A novelist based in Roubaix, Benoit Gryspeerdt decided to write a novel which takes place during the period of the American presence in Châteauroux-Déols.

Thanks to the advice of Sheila Witherington, he contacted us and came to learn more about the atmosphere of the years 1951-1967 to prepare is new novel.

Welcomed on Thursday July 4 by Jean-Jacques, president of the association, he met successively Bruno Mascle, journalist at La Nouvelle République and editor of "1951-1967 The Americans in Châteauroux", Jean-Paul Thomas at the Châteauroux Métropole archives, Françoise, André and Yves who worked on the La Martinerie base during the American presence and Jean-Paul Donny author of "US GO HOME – The American Years".

The next day, Friday, he was able, under the leadership of Dominique and Yves, to visit “la Maison départementale de la mémoire militaire” and its two rooms dedicated to the American presence, part of the La Martinerie base, the Touvent district, the village of Brassioux, the surroundings of the airport, part of the old air base, etc.

He was certainly delighted by his stay, as evidenced by his post on the Facebook page of the association "American love Chateauroux-Déols": "So happy to finally get to visit Chateauroux! Everyone I met was so kind to me - and passionate about telling me so many things about the base. We talked for a long time and took a tour around the base and the airport, Brassioux, Touvent. I have lots of images and ideas - all I have to do now is write the book. A HUGE thank you to everyone who came to meet me and helped me. Yves Bardet, Francoise Lavenu, Jean-jacques Berenguier, Dominique Roosens (and a few others who do not seem to be in the group) (These are André Reignoux, Yves Chambon, Jean-Paul Thomas, Bruno Mascle and Jean-François Donny - clarification by “Les Amis de La Martinerie”) and also a huge thank you to Sheila Witherington who helped from a few thousand miles away!”

He promised to stay in touch with the association to meet other partners and members of “Les Amis de La Martinerie” in order to learn even more about of the atmosphere of that time.

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Photo credit: Roland de Vassoigne - Jean-Jacques Bérenguier