JEAN CREPIN

Associated Press

He died May 4 at his home in Acheres-
la-Foret, east of Paris.

Crepin began his military career in 1930 as an artillery lieutenant. In
World War II, he served in France, Germany, Libya and Tunisia and helped liberate Paris from the Nazis.

He became France's youngest five-star general in 1961 and led French forces in Algeria during the former colony's war for independence.

Crepin retired from military service in 1967 and then- President Charles de Gaulle appointed him to head the state-controlled weapons and aviation manufacturer, Nord Aviation.

There, Crepin was a guiding force behind the development of France's Exocet missile. It was a key strategic weapon in Argentina's 1982 war with Britain in the Falkland Islands, and in the 1980s war between Iran and Iraq.

Among Crepin's many military honors were the French Grand-Croix medal from the Legion of Honor, and the U.S. Silver Star.

Crepin was married to the late Simone Granday. They had two daughters, Francoise van der Plaetsen and Bernadette Menahem.