FEIEREISEN, Roger

Portrait de Roger Feiereisen
Registration Nr.:    00355 / S 0126
Birthday:    26.10.1919, Tuntange
Father:    unknown
Mother:    Marie FEIEREISEN
Service entry:    17.06.1945
Contingent:    2nd
Ranks:    Adjudant (1963)
                  Adjudant-Chef (1968)
                  Adjudant-Major (1979)
                  Sergent-Chef (1953)
                  Sergent (1945)
Death:    23.11.2003, Luxembourg City

 

Prior to his career in the Luxembourg Army, Roger had been a member of the Luxembourgish Volunteer Company, which he had joined in May 1939. After the German invasion of Luxembourg in May 1940, Roger was sent to Germany for police training and political indoctrination in December 1940. In July 1941, he was enrolled into the Kraftfahrschule der Gendarmerie in Suhl (Thuringia). After nine months, he was released from service because of his participation in a political protest with 100 other Luxembourgers. Back in Luxembourg, he joined the Pi-Men resistance movement in Differdange, before fleeing to Free France in September 1941. He wanted to come back to Luxembourg, but the Nazi occupiers refused his request. In December 1942, Roger was captured by German troops. Forced to work at the Krauss-Maffei factories in Munich-Allach, Roger seized the opportunity to pass on crucial information about German war-production. He finally managed to return to Luxembourg in September 1944 and joined the Army in 1945.

Roger served in the second contingent during the Korean War. As Adjudant de Peloton, he was second in command of the Luxembourg section and often led night patrols. On 26 September 1952, during intense enemy mortar fire, Roger saved several wounded soldiers of his platoon, including Marcel Feinen, who had been buried alive in a collapsed trench.

While the other members of the contingent returned in 1953, Roger, along with Raymond Beringer, decided to stay for another year with the U.N. forces in Korea. After his return, Roger stayed in the Army until his retirement in December 1968.

"Adjoint de peloton d’un sang-froid et d’un courage remarquable. A, sous un violent feu de mortiers ennemis, continué à assurer le sauvetage d’un de ses hommes ensevelis dans les tranchées. Par son action énergique et son mépris complet du danger a contribué à sauver la vie d’un de ses soldats. A fait preuve à cette occasion du plus pur esprit de camaraderie.”

Lieutenant-Colonel B.E.M. Viviario about Roger Feiereisen, 8.10.1952. © OJ Bn No 447
 

“Um Mëtteg, géint 3 Auer, 4 Auer ass de Bombardement vun der Positioun ugaangen. An do huet et onglécklecherweis e puer erwëscht, eise Frënd Mores, Sergeant Mores, deen huet e Volltreffer kritt, dee war dout op der Plaz. An deen aneren, Feinen huet de Jong geheescht, dee war am Bunker begruewen an dee koum net méi eraus. Jo elo koum, kuerz dono wéi déi Bomme gefall waren, dunn ass de Peletonschef komm, den Här Lutty. An et huet net laang gedauert, dunn hat hien och eng Blessur, dunn hat deen och e Splitter kritt. Dunn ass hien zréck an de Bunker vum Peloton komm, vum […] Poste de commandement, hie war jo de Chef, dat war seng Platz. An dunn sinn ech dohinner gaange an do hunn ech réischt richteg gesi wat lass wier.” 

Memories of the mortar attack at Chokko-Ri on 26. September 1952 - RTL Hei Elei Kuck Elei 16.12.1990.