My father was in the U.S. Army for many years, he retired as a Master Sargeant, the highest ranking he could obtain without going back to school.
Through the years my father was assigned to many different positions (mainly finance, accounting, and instructing), and he was stationed in many distant locations. I worried myself crazy while my father did his time in Viet Nam. I remember the smell of mustiness from his clothes and duffel bags each time he came home on leave from that incredible place. I was glad to have him within my sight at those moments, despite knowing that he had to quickly return. There were also tours of Korea and Germany that he filled, time away from the family.
I, as part of a military family, moved about quite a bit. I will be writing more stories on that happiness later. It truly was an enjoyable life, except for the frequent pulling up of the roots.
I recently discovered the location of one of my father’s assignments, though, and I am thrilled.
My father was a grouchy man, as much as I dislike admitting it in public. I honor him as a person. He was a good man. But he was not an openly supportive father.
We were stationed in France for several years, when I was 5 and 6 years old. For many years I did not know exactly where we were stationed. I could visualize, nearly pin-point, the area on a map, south and west of Paris, but there was no way for me to know the exact location.
On several occasions I asked my father exactly where did we live in France. His response was jumbled and mumbled, “LaGrandes.” My father was sharp as a tack, he did more than just serve our country (even after his retirement from the U.S. Army). But I never did dare ask him additional questions. He was proud, however, of the fact that I was able to travel to various places as a child. He often said to me, and it was a loving thought, “How many children are lucky enough to say they got to live in France?”
A few weeks ago I sat down at the computer, mind you, I had done this many times before. I decided to do one more Google search. Instead of looking for “LaGrandes” I decided to look at the map, and then I looked for U.S. military bases located in France in the early 1960’s.
Oh my gosh. I immediately saw search results: Ingrandes Depot and Lafayette Village. To say the least, I shed some tears. I saw aerial photos here, and actually, after nearly 50 years, recognized the layout of the roads.
I am continuing my memories, my writing of them, at this point. I have a lot to say, even as a young child the memories of buying French loaves of bread, visiting château’s on school field trips, seeing French gypsies in covered wagons, and tasting and smelling all of the French cuisine and luxurious goods, left a huge impression.
My parents might have been poor, I cannot imagine how they must have felt at 26 and 24 years old in a foreign country on a very minimal salary. But it had to have been fun!
God bless my father for taking his children there. Yes, dad, I was (and am) lucky!
His Pasture Press 
Both of my Grandpa’s were in the service and so was my Great Uncle. My Dad’s mom gets help through the Veteran’s Administration when she first went into the Assisted Living and we’ve been trying to get the same type of pension for my Mom’s Mom through the Veteran’s Administration, we’ve filed for it almost a year ago.
Amy
Hi Mary, I also lived in Ingrandes about the same time, and in Lafayette village. We also lived “on the economy” for a while. A great experience. Money was not important. Grade school teachers were great. I was 9, 10, and 11. Our school rooms were in quonsent huts!
I was there too 1963 to 1966 2nd grade to 5th.
Hi Jim.
Would you love to go back and revisit some of it, in that time frame? I have had a handful of people email me that they, too, were there.
Interesting…and 50-something years ago there was not a way, as we now have, to reach out and say, “I was there.”
Hi,
Jimmy, Don’t know if you remember me… but we use to play together…. My name is Ralph Manning… Have thought about you over the years….
I also reached out to Jim to let him know you replied to his comment. I hope he gets the message and responds! Mary
Hi Jim,
The latest comment on my blog is from someone that you might know. Please take a look and reply (when you have the time).
Thanks,
Mary
I too was there from approximately 1960 until 1964 when at age of 7 we shipped back to the United States. I also remember living in house right on the square (until housing became available in Lafayette Village). I remember gypsies arriving in wagons and setting up camp in square in front of house. And local woman living next door telling my brothers and I to stay away from gypsies or they would steal us away from our Mom and Dad. And bakery around corner that sold the wonderful loaves of bread. I have faint memories of enjoying school and the French lessons. And a French family friend, Maurice, taking us to the taverns and getting us some type of cherry syruppy drink that was delicious.
I too was there from approximately 1960 until 1964 when at age of 7 we shipped back to the United States. I also remember living in house right on the square (until housing became available in Lafayette Village). I remember gypsies arriving in wagons and setting up camp in square in front of house. And local woman living next door telling my brothers and I to stay away from gypsies or they would steal us away from our Mom and Dad. And bakery around corner that sold the wonderful loaves of bread. I have faint memories of enjoying school and the French lessons. And a French family friend, Maurice, taking us to the taverns and getting us some type of cherry syrupy drink that was delicious.
