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Video by Sgt. Kedrick Schumacher

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Union II B-Roll - Centron

U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Europe and Africa

July 31, 2025 | 3:53

U.S. Marines and French service members and dignitaries participate in the Union II 81st Commemoration Anniversary ceremony in Les Saisies, France, Aug. 1, 2025. Union II was a WWII operation that involved the aerial insertion of six Marines, an Army Air Corps captain, and a French resistance fighter into the German-controlled French Alps in August of 1944. Their mission was to arm and train the French Resistance to aid in the fight to liberate Europe. When they found themselves surrounded by German forces in the village of Centron, the Marines surrendered in order to save the village from retaliation. Their sacrifice is remembered to this day. (U.S. Marine Corps video by Sgt. Kedrick Schumacher)