VJ Day/Paris and Nice

VJ Day Parade, Paris

Soon, about four of us, were on our way. We boarded a civilian train for Paris with Army tickets and our adventure began. A conductor came down the aisle announcing that lunch was being served in the dinning car. I guess we had been told not to eat in non-military places but ever the pusher of boundaries, I asked him if we could eat there. He replied "Mais oui, Mousier" and personally escorted us to the car and seated us, making us feel very welcome. The lunch was great, at least for us, and we started off on a high note, little realizing that tomorrow would be the day of century. When we arrived in Paris, we were assigned to an Army billet for transients and scheduled to leave for Nice in the morning. The next day the Japanese surrender was announced, it was VJ day and Paris, like other cities in the free world, went mad. What a place to be on this momentous day!!!

That glorious night we went to huge dance hall that was regularly used for GI entertainment. It was filled to the gills with hilariously happy GIs and their French friends, mostly female of course. While food was available, cases of champagne were constantly being delivered; in some cases donated by grateful Frenchmen, I'm sure. Dancing was almost impossible and just an excuse to hug and kiss a girl, and the noise almost ear splitting. I would be happy to describe this unique experience in more detail but, for some strange reason, I can't seem to remember the details.

Nice

Rest and Recreation, Nice

After very little sleep, somehow we dragged ourselves out of bed and went down to the train station the next day (I think but wouldn't swear on it) for our transportation to Nice and, ah, what a beautiful sight that was for our sore eyes. This time I have to give the Army real credit! They really did it right. Upon arrival, we were given hot showers and new clothing and then off to one of the plush pre-war hotels taken over temporarily for us. We were assigned to the Negressco, a famous old and stately hotel right on the beach but then moved to the Adriatic, less regal but perfectly fine. All the hotels maintained their own staff, including chefs, but the Army supplied most of the food and oh, what the French could do with it as we soon learned to our delight and which made me a lover of French food and wine for life. There was, of course, no charge for room and meals. However, there was also a plentiful supply of bars, cafes, bistros and the like. Both as a guide for GIs and to prevent them from being exploited, all such establishments were placed in one of four categories with prices controlled accordingly. This was very helpful.

On the beach in Nice

Besides enjoying the beach and sightseeing, I had two memorable and pleasant experiences there. My high school buddy was a Christian Scientist and I had become interested in their teachings (the old slogan that their were no atheists in war was pretty accurate). While in Nice, I visited a Christian Science practitioner and after a pleasant and helpful talk she invited me to join her on a bus trip to Grasse (famous for its perfumes) up in the mountains with a glorious view of the Riviera. She also mentioned bringing along a young lady for my company, which seemed fine to me. Away we went the next day and the Mademoiselle was indeed very attractive, young and gracious. How did I get so lucky? After a perilous but beautiful bus ride, we reached our destination, a café with an outdoor patio overlooking the Mediterranean Sea.

Helene

Madame had brought some sandwiches in a bag for lunch and ordered soft drinks. Out came several fresh tomato sandwiches, a gracious gesture as they were in very short supply and only available on the expensive black market. Unfortunately for me, I simple can't eat raw tomatoes - never could and still, to my wife's consternation, never will. But, of course, I couldn't refuse to accept her gift. So with a smile on my face and a groan in my gut, I ate a sandwich smiling all the way. She was so pleased that she insisted I have another one. What can you do? (Reminds me of many years later when I was a Foreign Service Officer in Jordan, as guest of honor at a Sheik's feast in the desert I was obliged to eat the eyes of a camel whose meat we were eating. I got through that ordeal by envisioning the American flag being run up a flagpole.)

Well, good deeds sometimes pay off. I asked the young lady out the next night but was careful where we went because my finances were very limited. We danced a bit and enjoyed ourselves. She mentioned having a girl friend that was dating a Sergeant whom worked in a ritzy hotel (being used by the Army) with a great band up on a hill overlooking the city. She suggested we go there with her to dance while waiting for her boyfriend until he got off duty when the outdoor dance floor closed down and the soldiers and others departed. It was one of the most romantic evenings of my life. The orchestra and patrons left at about 11pm. as the lights went out. The dance floor, however, was flooded with the natural light of a glorious full moon and the four of us (the Sergeant joined us) were completely alone. I invited her to continue dancing and sung softly into her ear, primarily to provide us with some rhythm and it worked superbly. I had a pretty good voice in those days. It was like a Hollywood movie. When it was time to go, I escorted them both to the place they were living. We sat on the stairs and talked until almost sunrise. I never saw or heard from her again, but it is still a sweet, lovely and innocent memory. She wrote on a picture she gave me "To my American friend". Nice and I don't mean the city, although that was plenty nice too.

Helene

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