThreemembersoftheOGPATTeaminMarch1944inAlgeriaRT/5RobertSpaur,T/Sgt.JosephL.VezinaandT/5RaymondPicard

Buttheirsuccesscameatacost.TwoOGPATmenwereshotdead

duringanambushofaGermanpatrolonaremotemountainroad.It

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wasOGPAT’sfirstexperienceofcombat.Thevictimsincludedthe

tone‐deafSergeant,BernardGautier,andT/5RobertSpaur.Abouta

dozenGermanswerealsokilledorwounded.

S/Sgt.BernardGautier,killedattheambushnearLeRialet

T/5RobertSpaur,killedintheambushnearLeRialet

TheGermanswhosurvivedbroughtbacknewsthatstunnedthelocal

Wehrmachtcommand:TheattackersincludeduniformedAmerican

commandos—notjustrag‐tagmaquisards.Untilthatmoment,the

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warhadbeen500milesnorthinNormandy.Nowitwasontheir

doorstep.

TheResistancedidtheirbesttofanGermananxietiesbyinflatingthe

sizeoftheAmericanpresence—whichafterdeathandinjuryhad

shrunktojust12men.Germancollaboratorsweretold,however,

thattherewereatleast50—maybe75or100—American

commandosinfiltratingthehills.Combinedwiththeambush,the

disinformationcampaignsoweduneasethatturnedtopanicafterOG

PAT’snextactofsabotage.

Sixty‐sixyearslater,thosetwofallenOSSmenarestillhonoredin

thiscornerofFrance.Theirnamesareinscribedontwowar

memorialsandeveryyeartheFrenchveteransorganizea

remembranceceremony.ItwasatonesuchmemorialthatIfirst

stumbledontotheirstory.

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MarkerstonehonoringBernardGautier&RobertSpauratthesiteofthe

AmericanambushnearLeRialet(Tarn)

MyhusbandandIhavehadahomeintheTarnfor20years,notfar

fromthehilltopwhereOGPATparachutedin.IcarrytheAmerican

flagatceremoniesinournearbytownofCastres—usuallythe

November11thRemembranceDayeventandV‐EDayceremonies.

(TheFrenchveteranshadbeensearchingforanAmericanporte

drapeau—andinvitedmetodoit.)Whilenotaveteranmyself,Ifelt

honoredtotakepart—andthewaytheytreatedtheAmericanflag

impressedme.

Intheirprocessions,theprotocolofficeralwaysmakesapointof

placingtheAmericanflagatthefrontoftheparade.Whenthey

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realizedthatIdidn’thaveaflag‐holdingbeltortheproperwhite

gloves,theygavethemtome.

November11thRemembranceDayceremoniesinCastres,France;

MeredithWheelerservingasAmericanflagbearer

Theseceremonies‐‐onFrenchsoil‐‐wheresomuchbloodwasshedin

bothworldwars,inanationthatsufferedthetraumaofenemy

occupationforyears—areparticularlychargedwithemotion—even

foranAmericanonlookerlikeme.

In2005,theancienscombatantsaskedmetocarrytheAmericanflag

atasmallerceremonyinthehillvillageofLeRialet(population:44).

(ThisisnearthesitewhereOGPATandamaquisunitambushedthe

Germanpatrol.)AspecialAmericanguestfromWashingtonD.C.was

expectedfortheannualwarcommemoration.

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FlagsdippedinhonorofthedeadattheRemembranceceremonyatLeRialet

(Tarn)

ThatwashowIfirstmetNormaLaGueux.AretiredCIAofficer,sheis

thewidowofConradLaGueux,commandingofficerofOGPAT.

NormahasloyallyattendedtheceremoniesinLeRialetformany

yearssincethedeathofherhusband.Herpresenceisgreatly

appreciatedbytheoldmaquisardswhorememberOGPAT.

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NormaandConradLaGueuxvisitingtheTarnin1989

Becausethevillageissoremote,theceremonyissmallerandmore

intimatethaninCastres—andmorepoignant.

Afterthecolorguardproceededuptothewarmemorial,twoelderly

Frenchveterans,graveanddignified,steppedforwardtothegranite

stone.Theirnavyjacketsjangledwithwarmedals.Thefirstmanread

inaloud,solemnvoice,eachofthetwelvenamesinscribedonthat

monument—includingthetwoAmericans,SpaurandGautier.

