Personal Narrative Manuscript/Mixed Material Photo, Print, Drawing Software, E-Resource Audio Recording Rene J. Defourneaux Collection
Veterans History Project Service Summary:
- War or Conflict: World War, 1939-1945; Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: OSS-CIC
- Location of Service: European Theater; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Major
- Collection Number: AFC/2001/001/3357
He was born in France and emigrated to the U.S. just before World War II broke out in Europe. René Défourneaux wound up back in France when the OSS recruited him for his language skills. He found working with his old countrymen surprisingly difficult; they seemed to resent the Americans who came to save them from the Nazis. Late in the war, Défourneaux parachuted into the China-Burma-India Theater, where he almost died from a severe case of hepatitis and met a rising political leader named Ho Chi Minh.
Rene J. Defourneaux Collection
Interview / Recording
Transcript
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PlayAfter Pearl Harbor, most of Defourneaux's friends and co-workers enlisted, and he was all alone. 00:01:48.0 - 00:02:26.6
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PlayAbout to depart for the invasion of North Africa, but selected for intelligence work because he was a French native. 00:04:03.0 - 00:04:28.6
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PlayIn Londonderry, Northern Ireland, offered the chance for clandestine service in France. 00:05:06.4 - 00:05:33.7
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PlayPart of a group sent to the British Special Operations Executive (SOE) for assessment. 00:05:41.1 - 00:06:52.1
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PlayDropped in the wrong place, Defourneaux was able to join up with the Maquis-French guerrilla fighters. 00:08:10.0 - 00:08:56.6
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PlayFound the French to be resentful of the Americans, even though he was risking his life for them. 00:16:54.1 - 00:18:02.3
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PlayDid not make friends with the French he operated with in Southeast Asia. 00:18:14.0 - 00:18:47.1
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PlayWhile working in Vietnam under an assumed name, his dealings with Ho Chi Min. 00:19:35.1 - 00:21:05.3
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About this Item
Title
- Rene J. Defourneaux Collection
Names
- Lugar, Richard
- U.S. Senate/Richard Lugar
- Doud, Mark D.
- Defourneaux, Rene J.
Home State
- Indiana
Headings
- - Defourneaux, Rene J.
- - World War, 1939-1945 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
- - Korean War, 1950-1953 -- Personal Narratives
- - United States. Army.
Repository
- Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Gender
- Male
Status
- veteran
Service History
-
World War, 1939-1945
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: OSS-CIC
- Location of Service: European Theater; Pacific Theater
- Highest Rank: Major
- Dates of Service: 1943-1965
- Military Status: veteran
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Korean War, 1950-1953
- Branch of Service: Army
- Unit of Service: OSS-CIC
- Highest Rank: Major
- Dates of Service: 1943-1965
- Military Status: veteran
Materials
- Manuscript: Transcript [1 item] -- Transcription of audio recording (collected 2009-07-24)
- Computer File: Floppy Disk [1 item] -- Electronic file of manuscript (collected 2009-07-24; 2009-07-24)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2006-03-06; 2006-03-06)
- Audio: CD [1 item] -- Reference copy (collected 2007-11-07; 2007-11-07)
- Manuscript: Book [1 item] -- (collected 1997)
- Audio: Audio Cassette [1 item] -- Oral history interview (collected 2002-12-12)
- Photograph: Original photographic print [2 items] -- (collected unknown)
Collection Number
- AFC/2001/001/3357
Cite as
- Rene J. Defourneaux Collection (AFC/2001/001/3357), Veterans History Project, American Folklife Center, Library of Congress
Online Format
- audio
- image
- online text