Léopoldville :

Une tragédie trop longtemps secrète

The publication of Allan Andrade's indispensable book Leopoldville : A Tragedy Too Long Secret in French is imminent.

The members of Mémoire & Database association were deeply moved by the tragedy that claimed the lives of 763 young men of the 66^th 'Panther' Infantry Division on the evening of 24 December 1944 off the coast of Cherbourg.

We wanted to share with as many people as possible this poignant account of a tragedy that had been kept secret for too long, and which required years of research by the author.

We owe it to the men of the 66^th 'Panther' Infantry Division and their families.

Come and share the emotions induced by this tragedy and tell others about it so that their memory lives on.​ 

Who were they??

Portraits - Volume 1

An improved version of Volume 1, featuring some forty bilingual portraits of American soldiers who died on French soil fighting for our freedom, is about to be reissued.

You will soon be able to buy it in the shop on the association's website:

https://www.database-memoire.eu/bouticshop/en/

Discovering the path of these young men and women who sacrificed everything for us will help keep their memory alive.

The members of the Mémoire & Database association are saddened to learn of the passing of Vincent J. SPERANZA, veteran of the 101st AB, 501st PIR, who had fought at Bastogne.

Vince had entrusted us with the translation in French and the commercialisation of his biography, NUTS! This project was made possible thanks to the Amitiés Franco-Américaine Men of D-Day association, represented by Mitch Quiles.
We will remember the good times we had together when you came to Normandy, Dear Vince.

We will never forget you.

Meeting with Major William CARRAWAY, historian of the National Guard of Georgia and Major NICHOLS.

Sunday, July 16, 2023, Brittany American Cemetery.

48^th Inf Bde Georgia Army National Guard

We had the great honour of meeting Major William CARRAWAY, commanding officer of the 161st Military History Detachment of the Georgia Army National Guard, and Major Daniel NICHOLS, programme manager of the National Guard. After a historic tour passing through Utah Beach, La Haye-du-Puits, Normandy American Cemetery, Saint-Malo, Dinard, Saint-Briac, Brest, Crozon, Saint-James, Mortain and Saint-Lô, they came to pay their respects at three graves of soldiers from the State of Georgia, more precisely from the 121st Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division: Pfc. William GREY, Pvt. Elbert GRIFFIN and Pvt. John TAGGART, as well as Pfc. Ernest PRUSSMAN of the 13th Infantry Regiment, 8th Infantry Division.

Major NICHOLS had already been here in 2019 and had followed the same route, taking part in our October ceremony at the Brittany American Cemetery, at the request of Major CARRAWAY.

This Franco-American friendship was born thanks to a friend from Georgia, Bill Woofer CRANE, who wanted to tell Major CARRAWAY about our actions so that all these unknown heroes would not be forgotten. During this meeting, they were delighted to receive Volumes 1 and 2 of the Portraits produced and published by the Mémoire & Database association, especially as two soldiers from the 8th Division of Georgia are mentioned.

Thank you to Serge and my wife Céline for the photos.

Jean-François PELLOUAIS - Member of the Mémoire & Database Research group

79^th Anniversary of D-Day - 2023

Reunion with Vince J. SPERANZA

Signing session with Vince at the Normandy Victory Museum in Catz.

The association would like to thank the staff of the Museum
for their welcome.

Source : M&D

The association offered the Chief of Staff of the United States Armies, General Mark A. MILLEY, a copy
of our book: Portraits Volume 2 during the AVA meal at Sainte-Mère-Eglise.

Source : Thierry Leleu

Source : M&D

The association was present at the Book Salon at Tilly sur Seulles, organised by Tilly 1944, a big thank
you for their welcome.

Mémorial Day 2023

The association participated in the 100th Anniversary of the ABMC on March 4, 2023.

Placing candles on all the crosses with the staff of the Colleville/Mer cemetery

 Source : Thomas Bernard

Thanks to the work done by Maximilien, member of the portrait creators team on our site, the "US Normandie" and "Mémoire & Database" associations were able to welcome, during the the weekend

of September 10-11, 2022, La Rae Muller, daughter of Sanford M FRANK of company C of the 507 PIR - 82nd Airborne who died on June 12, 1944 at La Fière.

Visit of La Fière guided by Eric LABOURDETTE (President of the US Normandy association)

 A new logo designed by Romain

Vincent J. Speranza's biography, "Nuts!", still available in our store

Cérémonie au Cimetière Normandy de Colleville/Mer.

Link to Nuts! Page

The association was invited to this ceremony and was able to lay a wreath.

Portrait of William J McGOWAN

Private signing session with Vince in Carentan during the 78th.

4th June 2022- Sainte-Mère-Eglise

Signing session of Vincent J. SPERANZA's biography, NUTS!, in

English or in French, in collaboration with Marion van Hellemond and Marco Kilian.

The members of the association Mémoire & Database,

publisher of the French version, were present: Fredo Lav, our

president who did the page layout - Romain Vattier who

worked on the cover and Nathalie Varniere who translated

Vincent's biography.

Source : Romain Vattier

The site will evolve, thanks to the work of our webmaster Renaud