Aftereveryname,theotherveterancalledouttotheassembled

crowd:“MortpourlaFrance”—“DiedforFrance”.Thiswasdonefor

theAmericanstoo.“BernardGautier—MortpourlaFrance.Robert

Spaur,MortpourlaFrance.”LaMarseillaisewasplayed,followedby

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TheStarSpangledBanner—atinnyrecording,butstillheart‐

wrenching.

ThoughIspokebrieflywithNorma,Istillhadnoideawhytwo

Americansoldiersdiedonthisunlikelyhillside,farfromanybattle

sites.IknewnothingaboutOSSmissionsinFrance.Iwasalso

perplexedbythesurnamesofthedeadAmericans—Gautierand

Spaur.TheysoundeddecidedlyFrench.

Itwasn’tuntillastJunethatallthesemysterieswereclearedup.

AnewAmericanConsulwasappointedinToulouseandhemadeit

hisbusinesstoattendWWIIcommemorativeeventsintheMidi‐

Pyrénées.LastJune,DavidBrownlaidflowersandspokeatthe

ceremonyinLeRialet.

AmericanConsulinToulouseDavidBrownplacesfloweratthe

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RemembranceceremonyatLeRialetinJune2009

ThepresenceofanofficialrepresentativeoftheUnitedStateswas

greatlyappreciatedbytheFrenchveteransandtheAmerican

expatiateswhotakeaninterest.TheConsulalsovisitedasmaller

stonememorialdownthehillside,atthesitewherethefatalambush

tookplace.

Engravedonthat,inFrench,istheinscription:“Tothememoryofthe

Americanheroes,BernardGautierandRobertSpaur,whofellherein

combatonAugust12th,1944”.AclusterofAmericanslookedonas

DavidBrownlaidanotherwreath.

Alsopresentwasalocalhistorian—orsoIthought—especially

arrangedbytheancienscombattantsforthebenefitoftheAmerican

Consul.Heexplainedhowthemenhaddied.GilbertBrialspokewith

greatauthorityandhisstoryenthralledusall.AsIlistened,myjaw

dropped.“Wereyoupresent?”Iasked.Itsoundedlikehewasgiving

aneyewitnessaccount.“Oui,”hereplied.“IjoinedthismaquiswhenI

was19.I’m83now.”

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GilbertBrial,formermaquisards,explaininghowthetwoOSSmendied

WhileMonsieurBrialhadn’twitnessedtheactualambushinwhich

SpaurandGautierlosttheirlives,heturnedouttobecloselylinked

tothechainofeventsthatledtotheambush.Thatmorning,overone

hundredinexperiencedmaquishadattackedasmallpartyof

GermansinLeRialetwhiletheywerescavengingforfood.Nineteen‐

year‐oldGilbertBrialwasarmedwithaStengun.Forhimandmost

oftheyoungmaquis,itwastheirfirstexperienceofarmedcombat.

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GilbertBrialin1944

Thoughthemaquisout‐numberedtheGermans,10to1,allthe

Germansescaped,exceptforonewhowaswoundedinthearm.The

onlythingshotdeadwasacow—byaccident.TheGermancommand

sentreinforcementsuptoLeRialet—anditwasthesesoldiersthat

OGPATattacked.

They’dwatchedastheGermansspedupthehilltoLeRialetinfour

motorcyclesidecars,spacedabout20yardsapart.Onesidecarhada

mountedmachinegun.

Withthehelpofmoreexperiencedmaquiswhohadbeenassignedto

guidethem,OGPATorganizedanambush.Theybrokeintofour

groups,spacedoutalongtheheavily‐woodedroadside.Eachgroup

wassupposedtotakeoutonesidecar.TheGermansfearedan

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ambush,and,ontheirreturn,separatedtheirvehiclesby200‐yard

intervals,insteadof20.Theambushdidn’tgoquiteasplanned.

LieutenantLaGueux’sgroupwaswaitingatthefarendofthetrap.

Whenthefirstmotorcyclesidecarapproached,theyopenedfire,

woundingalltheoccupants.Thesidecarcrashedintoatree.Atthat

point,SergeantGautierleaptforwardtodisablethemounted

machinegun.Whenheturned,oneofthewoundedGermanspulled

outapistolandshotGautierintheback.Hewasinturnshotdeadby

T/5MarcelLandryandtheheadofthemaquisunit.

