Freedom fighters meet years later
as art lovers

As many young people of his age during World War II, Pierre Vallon wanted to help his country. Unwilling to see his Fatherland occupied by the Germans, he became a member of the French Resistance, in spite of his youth and incurred risks. First, he distributed pamphlets, participated in the recovery of all weapons of the sector; then he escorted allies and personalities toward the free zone.

Near Vallon’s native village, in the forest, in Montrésor in Touraine, was where he and his group would meet young American allies with whom they shared food, information and friendship, and grieved about the violence of battles and tragic outcomes for some.  Vallon remembered fondly this fraternizing between "underground fighters" and those Americans who came from the sky and sea.

About 50 years later, the exclusive Castle of Artigny, in Monts in Touraine, dedicated an exceptional art exhibition to Vallon’s paintings. While visiting the area, George Schneider, an American from Pennsylvania was with a friend who was a collector of Impressionist paintings. They admired a painting in a nearby restaurant. The restaurant’s chef explained that the artist lived nearby and took Schneider and his friend to meet Vallon.

After they were introduced, they discovered that they both Schneider and Vallon has worked with the French Resistance and fought against German occupation. Schneider had been an American Soldier in World War II. He had landed on Omaha Beach, fought his way across France to liberate The Netherlands and then fought in the fearsome Battle of the Bulge.   

From then on, they became fast friends. Schneider visited Vallon several times in France, and Vallon took Schneider on location to see where he had created some of his paintings.

Vallon never forgot the courage and valor of the American soldiers and the friendship that had been forged between them. Meeting Schneider was a meaningful reminder of how important the courageous Americans had been to France and how much he appreciated their friendship.

To avoid retaliation toward their families, the resistance fighters had identification with incorrect names, birth years and professions.

Below is the true identification card in the name of Pierre Vallon, along with the incorrect identification in the name of Jean-Pierre Robin, which was Vallon’s alias.

BACK