Locales and Events:
A. Cannes, France ... Tennis matches among American Expeditionary Forces (AEF) officers, pugilists skip rope, throw medicine ball and box here: The InterContinental Carlton Cannes is a 338-room luxury hotel, built in 1909, located at 58 La Croisette in Cannes on the French Riviera, and listed by the Government of France as a National Historic Building. During the Cannes Film Festival, it is the most prestigious place to stay and the undisputed headquarters of motion picture industry deal-making. Part of the InterContinental Hotels Group, the Carlton is famous for hosting movie stars from around the world during the annual Film Festival. The hotel was also featured in Elton John's well-known 1983 music video for the single, "I'm Still Standing", and the exterior and interior features in New Order's 1993 music video for the single, "World (The Price of Love)". More famously, the hotel was a central location for the Alfred Hitchcock film To Catch a Thief starring Grace Kelly and Cary Grant. While staying at the Hotel Carlton during the 1955 Cannes Film Festival, Academy Award winning movie star Grace Kelly had an arranged meeting and photo shoot with His Serene Highness (HSH) Prince Rainier III of Monaco which eventually resulted in their 1956 marriage and in her becoming Her Serene Highness Princess Grace.The Carlton's distinctive domes on both seaward corners were reputedly designed to resemble the breasts of Caroline Otero, "La Belle Otero" the most famous (or infamous) courtesan of the French Riviera during the years surrounding World War I. The Carlton's elegant seventh floor formal dining room is named La Belle Otero in her "honor," although there are a couple of less formal restaurants, La Côte and La Brasserie, on the ground floor. Only the last-named can be considered the least bit "affordable," with a €49 lobster and champagne menu offered on Fridays only.
B. Paris, France ... The 89th and 36th Division football teams play ... General John J. Pershing and and Admiral Cary Travers Grayson of Culpeper, VA watch. AEF crews row in a regatta on the Seine River.
C. Led Mans, France ... General J. J. Pershing and French General Camille Walch observe machine gun shooting competition ... Pershing present awards.
1. Admiral Cary Travers Grayson (11 October 1878-15 February 1938) was a surgeon in the United States Navy who served a variety of roles from personal aide to President Woodrow Wilson, to chairman of the American Red Cross.
Grayson was born in Culpeper, Virginia. After completing his medical studies, he was appointed Acting Assistant Surgeon, USN, 14 July 1903. A variety of posts led Grayson to Washington, where on 12 December 1912 he was assigned to the Bureau of Medicine and Surgery with additional duty as Aide to the White House. Commissioned Rear Admiral 29 August 1916, he served as personal physician and aide to President Woodrow Wilson during World War I.
Before transferring to the Retired List 20 December 1928, Admiral Grayson received the Navy Cross for exceptionally meritorious service as aide and physician to President Wilson. He was also made Commander of the National Order of the Legion of Honor by the French government. Admiral Grayson served as chairman of the American Red Cross from 1935 until his death 15 February 1938. The USS Grayson (DD-435), a Gleaves-class destroyer was named in his honor.
2. John Joseph "Black Jack" Pershing, GCB, (September 13, 1860 -- July 15, 1948) was an officer in the United States Army. Pershing is the only person, while still alive, to rise to the highest rank ever held in the United States Army—General of the Armies—equivalent only to the posthumous rank of George Washington. Pershing led the American Expeditionary Force in World War I and was regarded as a mentor by the generation of American generals who led the United States Army in Europe during World War II, including George C. Marshall, Dwight D. Eisenhower, Omar Bradley and George S. Patton. Note: I marched in Pershing's state funeral parade from Washington, DC to Arlington National Cemetery in 1948 as a 13-year-old high school cadet (Central High, Washington, DC). ... n1014f
3. Brigadier General Camille Walch, French Army (Details not found)
(Sources: Images-U. S. National Archives, music selected and images enhanced by JimS ... slrman and this text is from various internet links)
Tags: 1918 1919 AEF American football tennis water sport Regatta Paris Le Mans Cannes Carlton Pershing Walch Grayson Boxing