LieutenantDeMarcolaterwrotethatasheandafewmen“crouched

onthesideofthebank,aburstofmachinegunfirecutrightover

[our]heads.[I]turnedandsawthatT/5Spaurhadbeenhitandwas

dead”.

Afterthemedic,SergeantKitchen,verifiedthattheirtwocomrades

wereindeeddead,theAmericansmovedoffswiftlyintothesafetyof

thewoods.HeavilyarmedGermanreinforcementswouldsoon

arrive,butOGPATwaslonggone.Theycircledbacktotheirbase,

wheretheywereabouttoreceivethemostimportantorderoftheir

mission.

TwodayslaterT/5VincentQuercia,accompaniedbyaFrenchpriest

andafewlocals,recoveredthebodiesofSpaurandGautierand

buriedtheminthecemeteryofanearbychurch.Therewasafuneral

servicewellattendedbytheFrenchcommunity.

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ThiswasjusttheopeningsalvoofOGPATmissionintheTarn.

MonsieurBrial’soriginalversionoftheseeventswasslightly

differentfromwhatIlaterunderstoodtobeaccurate.Nonetheless,

wewereallfascinatedbyhisstoryandIasked,“Haveyoutoldthisto

Frenchtelevisionorradio?”.“Non,”hereplied,witharesignedGallic

shrug.

TheAmericanConsul,DavidBrown,andIbothhadthesamethought:

Beforeit’stoolate,recordtheoralhistoriesofthesurvivorsofthese

events,particularlythosewhoknewandinteractedwiththeOSS

team.Timeisrunningout—asfewofthesemenarestillalive.Isoon

beganinterviewingtheoldmaquisardsandinvestigatingtheOGPAT

missionmorecarefully.EachdanglingthreadthatIpulledledto

moreastonishingwarstories.

MonsieurBrialbecamemyguidetoallthesitesconnectedtoOGPAT

intheTarn.Heshepherdedmearound,justasthemaquishadonce

guidedOGPAT.

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ThestelemarkingtheDropZonecode‐namedVirgulewhereOGPATparachuted

inonthenightofAug.6th/7th,1944

Aftervisitingthedropzoneitself,markednowbyagreatstele,he

showedmethemaquisheadquarterswhereOGPATwassheltered

forthefirsttwonights.

Undercoverofdarkness,theyweretransportedinanoldtrucktothe

safehouseabout30kilometersfromthedropzone.Thejourneywas

dangerous,astheareawasundercurfew.Thedriverdidn’tdareuse

theheadlights,sotheonlyilluminationcamefromthelightofthe

moon.Fortunately,theydidn’tencounteranyGermanpatrols.The

truckbrokedown50yardsfromthefarmhouse‐‐forcingthemento

walkthelastbit.“Theyweren’ttooreassuredbythat,”Monsieur

Brialobserveddryly,aswetouredthesite.

LeReclot,thefarmhousethatservedamaquissafehousewhereOGPATspent

thefirsttwonightsbehindenemylines

TheoldfarmnowhasaplaquecommemoratingtheAmerican

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connection.

ThemaquisawaitingtheOSSteamhadpreparedanelaborate

welcome.Thediningtablewaslaidoutwithtricolorribbonarranged

toformtheCroixdeLorraine—thecrosswithtwohorizontalbars,

symboloftheFrenchResistance.Bottlesofsparklingwinewere

chilledandglassesneatlylinedupontheribbon.

“Whereistheenemy?”theAmericansurgentlywantedtoknowwhen

theyarrived.“Nothere!”laughedtheinsouciantFrench,asthey

poppedthecorksandpouredatoasttotheselong‐awaitedYanks—

whobroughtnotjustexpertise,explosivesandweapons—buthope.

ComparedtomostofFrancein1944,foodwasrelativelyplentifulin

thecountrysideoftheTarnandtheAmericansatewell.Thetwo

officers,LaGueuxandDeMarco,conferredwiththemaquischiefs,

consultingvariousmapspinnedtothefarmhousewalls.Meanwhile

therestofOGPATorganizedtheirgearintheattachedbarnand

preparedtobeddownonpilesofstraw.

