USAFE Men's Soccer Team compete in D-Day commerative competition

  • Published
  • By Tom Burkett
  • USAFE Services
RAMSTEIN AIR BASE, Germany --  The USAFE Men's Soccer team competed in the 65th D-Day Anniversary Soccer competition at the invitation of the Mayor of Saint Pierre Eglise Normandy, France.

After a 10 hour bus ride the entire town of Saint Pierre Eglise turned out to greet the team's bus and kick off the competition.

The team also recieved incredible hospitality from the citizens of Saint Pierre Eglise.

The event commerated a match 65 years ago whan a US Special Services Officer organized a  soccer match between American soldiers and a local French team to take their minds off the war. Americans had few experiences with soccer and played
their first match in combat boots and other war gear.

According to local memory, when the first ball  was kicked the Americans all ran toward the ball as in basketball or some of our other American sports and received bruises and battle scars.

At halftime of the l944 match a glass of Champagne was served and was duplicated in the 2009 match.

The score in the first match 65 years ago provided a French win 4-1; however, in the rematch the USAFE team defeated a combined French team 4-2. 

French press ran several articles celebrating this commemorative soccer match. And a special bond was forged between the American Airmen and the town of Saint Pierre Eglise.