Story of U.S. officer and French milkmaid to have closing chapter

By Bob Krauss
Advertiser Columnist

It's been almost 60 years, but World War II hero Bill Paty might get his date with a French milkmaid after all.

French farmer Thierry Ferey, left, visited Hawai'i this month to meet World War II veteran Bill Paty. Ferey is arranging a reunion between his aunt and Paty in France. Photo courtesy William Paty

"I was a captain in the 101st Airborne," Paty explained. "At midnight before D-Day we made a drop behind German lines, but we landed way off from where we were supposed to, right in the middle of an elite German parachute outfit. We hid in a hedgerow.

"On D-Day morning the largest armada in the history of man is storming the beaches of Utah and Omaha, heavy shells from battle ships off shore are zooming overhead, fighter planes are buzzing around everywhere.

"Right in the middle of this, in a small pasture, is a French milkmaid milking a cow. I told my sergeant, 'Wait here. Maybe we can get a date tonight.'

"I scooted over and crouched beside her. In my best Punahou French, I introduced myself as an American officer and asked if there were any Germans around. She moved her head in the direction of the farmhouse. I looked up and saw a German patrol coming down the line."

Paty said he hustled back to the hedgerow but was captured and taken to a church with German wounded, later to a prison camp. He escaped three times. The third time, he made it.

"I've been telling the milkmaid story off and on for years," Paty said. "Early this year from Normandy, out of the blue, comes a letter from a young French farmer asking if I'm the officer who spoke to his aunt while she was milking a cow. 'Peggy, you won't believe this,' I told my wife."

About two weeks ago, Paty, 82, brought Thierry Ferey, 38, to The Advertiser to explain how he found the man who talked to his aunt during the Invasion of Normandy and why he did it.

Ferey said his aunt, Augustine Ferey, who was 17 in 1944, was traumatized by the Germans who suspected her of helping the Americans. She was placed in the church with American prisoners and German wounded.

Bedlam reigned. The Germans, nervous about the invasion, were ready to shoot French collaborators. At one point, a soldier pointed his rifle at Augustine's head, screaming hysterically. A German officer from the airborne unit that had been camping at the dairy vouched for Augustine's innocence and saved her life.

Amid the blood and moaning of the wounded, the girl recognized Paty but was afraid to approach him.

"My aunt remembers the American officer coming to her and that she pointed to Germans all around in the hedgerows," said the nephew. "Even still now my aunt speaks about this with tears in her eyes. She never forget that she could be killed. It is only because I am a member of the family that my aunt accepted to see Bill."

But how did Ferey find Paty and why?

"I felt the sad history should not be forgotten," he said. "I knew that the Americans were in the 101st Airborne. I made contact with the 101st Airborne and became a member of the association. They sent me a membership directory with biographical information."

Ferey said he knew that Paty was taken to the church as a prisoner. By a lucky coincidence, he wrote to Bill first.

"I can't tell you how happy I am when Bill wrote back," Ferey said. "I came to see him before he visits France to prepare him. My aunt hates to talk about it. But it is important to me that Bill meet her. It is a very good end to the story. Somebody will cry."

"I'm afraid I'll cry, too," said Paty. He leaves today for his date with the French milkmaid.

Reach Bob Krauss at 525-8073.