In a quiet ceremony yesterday at the Veterans of Foreign Wars Post in Roseburg, Oregon, Jim Stone was awarded the French Legion of Honor Award in recognition of his military service during World War II.
Stone, a resident of Riddle, Oregon, a tiny town in Southern Douglas County, is humble about his service in the War. In fact, the 87- year old actually said he felt like a “coward” during the war. Apparently, the French think otherwise.
Stone is being recognized for his help in freeing France from Nazi occupation.
Like other warriors of his time, Stone was not only doing his job, he was fighting for what was right.
Jim Stone is one of approximately one-hundred Americans approved by a review board who will receive the award this year. Thirteen such Americans received this award in Atlanta in February.
In the ceremony in Atlanta, French consul general, Pascal Le Deunff, said, “We will never be able to give enough praise for the heroism of those who fought for the liberation of France and Europe.
Stone is now in some pretty famous company. Other recipients of the French Legion of Honor Award include General George S. Patton, Charlie Chaplin and Thomas Edison.
The medal was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802.
World War II veterans are dying at the rate of about 1200 a day. Our old heroes won’t be around for the next generation to honor them.
Examiner’s Note: Thank you, Jim Stone, for your service to our country. I hope you will be able to take advantage of an Honor Flight to visit the WWII Memorial in Washington, DC, built in your honor. You deserve it.
Thanks to Charles Preston, Vietnam Veteran, of Roseburg, Oregon, for the news tip on Jim Stone. The National Military New Examiner publishes military and military-related articles that often miss mainstream media. If you have a military-related article you would like to see highlighted, please contact this Examiner directly at susyraybon@bellsouth.net.
For other interesting military articles follow the National Military Examiner on Facebook.
Comments