[Theoria]

I doubt don't your Uncle Fred's view of the Belgians one bit.

I lived about 80 miles north of Marche for a while. The entire area is so beautiful and picturesque. It partially stays beautiful because of the lack of 'workers' and the large farming industry.

They still vandalize Jewish property and objects even though no Jews live there. One gentleman brought back a cemetary gate to the US just to keep it from being destroyed. That was not too far from where I lived.

[jmacusa]

Interesting experience, thank you for relating it. My late grandfather was a WW1 veteran and though he never told us grandkids anything about being in combat he did make no bones about how much he hated the French. I must say though, particularly in regards to the people of Marche, Belgium, that they do appreciate the sacrifices made by the men of the 84th, Infantry Divison. I had a friend some years ago who had been to Marche a number of times and he bought back photos of a number of memorials and plaques dedicated in honor of the sacrifices made by ‘’Les Americanes’’. It was gratifying to see. On one large side of a building was painted a huge patch of the 84th. Infantry Division. They were known as ''The Rail Splitters''. There's was a large red circle, out-lined in white with a white ax in the middle splitting a log.