Jorge Sanjinez is a Peruvian veteran who voluntarily participated in World War II during the Normandy landing as part of the Belgian Infantry Brigade, known as the Piron Brigade, and helped liberate several French and Dutch people.
Born on 24 January 1917 in Southern city of Moquegua, the brave man has recently turned 100 years old and will be decorated by France for his laudable efforts in the war that involved several European countries.
Sanjinez was working in Lima in 1942, when he heard Belgium was accepting foreign volunteers to attend combats in Europe, so he decided to enlist of his own free will.
In January 1943, he responded to the call to join the Belgian Army, with the majority of its fleet supplied to Great Britain. He headed to New York in order to reach Canada, where he underwent military training.
In June, he got on the Queen Mary to Ireland, and then arrived in London, where he joined the Piron Brigade, the 1st Belgium Independent Group, which landed in Normandy on the 8th of August 1944.
He took part in violent combats in Normandy, where the brigade freed several French cities and towns before reaching Belgium and the Netherlands.
On 15 April 1945, Mr. Sanjinez was promoted to corporal, and he was given the rank of sergeant on the 1st of August 1945.
He returned to Peru in January 1946 after devoting three years of his life to the liberation of European nations.
Once the World War II ended, the Piron Brigade became a role model and its order of battle served as inspiration for the Belgian Army's restructuring.
French Ambassador to Peru Fabrice Mauriès is scheduled to convey the Legion of Honor, the highest French decoration, to the courageous Peruvian man.
(END) JCR/RMB/MVB
Published: 2/22/2017