Henri EUGENE was born on April 11, 1919, in CAUNAY (79).
He did his secondary education from 1930 to 1937 at Lycée Fontanes de Niort (79). From 1937 to 1939 he did ''special mathematics" at Lycée Saint-Louis, Paris.
Successful in the entrance examination into Paris-based Polytechnic School, he was admitted on September 9, 1939.
He was transferred to the VERSAILLES Engineers School on September 18, 1939. He was made second lieutenant on March 22, 1940, and posted to the 6th Engineers at ANGERS that same day.
Detached to the 11th Engineers for the defense of PARIS on May 18, 1940, he destroyed 3 bridges over the Marne, including that of TRILPORT, in order to hamper the advancement of enemy troops.
Sent to the 11th Engineers arms store in ROCHEFORT-SUR-MER, he was made prisoner on June 23. He escaped on June 30, 1940, and on August 6 he reintegrated the 3rd Engineers battalion of the Armistice Army in CASTELSARRAZIN.
Called back to the Polytechnic School on November 22, 1940, he was transferred to the Avignon Engineers School on October 14, 1941. He was then made lieutenant on March 19, 1942, and posted to the 7th Mountaineer Engineers battalion in Avignon on October 1, 1942.
Having been demobilized on November 28, 1942, following the occupation of the free zone by the Germans, he turned down a post at the Ministry of Industry at VICHY and became a manufacturing engineer in the "Schistes bitumeux d’AUTUN" (AUTUN Oil Shale) where he worked till November 30, 1943.
It was during this period that he got in contact with the Resistance and took part in the sabotage of the ovens he was in charge. Afraid of being arrested, he fled to Deux-Sèvres, his native department, in December 1943 and got in contact with the Internal French Forces (AS), which entrusted him the NIORT sector, under the command of Colonel PROUST (alias CHAUMETTE).
He was then recruited as a "P.1. agent" by an official of the GALLIA (FFC) network.
Made a temporary captain on October 1, 1944, he volunteered, on the same day, to fight all through the war within the 114th Infantry Regiment, where he commanded the 2nd Company of the 1st Battalion. He fought at the pocket of La Rochelle front till March 1, 1945, when he was seriously wounded at SAINT-SAUVEUR-D’AUNIS, made prisoner before later on freed within the framework of exchange of seriously wounded prisoners.
Promoted to a fully-fledged captain on September 23, 1945, he was granted a non-activity status on March 1, 1946.
He was sent on retirement and his name removed from those of active army officers. Promoted to the rank of battalion commander on December 31, 1955, within the context of officers of the Reserves, he was granted honorary membership of his rank as from June 1, 1957.
CIVIL CAREER
From 1946 to 1958, he was the Technical and Commercial Director of "Société des Carrières de la Meilleraie", POUZAUGES (Vendée).
From 1958 to 1967, he was the Industrial Director of "Société de Matériel de Construction", PARIS, exploiting the major gypsum quarries of France in TRILPORT (78).
From 1967 to 1969, he was Railway and Port Director for "Société des Mines de Fer de Mauritanie" in NOUADHIBOU (former PORT ETIENNE).
From 1970 to 1971, Pipeline Director for HASSI-MESSAOUD in BEJAIA (former BOUGIE), Algeria.
From 1971 to 1977, Executive Adviser, within a framework of cooperation of several Algerian national companies :
"SONATRACH", for Hassi-Messaoud pipeline – Bejaia ;
"SONAREM", for the Djebel-Onk phosphate mine, near Tébessa ;
"SONIC", for Souk-Ahras paper factory.
He retired on May 1, 1979.
SERVICEMEN ASSOCIATIONS ACTIVITIES
President of the National Federation of Volunteer Servicemen from 1980 to 1992, he become Honorary President.
Member of the U.F.A.C. National Bureau from 1982 to 1988.
Administrator of André MAGINOT National Federation in 1983, he was Deputy President and Chairman of the Finance Commission from 1985 to 1992.
Administrator of the National Board of Ex-servicemen (O.N.A.C) from 1983 to 2002, he was appointed member of O.N.A.C's Honor Committee on September 13, 2002.
Member of the National Commission for Servicemen Card since 1981, he become currently Deputy Chairman of this Commission.
He is also member of the National Commission for the Resistance Volunteer Servicemen Card since 1983, in the capacity of Internal French Forces representative.
President Henri EUGENE is Officer of the Legion of Honor, Officer of the National Order of Merit, and holder of the Second World War Cross with distinction, "Second World War" Volunteer Servicemen Cross with bar and Resistance Volunteer Servicemen Cross.
He has 2 children, 6 grandchildren and 4 great-grandchildren.
Henri
EUGENE, President from 1980 to 1992 
