During this period, the WAACs played a part in strengthening ties with the French:<ref name=10/21/1943Globe></ref> in July General Henri Giraud, commander of the French forces, reviewed Marquis' troops (finding them "inspiring") and later in the summer of 1943, the WACs and their French counterparts (one of whose officers was the wife of Colonel Gross) paraded together with a 1st Regiment Zouave color guard.