Jackson County IL Archives News.....FRENCH GIRL WRITES OF MURPHYSBORO WAR HERO June 25, 1946
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Mary Riseling riseling@insightbb.com July 15, 2006, 3:10 am

The Daily Independent Newspaper, Murphysboro, IL June 25, 1946

From overseas where their son died, a Murphysboro family has received messages
from a French girl who saw and talked with their boy a short time before he was
killed in action during World War 2.

In the above picture, Robert Eugene RISELING (sitting in the vehicle with the
girl's hand resting on his shoulder) is shown as hit outfit arrived in Aix-en
Provence, France, Aug. 21, 1944.

"He was the first American boy we kissed", writes Lina Ely, one of the French
girls who happily surrounded their GI liberators.

Bobbie Gene, son of C. R. Riseling, 230 North Fifteenth Street, entered military
service May 6, 1943. He served in several camps in the States and in January,
1944, went overseas. He was stationed at Anzio Beach in Italy for some time,
then went through Italy into Southern France.

He was killed September 23, 1944, at Longene, France, when the vehicle he was
riding was destroyed by an anti-tank mine. He was buried at the U.S. Military
cemetery, Saint Juan, near Cesoul, France.

During the past month, the Riseling family has received several letters from
Miss Ely. One of the letters follows:

Aix-en Provence

2nd of June, 1946

Dear Mr. & Mrs. Riseling:

I was very sad to know that Gene was killed. Very often we thought and spoke of
him at home. As he wanted me to write him, he gave his military address too. So
I wrote and sent pictures but never got answers. I understand now that he never
got them.

We shall never forget Gene and the happy and too short day we spent with him. He
will remain forever the hero of our liberation.

I am glad that you were happy to receive the photos of Gene and father was
pleased to enlarge some others.

I am happy to know where Gene is buried and although it will be a great sorrow,
I shall be happy to pray on his grave. Unhappily I am living far from San Juan,
about 600 miles, but I always spend my summer holidays in my mother's native
region, Savoie, near Switzerland and it is only 200 miles from Besancon. My
father will be very happy to take pictures of Gene's grave. I was very glad to
receive your picture and I keep it with Gene's ones-all these photos are a
treasure for us. My father is a photographer but chiefly official photographer
for Aix. My brother, who is 18 and still in school, will probably take this
work, too.

Wars are terrible things and I hope that I shall never see another-it is so sad
to see young men going towards death, destruction, sacking of towns and refugees
taking flight under shells. Germans invaded Southern France on the 11th of
November, 1942. It was a terrible day for us and I can say that from this date
to the 21st of August, 1944, we did not really live. We were always afraid to be
heard by Gestapo. We were listening to American and English radios after having
shut the doors and windows because it was forbidden. Men were arrested, sent to
Germany in camps such as Buchenwals or killed in the forests. My father himself
had been obliged to go away from home in 1944 as the Gestapo came twice for
arresting him. You can realize how much thrilled we were to know that Allied
forces had landed on the 15th of August. It was wonderful to feel free again.

Now I will draw this to an end, hoping sincerely to hear from you again. I will
be very pleased.

I remain, 

Very sincerely yours,

Lina Ely





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