KAUTHEN, Jean

During the Second World War, Jean’s father helped several Luxembourgish draft dodgers to cross the Luxembourg-Belgium border to avoid serving in the Wehrmacht. Jean himself did so by applying at the Molitor Institute in Schadeck, thus making him a student under the eyes of the occupier. In 1943, however, Jean was conscripted into the Reichsarbeitsdienst (RAD) and worked at a factory in Differdange for six months.

After the war, Jean worked as a driver for eight months at his uncle’s transport company. He then voluntarily enlisted into the Luxembourg Army in December 1946. In May 1950, he was assigned to the Centre d’Instruction pour Chauffeurs (C.I.C.) in Walferdange as a driving instructor.

During the Korean War, Jean served in the first contingent as a driver and mechanic for A company. Exerting his tasks to the complete satisfaction of Lieutenant Wagener, he was promoted to the rank of Caporal in June 1950.

After he returned from Korea, Jean stayed in the Army and was reassigned to the C.I.C. Yet, merely 28 days after his return to Luxembourg, Jean had a serious car accident and was rushed to the St. Joseph Hospital in Arlon, Belgium, where he tragically passed away on 28 October 1951, the day of his 27th birthday.