It is my sad duty to inform you of the untimely death of one of our bravest - Florent "Frenchy" Latréche has fought in the most exotic places and survived, but he did lose the battle against cancer. Frenchy passed away in a hospital in Mainz on Saturday, March 21st.

For months he had helped to plan and arrange the 64th anniversary of General Patton's crossing of the Rhein river near Frenchy's hometown, the city of Nierstein, 64 years ago on March 22nd. Many guests, like US Forces personnel from Dexheim, Wiesbaden, Heidelberg and Kaiserslautern, as well as mayors of the surrounding communities, historians, and interested citizens attended the ceremony on Sunday only to learn that Frenchy had died the day before... what a sad occasion that was.

Beside having served the Air Force Security Police in Law Enforcement Operations at Lindsey Air Station and Rhein-Main Air Base, Frenchy had served in the crack 2nd Parachute Regiment of the French Foreign Legion as a Sergeant Chef and participated in operations in Africa and elsewhere on our planet. He had also deployed to Iraq with an Army contingent before his health problems started two years ago. Frenchy was a respected member of the Association of Veterans of the Foreign Legion and served as liaison officer for the city of Nierstein to the surrounding US and German military communities. He is survived by his wife Brigitte and his daughter Monique.

If asked to name one fellow SP who would have jumped in the line of fire to safe my life, it would have been my dear comrade Florent Latréche.

Frenchy - you will be missed! "Bonne chance, mon camerade, et bon voyage..."

- JW