Veteran to recount war story that earned France's 'merci'
Just ahead of Veterans Day, June and Bernie Rader will show a video at the JCC and give their personal account of the only POW exchange between the Allied Forces and the Germans in World War II.
by Elaine Durbach
NJJN Bureau Chief/Central
The days of "freedom fries" are over, it seems, as a Long Island couple will explain at a presentation in Scotch Plains.
French President Nicolas Sarkozy will be in Washington this month to continue his effort to revive the glory days of Franco-American brotherhood. On Nov. 5, just ahead of Veterans Day on Nov. 11, he will present Legion of Honor medals to seven American veterans who fought in France during World War II.
Bernie Rader is astonished to find himself in that group, but his link to France is a historic one. He and 148 other U.S. and British soldiers were involved in the only prisoner of war exchange between the Allies and the Germans during the war.
Yann Battesort, a spokesman for the Consulate General of France in New York City, said that Rader and the other six veterans from around the United States were chosen to receive the Legion of Honor, France's highest civil and military award, for the "outstanding service" they rendered in the effort to liberate France and the rest of Europe. Over the years, the award has been given to several thousand people from around the world for their achievements, among them astronaut Neil Armstrong, President Ronald Reagan, Gen. Norman Schwarzkopf, and movie director Martin Scorsese.
"Despite their age, Rader and these other veterans have an amazingly clear recollection of what happened in France in 1944, but they didn't realize that they were heroes," Battesort said.
Rader and his wife, June, received news of the medal and the invitation to come to Washington about three weeks ago. The couple was thrilled.
"I said, 'I think we can manage,'" laughed June Rader, speaking by phone from their home in Freeport, NY.
On Sunday, Nov. 4, just before heading to Washington for the ceremony, Bernie Rader will recount the harrowing adventure that led to his receiving the honor. He and his wife will show a documentary, For One English Officer, and answer questions about his experience at the Jewish Community Center of Central New Jersey at 10:30 a.m. The Raders talk is being cosponsored by Temple Emanu'El of Westfield.
The Raders have given their presentation on the POW exchange about 60 times at JCCs, libraries, and other venues throughout the region, working together since a stroke nine years ago left him with aphasia, a language impairment that can make it difficult to speak.
Michele Dreiblatt, the JCC's director of cultural arts and education, said she drew on a personal connection to persuade the Raders to come to the JCC. She grew up in Freeport and has known the couple all her life.
In October 1944, Bernie Rader was part of a platoon from the 94th Infantry ambushed in France by the Germans and taken prisoner. He and the four or five other Jews in the group hastily buried their dog tags to avoid an even worse fate. They were held captive in Brittany, on Ile de Groix. Though not mistreated in any other way, they had almost no rations. Local residents did all they could to smuggle food to them, but the men were close to starvation.
At last, the Red Cross was allowed to bring in some food and provisions such as cigarettes and candy. The Red Cross volunteer dealing with them, Andrew Gerow Hodges, put it to the Germans that rather than having to look after their prisoners Ñ while the Allies looked after their captives Ñ they should have an exchange.
"He was an extraordinary person and a wonderful, wonderful negotiator," June Rader said.
After much haggling about the rank and condition of those to be handed over, a six-hour cease-fire was called and the transfer began, one boatload at a time. The ordeal had lasted 47 days, but given the harsh conditions of their captivity, that exchange might well have saved their lives.
Rader didn't meet the man responsible for his rescue until 58 years had passed. He and June were invited to a gathering at Hodges' Birmingham, Ala., home in 2002. He and the other veterans present were interviewed for the documentary about the POW exchange. They went on to become close friends with Hodges until his death two years ago.
The documentary has been broadcasted on PBS stations all over the country, although not in the New York area. To fill that gap and to honor Hodges' memory, the Raders have taken their show on the road, so to speak.
Aside from shrapnel Ñ fragments of which still emerge from his skin now and then Ñ Rader, a retired chartered public accountant, has a very happy connection with Ile de Groix, and that is what brought him to the attention of the French government, his wife said.
He spearheaded an effort by members of his platoon to raise the money to erect a plaque in the town to thank its citizens for helping the POWs. It reads, "To the people of Ile de Groix, who had so little themselves yet gave so much to us."
The Raders have also helped arrange for the translation and distribution of a storybook written and illustrated by children from the town, and they are organizing a possible sister-city link between Freeport and Groix.
Next year, Groix plans to hold an exhibition about the POWs in Brittany and has invited those still alive and their families to come to the dedication. The Raders intend to go for what will be their third return visit to the island community.
But in the meantime, they have the more imminent prospect Ñ following their visit to Scotch Plains Ñ of the visit to Washington as guests of the French government.
If you go
What: For One English Officer,Êa documentary about a World War II POW swap that eventually rescued 149 Allied soldiers and airmen
Who: Bernie Rader, one of the rescued prisoners, and his wife, June
When: Sunday, Nov. 4, 10:30 a.m.
Where: Jewish Community Center of Central New Jersey, Scotch Plains
The cost of the program is $5, $3 for JCC members. Proceeds will be donated to the American Red Cross.ÊFor more information, contact Michele Dreiblatt or 908-889-8800, ext. 205, or visit the JCC web site.
©2007 New Jersey Jewish News