Along with the files mentioned in my last post, Franck provided me with a mailing address for the family of Patrick Hovelacque. I wrote to them and am now in regular communication with the family. Patrick’s presence in the book has now grown to four chapters where he is the star and is mentioned in other chapters. He is such an interesting person I am considering giving him his own book. Since I have already started on a book about Bruno Radziminsky, a Polish tailor and Dunkerque POW, this will now be a trilogy!

Here is a portion of my email to Franck:

Franck, I can’t tell you how pleased I am to now be in regular communication with the Hovelacque family.  I will be working with them for the next few weeks completing a few chapters about Patrick and his political leanings leading to his decision to join forces with de Gaulle in London. Having this information gives me a platform for personalizing the catalyst that brought the communist and the extreme right together in the Resistance.  This is such an important piece of the story.  When Gerald told me that Patrick was active in the Jeunesses Patriots while in school and actually was acquainted with the Taittingers I set out on a quest to learn more about the Young Patriots and the Taittingers . The result is I have lost 2 full days of writing time in exchange for 2 days of research.  Not a day goes by that I do not send you good vibrations when I realize how many months (perhaps years) you have saved me by sharing your oh so valuable research.  With that said, I have one more request—not likely the last request 😊.  Pascal advises I should ask you for Hovelques files from the French Military Archives. Can you please share with me this file?

Franck’s reply :

Your book is a once-in-a-lifetime book. It is the story of your family. Delaying it is not important. Actually, I feel proud to be able to delay the writing of a book. Let me know if I can help again!

 Amicalement, Franck