Hello Steve. I love hearing from other people that were children during the same time frame that we lived in France. For us to remember our experiences so clearly, it must have been a wonderful time for us. I know it was.
Even though we were told to stay away from the gypsies, and I did, I still had to take sneak peeks at them. It is difficult for people to fathom what we experienced, in the stories that we tell, nearly like something out of a movie.
Thank you for your comments…and where do you live now?
Pflugerville, Texas here.
Southport, NC
Mary, before we moved to Lafayette Village, we lived in Bellejouanne (American Housing) in Poitiers and attended Poitiers American Elementary School. At Bellejouanne the Gypsy kids used to come up and go through our garbage cans on garbage collection day. They would eat right out of the cans. I remember them feasting on our discarded pancakes. From Potiiers, when my Dad was reassigned to Ingrandes, we moved out on the economy in Chatellerault while waiting for quarters at Lafayette Village. The French kids in our neighborhood used to go down to the Vienne River to bath every Wednesday. Today that place is called Chemin de la Baignade (swimming trail).
Joe, Thank you for this information. I believe we lived in Poitiers before we went to Lafayette Village. This is so interesting. I will be doing a Google search on all of this, and will be following up with you (and anyone else in this conversation). It is fascinating. Thanks, Mary
I was stationed at the Ingrandes Depot with the 514th FM from 1962 to Dec 1963.If I remember correctly there was a Sgt Humphreys in my company. One of my sons was born at the Chinon Hospital on April 1963. My friend Ralph Palmer was stationed there also.
My dad was stationed at ingrandes from 1962-1965. I was in the 6,7, and 8th grade. My best friends were billy munch, Claude Harrell, Gordon Snyder, and Jim Hayes. My last girlfriend was Debbie Palmer. Her father was the deputy commander of the army depot. My dad was an E-5 and warned me not to be messing around with LTC palmers daughter. My name is richard( lucky) Carter. If anyone removers me from those years, please contact me at sgtcarter@icloud.co.
Good to “meet” you, Lucky. I hope you find some of your past connections through your post!
Lucky, you were one year ahead of me at Ingrandes. I went to the 5th and 6th grades there in 62-63 and 63-64. Do you remember George Hill from your class? He was a year older than me. When you attended 7th and 8th grades, did you have to commute to Poitiers? I dont remember there being a middle school at Ingrandes. Your comment about “messing around” with officers’ daughters made me smile. We transferred from Ingrandes to Fort Rucker, AL where all the helicopter pilots for Vietnam were trained. There were loads of officers and almost no NCO’s there, so I spent my Jr. High and High School years with officers’ kids and the general rules were necessarily suspended. It was a different army brat experience and I really blossomed there. Joe Garrett
I was stationed with my father there from ’59 until ’62. We were on the economy until they finished Lafayette village. We moved into the house and a week or two later the water tank collapsed and they had to run a pipe line from the depot until they fixed it. I went from 1st thru 4th grade at the base school. I even remember my first eclipse out on the play ground one day. My father retired in ’64
Wonderful. I love hearing from people that were stationed there. You were there a couple of years before us. I had forgotten that playground until you mentioned it! I remember a day when a cake was served at school, a holiday of some sort, with a small surprise baked into it. The child that received the surprise in their piece wore a crown for that day. I remember being on the playground wearing that crown. I think we have special memories, living where we did, attending the base school, and I love it that we have shared them here.
I lived in Lafayette Village from approximately 1960-1963. We lived in what was called “little circle.” I had a classmate whose last name was Wall. (I forget her first name.) Anyway, she lived in “big circle,” and since I didn’t have a bicycle, her mother made her share her bike with me. I don’t think she was too happy about that, but we’d take turns riding around big circle. I went to school on base. My first grade teacher was Miss Maggio, my second grade teacher was Miss Jillson, and my third grade teacher was Miss Whittaker. We lived next to the Smiths. I still remember their names: Buster, Ronnie, Linda, Erna, Zelma, and Suzie. There was a woods not too far from us, and we didn’t go in it very often because the older kids told us that a one-eyed monster lived there. Other kids’ names I remember are Dannie Blessington, Charles O’Conner, Debbie Stacey, Marie Bryant, Teresa Daily,and Michael Hulbert. Did anyone know me then? My name is Mary Applegate, and my brothers were Robert (Bob) and David.
Mary, you have a fantastic memory! I now remember the circles. The woods – I did not stay out of them, even though I was warned to do so. Do you recall a Bailey family? They were our neighbors in the village, the next building over.
