Robert Whiting, an elderly gentleman of 82, after arriving in France had to take a few minutes to locate his passport in his carry on bag. “You have been to France before Monsieur?” the customs officer asked sarcastically.
Mr Whiting admitted that he had been to France one time previously. “Then you should know enough to have your passport ready.” answered the customs officer. To this Mr Whiting informed the official that he didn’t have to show a passport on his previous visit. To this he official answered “Impossible, Americans always have to show their passport on arrival in France!”
The American gave the Frenchman a long hard look. Then he quietly explained, “Well, when I came ashore at Omaha Beach on D Day in 1944 to help liberate this country, I couldn’t find a single Frenchman to show a passport to!
This is another classic example of a distinguished Old Warrior who should be honored for his service and respected for the hardships that he had to endure to guarantee the freedom of others. We are always more than happy to meet and greet these distinguished warriors when they come in to inquire about our service rings.
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November 16th, 2009 - 12:48 pm
this story is a good assessment of worldwide sentiment about the US…so many don’t see the contributions that our veterans have made…even here in this country…lets stop throwing money at everybodies problems and start solving our own…http://www.militaryringexpress.com
February 16th, 2011 - 10:43 pm
I would comment that I have been to France several times. My observation, at least in regard to the veterans of World War II and the Great War, the people France have the utmost respect and care for those men and women that served and for the many that remain. Visit the Normandy American Cemetery and Memoria near St. Laurent-sur-Mer.