(Alleen in het Engels)
Jean Dominique Andrieux was a brilliant pilote in the naval air force, born in 1924 in Troyes.
On March 31st, 1954, he disappeared in « ashes and lights » during a mission above Dien Bien Phu basin (in Indochina). The only purpose of his son Jean-Paul was to honour the memory of his dad. However, a tragic fate took him away brutally in 2008.
Therefore, I decided to take care of myhusband’s project. In 2009, I wrote a letter to the mayor of Troyes to explainmy request.
Then, we had regular contacts and an appointment on May 30th, 2013.
I am very thankful to all my interlocutors for their kindness, theirattention and their empathy.
On July 5th, 2013, the City Council stated its agreement for naming the street between « des jardins » street and « Eugène Piat » street: « Rue du Lieutenant de Vaisseau Jean-Dominique Andrieux Mort au combat à Dien Bien Phu ( 1924-1954 ) » (Vessel lieutenant Jean-Dominique Andrieux street, who died in combat in Dien Bien Phu. 1924-1954.) This honor went well beyond my expectations and I was very moved.
Antoine de Saint Exupéry wrote about Dien Bien Phu:
The soldier is not a man of violence. He bears arms and risks his life for faults that are not his own.
His value is to follow through on his word without failing, knowing that his fate is to be forgotten.
Today, JD Andrieux had his feet anchored on French ground, and even on his birth city. I am thankful to our beautiful city of Troyes because his fate is not to be forgotten.
Featured and headphoto © JamesRonin