I have always had difficulty with remembering names. I have fond and vivid memories of our overseas experience, though. Such a blessing for all if us to have been there.
Hopefully, some of the other commenters will recognize the names that you have recalled in your comments.
Hi Mary,
Sorry, I don’t recall the Baileys. Also, I didn’t know there was another building. I was only familiar with little circle and big circle, and I guess I thought that was the whole village. I do remember riding a bus to school. On the playground were a set of swings, a slide, and a game called tetherball. I grew to love that game because my older brother tricked me into playing it by promising to push me on the swings AFTER we played. Needless to say, he arranged things so that we never had time for the swings as in, “Oh sorry, is it time to swing? Gosh, there’s the bell for school.” After many months (I was six and slow), I caught on, but by that time I was hooked on tetherball and was probably the only girl who played. I remember riding home on the school bus, and French kids running alongside shouting “chewing gum?” and “cigarettes?” Clearly, we seemed rich to them because they were so poor. I remember wondering why they thought we would have cigarettes as many of us were so young; however, they were also young.
I have to say it’s so good to communicate with someone who was actually there. We didn’t keep in touch with anyone from those years, and my family has been gone for some time now. For most of my life, I felt like this part of my childhood had disappeared in thin air because there was no one with whom I could talk to about these memories and places who would even have an inkling of what it was like, of what I was trying to say about it, of all the bits and pieces that fit together like a puzzle to make a childhood. Thank you for “listening.”
Best,
Mary
I get what you are saying. My parents have passed on. My sister is 12 years youner than me. My brother was a baby at the time. It is a chunk of my own history and memories that cannot be shared so easily (ans understood) — and here we — sharing! Thank you.
I lived in Ingrandes between 1961 and 64. I was there for preschool and kindergarten. My mom sent me to a little French preschool maybe in Chatellerault? I am on vacation now and looking for anything I remember. We lived in LaFayette Village. Anyone else recall a preschool?
Hello Ellen, I do not remember a pre-school, but I only attended Kindergarten and 1st grade on base. I am in awe of how we have connected (where we were) after all of these years!
Hi, Ellen. I lived in Lafayette Village for the 1963-64 school year. I remember SFC Green and his family; is that your Dad?. I have been racking my brain trying to remember the boys’ names. One of them was in the 4th grade with my sister at Ingrandes.
Joe Garrett
Also, Mary, my parents had friends, Bill and Wanda Bailey, who’s boys, Jeff and Bill, were in my class!
Billy was my best friend! I remember him so clearly. I remember his family, but I am slightly fuzzy on them, except I do recognize the parent’s names. Thanks to you! Amazing! The pieces are fitting together for me, how about you? I hope they do.
Ellen Green, Sorry, I don’t recognize your name. I also don’t remember a pre-school, but I do remember a French school that my younger brother and I attended for a couple months when I was in first grade. It was a Catholic school with very strict French nuns. All the students had little blackboards and chalk where we wrote our notes.
Sometimes we wrote in a notebook called “le petite cahier,” I think. We had really long lunch hours where we went home but then we came back until maybe 6:00 at night. I think we had either Wednesdays or Thursdays off and went to school on Saturdays. We transferred to the school on the American base shortly after, and I was glad for that. I was only 6 or 7. I barely knew English much less French! Once the French nun told us that we needed to bring money for a field trip that afternoon. So I told my mother, and she said to tell the nun “d’argent demain” (money tomorrow) but not to mix it up and say gendarmes demain” (because that means “police tomorrow”). So I practiced saying it again and again on the walk to school, but when I got to my class, I got mixed up and of course said the wrong thing, and the nun jitterbugged all over and started talking very fast in French, saying “ques que se? ” and finally called in the only nun who spoke English. She promptly asked me why the police were coming to school??? When they found out what I was trying to say, everybody laughed. Ok, you had to be there, but it was pretty funny. They looked so scared, those nun like they thought the police were really coming to arrest them.
Bob Zimmerman-I was a medic at the 385th Medical Dispensary from Apr. 1958 until Oct. 1959.I worked in the dental clinic , did the medical lab work, ran the pharmacy for a few months and screened sick call in the treatment room. I bought a Renault 4CV in 1958 and traveled extensively in Europe. . Used to go swimming at La Roche Posay. and dancing at the Cave in Chatellerault. Have many black and white pictures including those of some of our doctors and dentists. My wife and I were back in the area about 40 years ago and saw the post was now an industrial park. At times I wish I were 22 again and could re-live at least some of those days (now 83). Enjoyed the postings. jrzoldstuff@pa.metrocast.net
You had a great time! I am in awe of people that have come to the blog and shared their memories here. Thank you, Robert.
