Geralyn and Willard Holck kept the procession orderly and helped with set up. Also helping out were Claudie Deschaseaux Fisher and Francette Deschaseaux Valance, daughters of Monsieur Gerard Deschaseaux (France), who along with 442nd veteran Wilbert “Sandy” Holck, Cannon Co., established the Bruyeres/Honolulu Sister City relationship. To Pat Murakami, Caitlin Shishido, Jayne Hirata and Drusilla
people of Bruyères hadn’t forgotten us and it sort of hit me in the heart.” While in Bruyères, Mayor Drahon introduced the Holcks to local citizen Gérard Deschaseaux, a local elected official who spoke some English. Below: Mayor Drahon (center) introduces the Holcks to Gérard Deschaseaux After Bruyères, Holck and his family visited the
the initial bond between the two unlikely friendships. I found out that years after the war, he returned to the city and became friends with resident Gérard Deschaseaux. That handshake would then be the first step in creating a close friendship that would last well into my generation. Then, by day two of the
