On 10 November 1949, François was conscripted into the Luxembourg Army. In Korea, he was assigned to the first section under the command of Robert Müller and fought during the battle at the Imjin River in late April 1951.

While his fellow countrymen were headed home, he decided to stay for an additional year in Korea and served as leader of the .30 caliber machine gun unit until October 1952. 

Back in Luxembourg, François was called in for a field manoeuvre once, in 1954. In the early 60s, he moved to Clova, in the Canadian province of Quebec. According to some sources, he lived in a cabin in the woods, offside any civilization, for a certain time, earning money as a lumberjack. Later he moved to Tilbury, Ontario, where he still lives to this day.