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Finallyat5.30am,whentheadrenalineoftheparachutejumphad

wornoff,LieutenantsLaGueuxandDeMarcowereshownupstairsin

thefarmhouse,tobedswithcrisp,whitesheets—anunexpected

luxuryontheirfirstnightbehindenemylines.MonsieurBrialstill

beamswhenhedescribesthecivilizedwelcomethattheAmericans

received:“Theydidn’texpectallthat!”CodesofFrenchhospitalityin

theTarnhadbeenuphelddespitetheadversecircumstances.

Theteamsleptlateintothenextday,watchedoverbythemaquis.

FourmembersofOGPATatLeReclotonAugust8th,1944

Wordoftheirpresencespreadfast.The17‐year‐oldGilbertBrial

walkedtwokilometersfromhisownmaquishideout,toseethe

miraculousAmericanparatroopers.“Wewereamazedbyalltheir

weapons,ammoandequipment.Wehadpracticallynothing,”he

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recalls.TheFrenchalsomarveledatthenever‐endingsupplyof

LuckyStrikecigarettesandchocolate.

ButmostimpressivewasCorporalGeorgeH.MaddockofGary,

Indiana,whostood6foot7inches.TothisdayMonsieurBrialspeaks

ofhimwithawe.“Overtwometerstall!”hetoldme,shakinghishead

indisbelief65yearslater.

Despitetheirsmootharrival,OGPATandthemaquissoonhada

terribleshock.

ThenextnighttheGermansattackedVirgule,themountaindrop

zone.Thefouragentswhohadjustparachutedin(includingaBritish

SISIntelligenceOfficer)weresafe.Theyhadbeenswiftlymovedtoa

securearea.ButtheGermansseizedtheparachutedcontainerswith

allthevitalgear—weaponsforthemaquis,ammo,moneyandthe

preciousradios.Abadblow,butworsewastocome.

Sevenyoungmaquisardsinanearbysafehousewerecaught

sleeping.TheGermansburstinandshotthemdead.Thesewerethe

samemaquisardswhohadwelcomedtheAmericansthenightbefore.

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Laroque,themaquishideout,thedayafteraGermanattackintheearlyhoursof

August8thkilledallsevenyoungmaquisardssleepingthere

WhenthatnewsreachedOGPAT,theyinsistedonhavingtheirown

base.Themaquisfoundthemanisolatedfarmhousenearbyin

heavilywoodedterrain.Theymovedimmediatelybutneverslept

insidethehouse,preferringtocampinthenearbyforestinpairs,

spacedwellapart,alwaysfearingasurpriseattack,alwaysonguard.

“Theytaughtussomethingthere,”MonsieurBrialsays.

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SanFe,thefarmhousethebecameOGPAT’sbaseaftertheirfirsttwonightsatLe

Reclot.

Thatterrainisstillknownasthe“Boisdesaméricains”‐‐theAmerican

woods.

LocalsignsstillrefertothewoodsnearSanFeas“BoisdesAméricains”

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WhereverthePATmenwent,theFrenchwhosawthemwere

heartened.DeMarcolaterwrote,“Itwasthefirsttimethe[French]

hadseenAmericans.Somecheered,otherscried,theyallwavedand

wishedusluck.”

TheOSSteamusedaroomatthetopofthehousetosetuptheir

radioforregularcontactwithHQinBlida.YoungGilbertBrialusedto

watchastheyunfurledthelongantennaoutthewindowandstaked

itonthelawn.Inthatwaytheyreceivedtheorderforwhatwas

probablytheirmostsignificantaction:Theyweretoblowupa

strategicrailbridgeneartheprosperoustownofMazamet,about15

milessoutheastofCastres,nestledagainsttheBlackMountainstothe

south.

Guidedbythemaquiswhoknewtheterrain,severalreconnaissance

tripswereundertaken.Thestonebridge,builtin1888forthe

railroad,spanstheriverArnwiththreegreatarches.Allrailtraffic

runningeastfromMazamet—towardsProvence‐‐usedthatline.

OGPATbrought375poundsofC‐2plasticexplosivestodothejob.

Thefirstsabotageefforthadtobecalledoffwhenthetransport

organizedbythemaquisfailedtoturnup.Buteverythingworked

perfectlyonAugust14th—justtwodaysafterthelossofSpaurand

Gautier.

