Life

WWII: Local G.I. saved civilians in France

By Frederick B. Jones, Published: March 4, 2013

Mr. and Mrs. C.G. Marquis were pioneer members of the staff of the Asheville Agricultural School at Fletcher in its early years. That school later became known, and is still known, as Fletcher Academy.They had a son, Robert E. Marquis, who grew up at the school and graduated from high school there in 1941. He joined the Army in July 1942. Whether at his request or through the Army's screening process, he was assigned to the medical department of the Army. After training in the U.S. he went to Europe in October of 1943.
He must have participated in the D-Day landings because on August 1, 1944, less than two months after D-Day, he was attached to a tank destroyer battalion in France. Nearby a group of French civilians were holding a religious service in an open courtyard. A single shell from a German artillery barrage landed in the midst of the worshipers and exploded. Twenty-one of the civilians were killed and thirty were wounded. Technician Marquis rendered first aid to the wounded civilians even as artillery fire continued for some time.
In September the Army awarded a Bronze Star to Robert Marquis for his action in the incident. The last sentence of the citation contained these words.
"The courageous actions of Technician Marquis, acting without regard for his personal safety resulted in saving the lives of several seriously wounded French civilians and reflects credit upon his character as a soldier and upon the medical department of the army."
The Bronze Star may be awarded for achievement, for merit, or for valor. It's clear that Robert E. Marquis won his for valor.