GÉRARD, "Mett" Mathias

In May 1946, Mathias was conscripted into the Army and stationed in the barracks in Dudelange. After the outbreak of the Korean War, Mathias reported to fight in the ranks of the first contingent. In Korea, according to his own statements, he escorted a pregnant Korean woman out of the no man’s land, saving her from fighter aeroplane fire during an operation at the Han River. It seems that his courageous and selfless actions earned him his field promotion to Soldat de 1re Classe.

After the war, Mathias worked for the forerunner of the national pension insurance fund. Even in retirement, he was heavily committed to the community and contributed until his death to the work of the local Office Social in Bertrange.

He was married to the innkeeper Alice Michels, who ran the pub “Am Wénkel” in Bertrange.