Bob – just discovered your entry on this site. My Dad, then Captain, Francis C Nollette, was stationed there 1954-57 as a Quartermaster officer with multiple duties to include Chief of Class II & IV warehouses, Box & Crate Shop, frequently QM Company Commander or Exec Officer; also official interpreter for Colonels Partridge and Howland. I was there on weekends, as I was attending high school at Chateauroux AFB and lived in the dormitory (graduated in 57). I remember a Dr Taylor (?M.D. or DDS?) plus a Polish Labor Svc dental officer; seem to recall we also had a Veterinarian as well with an enlisted vet tech Walt Bykowski. My Dad and Mom, the Colonels, and Walt have all passed on, but Walt’s wife Mary is still around, retired in Florida and I keep in touch with her often. Also remember Protestant Chaplain Boyd and family and Catholic Chaplain Durkin (sp?). Have lots of photos/slides in a footlocker from those days, Left there to avoid the French draft and ultimately did 30 years in Air Force, retiring as Chief MSGT (E9)
Frank Nollette
Hi
Frank, My Company Commander (Storage Company 7866 AU) was Capt Denzel V. Reed in January 1956. I do not remember Capt Reed or your father Francis Nollette although the name does sounds familiar. Arrived Ingrandes February 1955 a 16 year old PVT E2 (yes I lied about my age to enlist). By April someone signed orders sending me TDY to the 7th Army NCO Academy in Munich April 8, 1955. Finished the 5 week course May 13, 1955 and was back in Ingrandes more than a month before my 17th birthday. I worked in Class I Receiving and Storage warehouses as a clerk for Capt Crawford. Capt Crawford was a nice person and always treated me fairly, he was the only Black officer I remember seeing in Ingrandes. I noticed you were AF retired, I retired from the Army July 1975 as MSG (E8) but had several assignments involving the Air Force, it’s truly a small world. March 1960 I was TDY to 3380th Technical School (ATC) Keesler AFB to attend special radar training (AN/FPS-6 and AN/FPS-20). April 1960 Clark AFB in the Philippines Iono-Tropo Scatter Communication located in Camp O’Donald. Aug 1965-July 1966 Viet Nam 1st Cav Div. The AF had some L-19, C-123 and C-130 located at our little PSP airstrip at An Key, OV-1 Mohawk surveillance aircraft. September 1966-March 1968 White Sands, NM, one lab located on Hollerman AFB. Went FAA Jun 76 to 1996, GM-13. How or why did you become subject to being drafted into the French army? Sounds like you had an interesting youth too.
Your fiend,
Charles Blackwell
I was assigned to Ingrandes in Feb 1955 to the Storage Co 7866 AU as Pvt E-2 . Promoted to SP3 E-4 Jan 1956. Left Ingrandes April 1956. Returned to Ingrandes Feb 1958 and was assigned to 72nd Trans Co. (Lt Trk) with a supply MOS. The 72nd was sent to Lebanon in Jul 58 but I stayed in Ingrandes with the 68th Trans Co(Med Trk) that came from Germany to replace the 72nd. Left Ingrandes in Apr 59. Wife and I visited area again in 2010. Would like to go back again before I get old…….
Charles B.
Bonjour,
je me présente je suis Mr DECOURT Nicolas, syndic de la résidence village la Fayette a Dangé st romain(86). Je suis arrivé sur votre blog par Hazard en fessant de recherche sur l’histoire de notre résidence qui fut le village la Fayette ( résidence américaine de 1959 a 1967) de vos enfances. j’aimerais pouvoir avoir des contacts avec différents membres qui on vécut ici. Nous aimerions avoir des photos et témoignages afin d’aménager un local ( ancien local de pompage d’eau potable) sur le passé du village la fayette et du camp de st Ustre . nous aimerions également pouvoir identifier les familles qui ont vécut ici par pavillon. Vous pouvez me contacter par mail afin de pouvoir échanger et vous faire parvenir des photos du village de nos jours qui a bien changer.En espérant a voir de vos nouvelles cordialement Mr DECOURT nicolas. residencelafayette86@gmail.com
hello,
I am the trustee of the condominium village LAFAYETTE in France and yes c well the American residence of your childhoods. We are looking for testimonials and photos of Americans having lived in our residence before your departure. we would like to trace the past of the residence and create an exhibition in the former premises of the drinking water pumping station. Moreover this one has just been painted by the children to the theme of the Franco-American alliance. Here is my contact information so that you can exchange with you and send you photos of the village LAFAYETTE nowadays. cordially Mr DECOURT . residencelafayette86@gmail.com
I would love to assist you with photographs, but I have none. Hopefully, others that read this post will respond to you with their photographs and can help you trace past residences. This is so very good! Thank you for your comment, Mr. Decourt.
