Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Rank:

Sous-Lieutenant (2nd Lieutenant)

Citation:
"During the period under review, from 16 August to 15 November 1945, this officer, the only woman to have been parachuted into Japanese-occupied territory, was attached to my headquarters with Lieutenant Klotz, with whom she served as a radio operator. Their orders were to locate and do everything possible to assist in locating French and Allied prisoners of war or civilians in the Thakhek area [in French Indochina]. They landed blindly on 22 August, in broad daylight and within a few hundred meters of a Japanese column which immediately pursued them. They escaped only with the greatest difficulty, and under fire, but nevertheless saved all their war equipment, Second Lieutenant Fournier herself carrying a load that most women would have found impossible. For several days they lived in a cave in the hills near Thakhek. Second Lieutenant FOURNIER traveled to Ranghoon day and night, every two hours, to try to establish contact, but was unable to do so due to weather conditions and other factors beyond her control. On December 5, 1945, she accompanied Lieutenant KLOTZ to Thakhek to visit about fifty French civilians, mainly women and children interned by the Japanese, under threat from the Annamites. Despite the very significant and obvious risks posed by the well-armed and dangerously excited Annamites and the Japanese, who claimed not to have surrendered to the French, Second Lieutenant FOURNIER insisted on accompanying Lieutenant KLOTZ to Thakhek. They entered the town in broad daylight, visited the internees, ascertained their immediate needs, and, by their presence, calm, and encouragement, considerably boosted their morale. As they left the city, these two officers were surrounded by a crowd of armed and excited Annamites, who attempted to stop them and deprive them of their pistols by threatening them. At that moment, they were undoubtedly in the greatest danger, and the slightest hesitation or sign of fear on the part of either of them would certainly have resulted in their instant death. However, with disregard for their own safety and with an air of confidence and self-assurance, Second Lieutenant FOURNIER refused to hand over his pistol and, with Lieutenant KLOTZ, fought their way through the Annamites. The latter opened fire on them but quickly ceased without injuring either of them. After this incident, these two officers retired to my headquarters where they continued their work under my command. From that time until mid-October, she remained with me. During this period, she worked—or rather overworked herself—without respite. Her assistance proved indispensable in the evacuation of the French internees from Thakhek to Nakhon Phanom, and in caring for them thereafter. She further worked tirelessly in trying to contact Ranghoon and also assisted my own radio operator in his work. At that time, the excessive amount and complicated nature of the work on this mission, together with the acute shortage of personnel to cope with it, demanded abnormal efforts from everyone. Second Lieutenant FOURNIER's contribution exceeded anything that could have been expected of even the strongest woman. She rendered such invaluable service that without her, I do not know how the mission could have been carried on. The murder of Lieutenant KLOTZ by Annamites on September 27 shook her deeply, but she refused to let this event interfere with her work. In the very difficult and trying days that followed, his great talents, energy, loyalty and devotion to duty were beyond praise.

Originally recommended for a Military Cross

Period:

Second World War (1939-1945)

Awarded on:

October 20th, 1945