[1] The 5th of 4 siblings, Jean Trescases enlisted at the age of 18 in Perpignan, as he had a keen sense of discipline and was assigned to the 17th regiment of Senegalese infantrymen.

Appointed corporal two years later, he left the Middle East in July 1937 to serve with the 42th Bataillon de Mitrailleurs Malgaches stationed at Pamiers in the Ariège region of France.

[7] Promoted to master corporal on September 1, 1937, then sergeant 18 months later, he volunteered to serve in French West Africa, arriving at Port Bouet in June 1939.

[8] In 1942, marked by the German presence in the occupied zone, he joined the Free France after crossing the Spanish and Portuguese borders, arriving in Great Britain by air on January 10, 1943.

[8] After the war, he was assigned to the 16th Régiment de Tirailleurs Sénégalais in April 1945, and promoted to chief warrant officer in February 1946, before volunteering to serve in the Far East.

On November 21, 1951, during an ambush near the village of Bang-Son, Chief Warrant Officer Trescases was mortally wounded, leaving behind a legacy of bravery and exemplary service.