Biographie de Jean Compagnon
Born on 26 October 1916, died on 4 November 2010, General Jean Compagnon went on to serve as a captain at the headquarters of General Leclerc, commander of the 2nd armoured division. He took part in the division's landing operation and participated in the Battle of Normandy. He subsequently commanded a squadron of the 12th armoured cavalry whose tanks were the first to roll into Strasbourg on November 23rd 1944.
He previously fought in France in 1939-1940 and Tunisia in 1942-1943. After the war was over, he saw active service in Indochina and Algeria. In 1974 he was promoted to the rank of Army Corps General. General Jean Compagnon was historian and a member of the Académie des Sciences d'outre-mer. He was awarded the Grand-croix of the Légion d'honneur and was an Officer of the Legion of Merit (United States).