Gautier was one of 177 French green berets under the command of Captain Philippe Kieffer who took part in the Normandy landings. More than 150,000 allied troops invaded France to drive out Nazi ...

French WWII veteran of the Commando Kieffer Leon Gautier attends a ceremony in tribute to the 177 French members of the "Commando Kieffer" Fusiliers Marins commando unit who took part in the ...

Leon Gautier, the last surviving member of France's Kieffer Commando — one of the first to come ashore at Normandy on D-Day — has died after being treated for lung issues. He was 100.

With the rank of chief warrant officer, Mr. Faure was part of the 1st Battalion Marine Commando Fusiliers — known as “Kieffer commandos” after its leader, Lt. Philippe Kieffer.

Leon Gautier, the last surviving member of the French commando unit that waded ashore on D-Day alongside allied troops to begin the liberation of France, died on Monday. He was 100 years old.

With the rank of chief warrant officer, Faure was part of the 1st Battalion Marine Commando Fusiliers — known as “Kieffer commandos” after its leader, Lt. Philippe Kieffer.

The last surviving member of an elite French unit that joined U.S. and other Allied forces in the D-Day invasion has died. Leon Gautier was 100 years old. The death was announced by the mayor of Ou… ...

Leon Gautier, the last surviving member of an elite French unit that joined U.S. and other Allied forces in the 1944 D-Day invasion to wrest Normandy from Nazi control, has died. He was 100.