Anighttimesortiewasorganizedwithsupportfromthemaquis,who

capturedandbundledawaytheFrenchbridgeguards.The

demolitionteam,leadbyLieutenantLaGueux,setthechargesin15

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minutes.LaGueuxseta30‐minutetimerandtheyallmadetheir

escape.Thedeafeningblastrattledwindowsupanddownthevalley.

Therailbridge,PontdeGauthard,onthemorningofAugust15th,1944,the

middlearchdestroyedbytheOSSdemolitionteam

Thecentralstonearchofthebridgewasdestroyed,blockingany

chanceofGermanreinforcementsbeingsentbytrainfromthesouth

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TarntoProvence,wheresome94,000AmericanandFrenchforces

werelandingonthebeachesnearSt.Tropezthatmorning,August

15th.ThiswasthestartofthesouthernD‐Day—oneofthemost

overlookedcampaignsintheEuropeantheaterofwar.

AtGermanheadquarters,therewasconsternation.Thescaleofthis

sabotagewasnewandworrying.Theydecidedtomarshaltheir

forcesinCastres.InMazamettheyloadedatrainwitharms,

ammunition,suppliesandplunder.Itrequired44carriagestocarry

allthecargo.About60Wehrmachtsoldierswereonboardtoprotect

it.NormallythetrainjourneynorthtoCastrestook30minutes—but

thattrainwasdestinednevertoarrive.

ThistimeitwastheFrenchResistancewhoorganizedtheambush

withtheOGPATprovidingtheexplosivesandtheexpertisetoderail

thelocomotive.TheFrenchhadthemchangetheplacementofthe

chargesthreetimes.Thenanotherlastminutehitch.Newscamethat

theGermanshadtworailguardswalkinginfrontoftheslow‐moving

train.Thatmeantthedetonationdevicewouldhavetobechanged.

DeMarcowrote,“CaptainLaGueuxwasjustdoingthatwhenthecry

wentup,‘Herecomesthetrain!’Wecursed.TheCaptainhadnothad

timetoputinthepulldevice.Weallsweatedashecalmlytold

Fischertogetwire,pliersandcrimpers.Itwasdone,tapedand

replacedandtheprimacordchecked.TheGermanshadnotarrived.”

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SiteofthetrainderailmentandambushoutsideofMazamet(Tarn)onAugust

19th

NonethelesstheGermanswereanticipatinganattack.Four20MM

gunsandfivesearchlightshadbeenmountedonflatcarsfor

protection.Thetraininchedforward,withtwosoldierswalking

aheadinspectingthetrack,lookingforanythingsuspicious.“It

creakedandstrainedasitroundedthebend,”wroteDeMarco.“We

couldheartheclankofthecarsbangingagainsteachother.We

waitedfortheexplosion.Woulditnevercome?Alreadyitwasdark

….Ifthehurriedconnectiondidnotwork,theGermanswouldsurely

escape.”

ButtheGermanscoutsneversawthecarefullyconcealedAmerican

explosivesthatblewthetrainofftherails.“Aterrificexplosionriffled

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theairfollowedbytheblastofgrenadesandtherattleofmachine

gunsandsmallarmsfire.Soonanewsoundbrokein,theboomboom

ofthe20MMsfiring.Theysoundedlikecannonscomparedtothe

9MMand30calflying,”wroteDeMarco.“Thesectionwasclose

togetherhuggingtheground.”

ThecreamofthemaquisofVabrefoughttheGermansallnight,ably

ledbyaprofessionalFrenchofficer,PierreDunoyerdeSegonzac.OG

PATwasheldinreserve,shouldanyGermanstrytoescapeacross

country—justaswell,astheAmericanswereexhausted.DeMarco

says,“Theplanforthedaywastopepperandharasstheenemywith

longdistancefireuntilthemortarcouldbeputintoaction.Itookthe

sectionuptheroadanddownacreekbedtowait.Weweresotired

thatwhenbulletshitthetreesonthebank,noonenoticed.”

