This was a hero: French WWII resistance hero Raymond Aubrac dies aged 97

[cali]

One of the leading figures of the French resistance against the Nazis, Raymond Aubrac, has died aged 97, his family says.

His daughter said he had died at Val de Grace military hospital in Paris on Tuesday evening.

Raymond Aubrac and his late wife Lucie became important members of Jean Moulin's underground Resistance movement in 1942.

Aubrac was arrested in June 1943 with Moulin, who died after torture.

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http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17674554

RIP, Monsieur Aubrac.

[Are_grits_groceries]

1. He is a true hero!

Those in The Resistance were some of the bravest and gutsiest people ever. Many women were also part of this group. They made a real difference.

'Fair winds and following seas' Monsieur Aubrec. You have earned a peaceful voyage and a gentle eternal rest.

[DFW]

2. I lost a friend a few years ago who was one of those guys

He had Dutch ancestry, and was as blond as he could be, although he never spoke anything but French. The Nazis never suspected a 14 year old blond kid could ever be any threat, but while he was in school by day, he was firing machine guns at the Nazi occupiers at night.

Ironically what finally killed him was sidestream smoke in the small travel agency he operated in later life. Though he never smoked, everyone in that small office did, including his wife, and from a robust 70, he withered away, eaten alive by lung cancer at age 72. One of the best friends I ever had, despite the age difference.

[cali]

3. What a brave, fascinating friend you had.

So sorry about how he died, but glad he made it through his Resistance work.

[DFW]

6. He was pretty much fearless

He had made friends with some members of the Belgian resistance, and I still hang with the Belgian grandson
when I'm in Brussels (like today!).

The father later joined the Belgian air force, took up gliders as a hobby, and was killed 20 years ago when his glider
crashed 6000 feet up in the mountains of southern France. They sort of adopted me into their circle 30 years ago
as a young American oddity, since I spoke French, which most of my contemporary colleagues do/did not.

[Ken Burch]

4. An inspiring person

I post this song in his honor...because he must truly have lived its words:

&feature=related

(the singing begins about a minute into the clip, if you don't want to listen to the intro...)

[cali]

7. That was so beautiful

thanks for posting it, Ken.

[Ken Burch]

8. you're welcome

n/t.

[DiverDave]

5. Those men (and this one) were TRUE heroes

The will and the courage to look at death, daily, are an inspiration to me.
My kids know of the sacrifices that he, and their own grandfather and gran-uncle
(My youngest son is middle named after him, he was killed in France)
My wife's mother just said that "Benny was a good boy"
I have had the box set of 'the Band of Brothers', and will get it again.
I don't want my kids to forget why Ben died so far from home.

[Vidar]

9. RIP, M. Aubrac.