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Local woman will journey to France to thank those who rescued her uncle in World War II. Date published: 3/12/2004 By CATHY DYSON Marthellen Hoffman could have sent a card, or even flowers, to the French Resistance members who rescued her uncle 60 years ago, when his plane was shot down over southern France. But that wouldn't have conveyed the proper gratitude, so Hoffman decided to thank them in person. And while she was going abroad anyway, she thought, why not take commendations from local and state officials, thanking those who risked their lives during World War II? Hoffman, who lives in Lake of the Woods, will set out on her "people-to-people mission" on March 22. She and her husband, Ed, will travel more than 4,000 miles, round up three generations of her family, and deliver official--and personal--thanks to as many French Resistance members, and their children and grandchildren, as they can find. "We are so grateful for what they did during the war, for the sacrifices they made," she said. Hoffman, 68, is an accomplished harpist who plays with orchestras from Fredericksburg to Washington. She's retired from teaching music and has found more time for her other passion: history. She was always close to her uncle and appreciated his war stories. She knew Lt. Nyle Jones Jr. was a co-pilot aboard a B-17 bomber, that he'd been shot down on his first combat mission, and that a farmer hid him from the Germans until the French Resistance rescued him. She also knew he'd fought, side by side, with resistance members who refused to give in to Hitler's regime, after France surrendered to Germany in 1940. Hoffman was proud that her uncle helped liberate several small villages in southern France, as did other Americans across the country. Her uncle said later he wished he'd been trained for hand-to-hand combat, but he fought well enough to earn the Distinguished Flying Cross and the French Croix de Guerre with Silver Star. And, Hoffman knew her uncle and the local leader of the resistance had become great friends, who kept in touch until her uncle died 10 years ago. But she wanted to know more, to hear from those on both sides of the Atlantic. She started talking with Berkeley Boyd, who also lives in the Orange County community, about his missions as a B-17 pilot.
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