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December 29th., 1942.
TO WHOM IT MAY CONCERN: - 

This is to certify that ALAN GAUTHIER LEVY is my nephew, his mother being my sister. HE was born in Jouy-en-Josas, France, on June 26th., 1913. His father, Roger Achille Levy was, up to the present war, a very successful business man a leading wool manufacturer and wholesale merchant, with headquarters in Paris where he resided. His son Alan Gauthier was always a brilliant pupil and later on a student at the University of Sorbonne in Paris, where he become a "Licensié"- in other words, obtained his law degree- after which he joined his father in business. Trustworthy, in no way interested in politics, he was drafted at the beginning of the war and served in the French Army until taken prisoner in the course of military operation in June 1940. Sent to a prisoners' camp in Germany, he succeeded in a most daring escape and returned to France to join his family in Agen, in the then so-called "unoccupied' zone. 

From the cable received, it would appear that once more he succeeded in eluding the Germans, by crossing the frontier into Spain just before the Germans marched into that former zone. 

Alan Gauthier's grandfater, Jacques Seligmann, my own father, established the above indicated firm around 1800 in Paris, and around 1904 in New York. This firm was incorporated in 1913 and since my father's death, November 1923, I have been at the head of it. 

I was born in Paris on February 25th., 1893. I established my permanent residence here in 1937, and declared my intention to become a citizen of the United Sates on November 20th., 1940. I am desirous of obtaining my final papers as quickly as possible and have volunteered for a Commission in the United States Army. 

I served in the First World War and was in the French Army, being assigned in 1917 as Liaison Officer, in my capacity of Captain, to the First Division the American Expeditionary Forces. I am the holder of the following decorations and awards - Distinguished Service Medal (U.S.S), Officer of the Legion of Honor,Croix de Guerre - six citations.   

Yours very sincerely, 

(Germain Séligmann)

State of New York, 
County of New York. 

Sworn to before me this 29th, day of December, 1942.


___________________________ NOTARY PUBLIC 

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