The daily monitor leader. [volume] (Mount Clemens, Mich.) 1942-19??, 1945-04-03
French Troops Here Have
Bitter knowledge Of Hun

- VSU uAuu~" ~
Capt. Francois Serralta, from
Sidi- Bel-Abbes. Algeria, French
North Africa, headquarters of
the famed French Foreign Le-
gion, is the 27-year-old veteran
of the fighting in World War II
who commands the French Avi-
alton Trainees now stationed at
Selfridge Field to complete their
training as aerial combat crews
on medium bombers.
This young soldier Of France,
with a colorful educational and
service background, has travel
ed thousands of miles from his
native country to aid in impart-
ing to his fighting countrymen
the exacting requisites of mill
tary discipline and aviation
training.
PERSONAL SUFFERING
He is. too, a pivotal force In
the inspiration of the even
younger men under his COM
mand, for his is the task of be-
ing father and guiding light to
trainees in his unit whose ages
range from 10 TO % years.
Many of his men have lost
both parents, brothers and Sis
tiers, and all worldly possessions
as a result of the German occu-
patton of France. Most have
only the spark of freedom and
democracy inherent in almost
all people of France left. How
ever, in the words of the. Cap
tain, Our men may not have
too much materially at this
time, but I can assure you that
when their training is complet-
ed here at Selfridge Field they
will have the combination of
practical and spiritual forces
which can only bring great
praise to them and the Ameri-
cans who participated in their
training as medium lombard
ment combat crewmen."
Capt. Serralta will tell any,
one within hearing distance, in
his French accented English
speech, that our own Deanna
Durbin of Hollywood is the
"Godmother" of his commission.
The usual American reaction to
this would likely be a perking
of the ears and an inquisitively
Huh" He will con-
tinue and say, eyes, this is So
DURBIN SALUTE
"One day in Salon Province,
France, where the Air School of
France was located" he will re-
late, Il saw a knockout picture
of Deanna Durbin being exhibit
ed at local thcater. ! made up
my mind that was for me. I pre-
sented myself TO the manager Of
the theater and asked for the
picture. He was quick TO explain
that the print belonged to the
picture exchange firm
which had rented him the film.
81 was almost as fast in reply
ing that Deanna Durbin was the
"Godmother' of our class to be
commissioned at the nearby
school and we had to have the
picture. The manager. a little
bewildered, repeated "Godmoth-
err" several times and then as
If hypnotized, called an usher
who removed the picture and
presented it TO me-"
Later" Captain Serralta
goes on to say. "A French rep
resentative of Universal Pic
lures, under whom Deanna Dur
bin is contracted. visited the
school. He wanted details about
Deanna being the 'Godmother'. I
barred the true facts. The climax
Of the story is that through ur-
gent wires to Hollywood, Dean
ma Durbin a week later actually
gave her personal consent to be-
coming the 'Godmother' Of our
class and we later received spe-
cial gifts from the star sent from
Hollywood"
LOST LEG IN BATTLE
The human appeal and good
nature OF Captain Serralta, ed
ucated in the elementary
schools Of French Morocco and
High school and college level
schools of France, would never
reveal that he is without a leg
as a result of combat action
over North Africa in 1912, nor
that his mind harbors the tragic
stories of thousands Of his coun-
trymen.
"Ours Is a mission to aid In
an honorable and complete vic
tory OF the Allies and the restor-
alton Of France" said Captain
nh ~