Eight North Carolina veterans have received France’s highest honor for their service in freeing France from Nazi occupation, 70 years after the end of World War Two.

The men were awarded the French Legion of Honor medal, the highest military honor France can give since Napoleon Bonaparte first created it in 1802, in a ceremony in Raleigh, NC, on Tuesday.

The recipients, most of them now in their 90s, seemed surprised by the honor and recounted some memories of their time in France. One of the Medal recipients spoke with the Herald Sun before the day of the ceremony:

“It was quite an adventure,” James Seitzer, 90, said of his time stationed in Europe with the Army National Guard.

He was a sergeant of Company E in the 324th Infantry Regiment and the 44th Infantry Division. His battalion, which was comprised of four companies, was charged with executing a lightning strike along with the French 2nd Armored Division to liberate Strasbourg, then under Nazi control, on Nov. 23 1944.

“Took them completely by surprise,” Seitzer recalled.

Seitzer said that when the troops came through the city, everyone was celebrating and congratulating the soldiers. “All the girls wanted to kiss them,” he added.

​​Medals ​were presented to the veterans​ by​ French Consul General Denis Barbet​, one of the country’s leading French diplomats. Some of the medals were awarded posthumously and were accepted by family members.

Consul Barbet addressed the recipients during the ceremony:

“We think that it’s never too late to recognize the merits of the young Americans who came to France for to brought [sic] back freedom and liberty to France and to Europe as well.”

The heroes honored at the ceremony (in alphabetical order):

​Leonard E. Bernard, first lieutenant, 93rd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force​
Charles Di Maria, private first class, Battery C, 633rd Anti-Aircraft Artillery Battalion
Harold L. Eatman, technical sergeant, Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 513th Parachute Infantry
​​James M. Hamby, private first class, Headquarters Battery, 29th Field Artillery Battalion​
​​Julien G. Highsmith, seaman first class, Landing Ship Tank 503​
Donald R. Judd​, ​private first class, 36th Infantry Division
Fernnie C. Letchworth, staff sergeant, Headquarters Battery, 602nd Glider Artillery Battalion
James D. Seitzer, sergeant, Company E, 324th Infantry Regiment, 44th Infantry Division

http://www.ijreview.com/2015/02/245324-f...ns-wont-forget/

"The men were awarded the French Legion of Honor medal, the highest military honor France can give since Napoleon Bonaparte first created it in 1802..."

This is not meant in any way to diminish the accomplishments of these men but here are a couple of interesting quotes from said Napoleon.

"A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon."

and

"Give me enough medals and I’ll win you any war"

Better late than never !!

WWII ...great heroes all !!

w

Quote: Cincinnatus wrote in post #2

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"The men were awarded the French Legion of Honor medal, the highest military honor France can give since Napoleon Bonaparte first created it in 1802..."

This is not meant in any way to diminish the accomplishments of these men but here are a couple of interesting quotes from said Napoleon.

"A soldier will fight long and hard for a bit of colored ribbon."

and

"Give me enough medals and I’ll win you any war"

---

Good story.