Geneviève de Galard - 10 things to know with detail
- 1. Geneviève de Galard was a French nurse who gained international recognition for her bravery and heroism during the First Indochina War.
- 2. She was born on October 26, 1925 in Toulouse, France, and grew up in a wealthy and aristocratic family.
- 3. De Galard joined the French Red Cross as a nurse in 1953 and was sent to Indochina (now Vietnam) to work in a military hospital during the First Indochina War.
- 4. In 1954, de Galard was stationed at Dien Bien Phu, a remote French outpost in northern Vietnam that was besieged by Vietnamese forces. Despite the dangerous conditions, she remained at the hospital to care for wounded soldiers.
- 5. De Galard became known as the "Angel of Dien Bien Phu" for her courage and dedication to treating the wounded under fire. She refused to leave the hospital even when it was being bombed and shelled by the enemy.
- 6. In May 1954, de Galard was taken prisoner by the Vietnamese forces when they overran the outpost. She was held captive for two months before being released in a prisoner exchange.
- 7. After her release, de Galard returned to France and received numerous awards for her bravery, including the Legion of Honor, the Croix de Guerre, and the American Medal of Freedom.
- 8. De Galard continued her nursing career and worked in various hospitals in France and Africa. She also became a vocal advocate for peace and reconciliation in war-torn regions.
- 9. In 2004, de Galard published her memoir, "Angel of Dien Bien Phu," in which she recounted her experiences during the war and as a prisoner of the Vietnamese forces.
- 10. Geneviève de Galard passed away on February 10, 2021 at the age of 95. She is remembered as a symbol of courage, compassion, and resilience in the face of adversity.