Whenthemortarfinallyarrived,ithadonlytenrounds.Amazingly,

onescoredadirecthitonaheavily‐loadedtraincarriage.Atthat

point,theGermanssurrendered.Theentiretrainfullofarmsand

munitionswasnowinthehandsoftheFrenchResistance.Captain

LaGueuxwentforwardwiththeFrenchcommandertoacceptthe

surrenderofthe60Germans.“Itwasprobablytheantiaircraftunit

thathadfiredonourplaneonAugust6th,”wroteDeMarcoinhisEnd

ofMissionreport.SergeantKitchendressedthewoundsofthe

woundedGermanprisoners.

WhenwordofthetrainbeingcapturedreachedCastres,theGerman

Captain,GeorgesMärz,second‐in‐commandoftheoccupationforce,

wasabletopersuadehisColoneltosignthesurrenderhehadbeen

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negotiatingallnight(anotherstrandofthisfascinatingstorythat

mustkeepforalaterdate).

Second‐in‐commandofGermanoccupationforcesintheTarn,

GeorgesMärz,thekeyGermanfigurewhonegotiatedthesurrenderofGerman

forcestotheF.F.I.

ThiswastwoweeksafterOGPAThadarrivedintheTarn.Awell‐

armedforceof4to5thousandmensurrenderedto12OSSmenand

afewhundredmaquis,ledbymembersofDeGaulle’sSecretArmy—

formerofficersoftheFrenchmilitary.

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JubilantcrowdsinCastresgreetthemaquisimmediatelyaftertheannouncement

ofthesurrenderoftheoccupationforces.

OftheliberationofCastres,DeMarcosimplynotes:“Everywhere

therewasjubilation.”

Afterthesurrender,GermansoldiersbeingescortedoutofCastrestoprison

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MembersofOGPATarephotographedwithmaquisardsinCastresonAugust

20th,aftertheLiberation

WhenOGPATtookpartintheLiberationDayparadeinCastres,it

was6’7”GeorgeMaddockwholedtheunit,carryinganAmerican

flag.

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T/5GeorgeMaddock,the6’7”giantofOGPATleadstheunitintheLiberation

DayParadeinCastres.Theraindidnotdampenthejoy.

LieutenantConradLaGueuxshakeshandswiththeSous‐PréfectoftheTarn

duringtheLiberationDayfestivities,surroundedbytherestofthesection

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T/5GeorgeMaddockcarryingtheAmericanflaginthepresentationoftheColors

intheLiberationDayceremony

35

In1989,ConradLaGueux,accompaniedbyhiswife,Norma,holdstheflaghis

unitparadedinCastresduringtheLiberationin1944.

Thatflagstillresidesinamuseumhere.Iwasproudtocarryitlast

Augustatthe65thanniversarycommemorationofthatLiberation.

MeredithWheelerparadedtheoriginalOGPATflagatthe65thanniversary

celebrationsoftheLiberationofCastresinAugust2009

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GeorgeMaddockalmostlivedlongenoughtocarryithimself.Hedied

in2008.SofarasIknow,hewasthelastlivingmemberofOGPAT.

HehadretiredfromhisjobasahighschoolcoachinValparaiso,

Indiana,havingoncehadthedistinctionofplayingintheRoseBowl

in1949forNorthwestern.(Theywon—thelasttimethatever

happened.)

GeorgeMaddockin2007athishomeinValparaiso,Indianaholdingaphotoof

himselffrom1944.

Oneofmymostexcitingresearchfindswasavideointerviewwith

Maddockrecordedtheyearbeforehisdeath.Itisdevotedentirelyto

hisOSSexperienceswithOGPATinFrance.

“WewereDonovan’sboys,”hesayswithpride.“Thewarmadeaman

outofme.”

Themosttouchingmomentofthe40‐minuteinterviewishisreaction

whenaskedaboutthelossofSpaurandGautier.Hechokesup,flails

withhishandasthoughwardingoffablowandstrugglestomaintain

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hiscomposure.“IknowIsaidI’danswerallyourquestions,butI’m

gonnatakeapassonthat,”hesays.“I’mfinallyoverit.Ittakesa

while….”Thatwas63yearsafterSpaurandGautierwerekilled.

Iunderstandnowwhythosetwo(andConradLaGueux)hadFrench

names.TheyallhadFrenchorFrench‐Canadianancestry.Indeed

theyallspokeFrench,oneoftheirqualificationsforthemission.