Monsieur DeCourt, my family and I lived at Lafayette Village from summer of 1963 until August of 1964. I can go on Google Earth and tell you the exact address of our house. We lived near the railroad crossing which was manned by a French Family that lived in a house located at the crossing. The railroad crossing is no longer there, but you can easily see where it used to be.
Joe Garrett
I must tell you, Joe. Each comment that flows through this blog touches my heart. I hope you do hear from Monsieur DeCourt. I am watching. Thank you.
hello,
thanks for all this information. In our archives we found the American plans of the construction of the village. We try to trace the life of the residence from 1959 to 1696 and find pictures of these years. Last year we repainted the premises or found the water supply pumps of the houses.The children of the municipality made frescoes about the Franco-American friendship. I’ll check with Chatellerault City Hall to see if they can accommodate American children in their schools.
Mary can give me your email address so that I send you the photos and if you can post them on the blog. Thank you. I attach the email address of the residence in order to exchange and send you photos. cordially. Mr DECOURT
hello,
thanks for all this information. In our archives we found the American plans of the construction of the village. We try to trace the life of the residence from 1959 to 1696 and find pictures of these years. Last year we repainted the premises or found the water supply pumps of the houses.The children of the municipality made frescoes about the Franco-American friendship. I’ll check with Chatellerault City Hall to see if they can accommodate American children in their schools.
Mary can give me your email address so that I send you the photos and if you can post them on the blog. Thank you. I attach the email address of the residence in order to exchange and send you photos. cordially. Mr DECOURT
Mr DeCourt, Please email me at maryhumphrey@live.com. I will post the photos that you have on the blog. The prior links that I had on the blog for photos no longer work and I will be trying to determine where those photos were moved to. Thank you so very much, Mary
residencelafayette86@gmail.com
I think my father was at the same base around 1964-1966. I’m not exactly sure on dates. I’m trying to piece together some information.
Tonya, I hope you find what you are looking for. I am amazed at how many people have read and commented on this blog. When I wrote it, I had been in deep thought for quite a while just to put together a small amount of information. I felt the need for some history.
I lived in Ingrandes France in the early 60s, was there when Kennedy was killed. Lived in Lafayette Village housing also. What a small world!!
It never ceases to amaze me that some of us are finding this connection after all of the years! It is a small world!
Elated to have found this blog. Thank you Mary for starting it. My dad was stationed at Ingrandes from 8/64 – 6/66. He was Captain Uptain the Provost Marshall. We lived in Lafayette Village, in the Big Circle. I was in 5th and 6th grade. I remember the post, school, and the village. Saw a lot of movies during those 2 years. Riding the pass bus from the village to the post. There were 4 of us. 2 older sisters, Debra and Denise, and a younger brother Phillip. Wonderful memories !!!!!!
I am glad you found the blog, Phyllis. After all these years, it feels so good to reach out and connect with others with similar memories. I agree with you, wonderful memories!
I was stationed in Ingrandes from 1963 – 1965. It was a great location to travel from. The surrounding areas had lots of small towns and lots of chateaus. We were in our early 20’s at the time and spent lots of time in both Poitiers and Tours, because of course that is where the girls were.
I was stationed there in 1956 and most of 57 , 83rd engineer battalion co C and worked as a partsman in the moterpool. Lived of base with wife and child in small apt in chatterault.
Hi there. With the number of people following comments on this post, I hope someone reachs out to you that you were stationed with! Thanks for commenting.
My father was posted at Port de Piles, Ingrandes, for 3 years; 1962-1964. We were 5 children, ages 11 down to 1 in 1962. I turned 5 in November of 1962, and attended kindergarten and 1st grade there, and started 2nd grade before we left for Fort Leonard Wood, Mo.
I am certain we lived in Lafayette Village; I have vivid memories of the cobblestone streets, the smell of the bread, and the smell of the cigars the old men smoked as they sat around telling lies, as we tend to do.
My best friend was a French boy named Demar, and a gazebo in someone’s yard was central to our play! I remember the monkey bars, and the quonset huts that classes were held in.
Thank you so much for having this site, where we folk can reminisce and maybe even reconnect.