Jean Casse's life in chronological order:

  1. Cherbourg: Birth
    Jean is born in Cherbourg on April 27 1898 from Gaston and Eugénie Casse. His older brother and sister (Germaine 1886-1893 and Henri 1889-1892) die very young due to the tough colonial life Commandant Gaston Casse (also Chevalier de la Légion d'Honneur) would take them through. Jean will not leave France as his father soon retires from the military.
  2. Pau
    Jean's parents retire in Pau where he attends middle school (collège de l'Immaculé Conception). Vacations are among cousin, uncles and aunts at Hendaye or at Bussière (Eugénie's sister's property). World War I breaks out.
  3. St. Maixent and the great war (WWI): the war to end all wars.
    When he turns 18 Jean quits high school and decides to go fight the war. He trains for combat in St. Maixent and he is sent to the front lines north of Paris. He miraculously escapes the nightmarish battles of the Somme and Verdun (last tally counts 970,000 casualties). In Verdun he is exposed to chemical warfare (chlorine gas) used by the Germans, an incident that will mark the rest of his life. He walks to the Italian front to Piémont and fights the Battle of the Piave River. Pictures of the war to end all wars
  4. Pau and Meaux
    Jean Casse marries Geneviève Orfila in 1921 in Pau and they move to Meaux soon thereafter. Jean gets a job with the bank Crédit Lyonnais in Meaux. Jean and Geneviève give birth to their 3 daughters Francoise in 1922, Jacqueline en 1924 et Anne-Marie en 1927
  5. St. Palais sur Mer
    In 1927 his health is deteriorating due to the poisoned gas experienced in the war's trenches. He moves the family to St. Palais Sur Mer buying a small farm where the family struggles surviving by growing and selling vegetables and milking goats. For 5 years he cannot find real work and life is tough while raising the girls.
  6. Dijon
    That year Jean's father-in-law helped him land a job in Dijon (6, Rue du vieux collège) working for a warehouse refrigeration company (Transport et Entrepot Frigorifique). Michel is born 58 Boulevard Pascal (Maladière), Dijon in 1936, life is good. Though accross the Rhine in Germany Hitler raises and a war seems closer and closer.
  7. Tours
    The company proposes Jean a job in Tours where they move. Meanwhile Jean builds a nice villa in St Palais ("Le Bois ST. Jean") where they like to spend their summer holidays. In 1939 he is offered to run the factory in Toulon but declined the offer and gives his resignation. No one really knows why he stopped working.
  8. St. Palais and Bordeaux
    World War II rages and France does not do well in front of the German might, France is occupied. Jean leaves Tours and takes the family to St. Palais. Geneviève takes mostly care of the family and goes to Bordeaux (5, Rue Blanc Dutrouilh) where she lives with the kids who attend school there. She needs to take small odd jobs to provide food and lodging to the kids. They experience the war including bombardments, restrictions and hunger.
  9. Tubingen, Germany
    Jean engages in the Lattre de Tassigny Army and participates in the Alsace Campaign (Turkheim, winter 1944-1945) and the walk to Bergstesgaden. Once Germany is defeated he gets a military job (civilian) in Tubingen. Geneviève, Anne-Marie and Michel join him there. Francoise gets a teaching position in Baden Baden where she will meet her husband André.
  10. Freudenstadt, Germany
    Jean is transfered to Freudenstadt still working for the French military occupation.
  11. Dax and Canéjean
    Jean is forced to retire without a pension. They buy a small farm in Dax where Jean quickly dislikes living. They buy another small cottage southwest of Bordeaux (Canéjean). In 1959 Geneviève while visiting Anne-Marie slides on the frozen sidewalk and breaks her tighbone. She never recovers and with a late diagnosis of osteoporosis she is handicapedd until she dies (17 years later).
  12. Canéjean, La Brède, Auros and St. Palais
    Geneviève passes away. Jean does not want to stay in Canéjean, he moves to La Brède, Auros and St. Palais.
  13. Ustaritz (Cambo)
    Jean goes to an assited living community in Ustaritz in the Basque country.
  14. Ustaritz (Cambo)
    Jean leaves us on February 28 1997. He was 98 and still vivid of his war stories, these wars that never left him. Jean and Geneviève are buried in Canéjean.