Seekingsoldierswhohadlanguageskills‐‐oftenfirstandsecond‐

generationAmericans‐‐wasoneofGeneralDonovan’scriteria,of

course,whenitcametoselectingmensuitablefortheOSS.They

weren’tallFrenchspeakersthough.MaddockspokeRussian,

EsquenaziandT/5VincentQuerciaspokeSpanish.

Mygreatregretisthatittookme15yearsoflivingintheTarnbefore

IdiscoveredthestoryofOGPAT.Itwasn’tuntillastyearthatIreally

understoodit.Sadly,inthatperiodConradLaGueux,Michael

Demarco,GeorgeMaddockandtheGermanCaptain,GeorgesMärzall

died—thoughtheywereallalivejust10yearsago.Fortunately,

MichaelDeMarcoleftbehindthebeginningsofhismemoirs,which

hisfamilyhasgenerouslysharedwithme.

Justbeforehedied,ConradLaGueux,whohadretiredafteralong

careerintheCIA,turnedhisthoughtsbacktohisfirstmissioninthe

OSS‐‐thatperiodofyouthfuldaringandadventure.

In2001,heinitiatedplanstore‐enacttheparachutejumpintothe

Tarn—57yearsaftertheoriginal.Hecontactedthemaquisveterans

intheTarnforhelp.Takenabackatfirstbythisextraordinaryidea,

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theydutifullysetaboutgettingpermissions.Inthemidstoftheir

preparations,ConradLaGueuxdiedofleukemiainArlington,

Virginia.

Hemighthavebeensurprisedtolearnthatagroupofyoung

FrenchmanishopingtomountahistoricalrecreationofOGPAT.

Eighteen‐year‐oldThierryPauthe,wholivesintheTarn,contacted

theOSSSocietyformoreinformationaboutthemission.OSSSociety

President,CharlesPinck,referredhimtome.Hearrivedatmyfront

dooreagertoseeoldphotosanddocumentsandtohearthestory.

HeandhisfriendshadscouredtheInternet,locatingauthenticOSS

uniformsandkit.

ThierryPauthe,aFrenchresidentoftheTarnwhoispartofagroupof

reenactmententhusiastswhoareinterestedinOGPAT

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Whethertheirreenactmentwillincludealowaltitudeparachute

jumpbymoonlightisindoubt!Butnowtheinterestinthisstorywill

notdiewiththeoldmaquisardswhoknewOGPAT.

ContemporaryphotoofFrenchrecreationenthusiaststargetingOSSOGs

SofarasIknow,ConradLaGueuxwastheonlyOGPATmember

recruitedintotheCIA.Hejoinedin1949,twoyearsaftertheCIAwas

40

founded.HeworkedmainlyintheFarEast‐‐wherehe’dalsoserved

fortheOSSafterleavingFrance.(HetrainedChineseparatroopers.)

HeservedinseniorpositionsinTaiwan,Burma,Cambodiaand

Vietnam.WhenSaigonfellonApril29th,1975,heleftonthesame

helicopterastheAmericanAmbassador,GrahamA.Martin.

ThereisanOSSGalleryintheCIAwithadisplaydevotedsolelyto

ConradLaGueux.NootherOSSofficerhasthatdistinction.

ThedisplaydevotedtoConradLaGueuxattheOSSGalleryintheCIAbuildingin

McLean,Virginia

ButhealsohasanunusualmarkofhonoroutsideintheCIAMemory

Garden.

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MarkerforConradLaGueuxintheCIAMemoryGarden,McLean

Afterhedied,theveteransoftheFrenchmaquisorganizeda

memorialstone—madefromgraygranitelikethestonesinthe

Tarn—reading(inFrench)

ToCaptainConradE.LaGueux

FromtheCorpsFrancduSidobre

InAppreciation

August6th,1944,France

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ConradLaGueuxwasburiedatArlingtonCemeterywithfullmilitary

honors.Hiswidow,Norma,senttheflagthatflewoverthatserviceto

themaquisveteransinFrance,whereithasaplaceofhonor.

ThePresidentoftheVeteransgroupassociatedthemaquisknownastheCorpsFrancduSidobre,GilbertBoyerandGilbertBrialstandingbesidethefolded,

framedAmericanflagthatflewoverArlingtonCemeterywhenConradLaGueux

wasburied.TheflagwasagifttothemaquisfromNormaLaGueux

Researchontheseeventscontinues.Thisarticleisjustaportionof

thestory.

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