Castillon d’Arthez: middle school students from defense classes associated with the tribute to the Vandenberghe brothers

4th and 3rd year students from the defense classes of Corisande-d’Andoins (Arthez-de-Béarn) and Jean-Moulin (Artix) colleges were particularly honored. Surrounded by their history teachers Sonia Floquet and Stéphanie Rey-Flaud, they spoke of the exceptional life of the hero of Indochina and placed roses on his stele.

Héros d’Indochine

Nicknamed the Black Tiger, Roger Vandenberghe, raised by the Lacomme family and buried in Castillon-d’Arthez, was one of the most remarkable figures of the Indochina War. Marshal de Lattre will say about him: “Give me a hundred Vandenberghe and Indochina will be saved.” He remains the most decorated non-commissioned officer in the French army in the 20th century, with eighteen citations and eight wounds.

This active participation of middle school students took place within the framework of the Armed Forces-Nation/Youth link materialized by the “Indochina common thread” which marks the 2025-2026 school year. The principals of the two colleges, Corinne Caussade (Artix) and Philippe Combernoux (Arthez), present at the ceremony, specify: “The Artix defense class is two years old and that of Arthez-de-Béarn one year. Each brings together around twenty volunteer students from 4th and 3rd grades at Artix and 3rd grades from Arthez-de-Béarn.”

At the end of the ceremony, the mayor of the village, Gilles Mardelle, invited all the participants to join the village hall in which an exhibition was presented on the Indochina War and the exceptional role that Vandenberghe played in it.