Updated 11 March, 2010

• Foreign Decorations Good general overview of foreign awards to US citizens. Foxfall 

• Afghanistan

• President Bush awarded Afghani Medal Afghan President Hamid Karzai gives the Ghazi Amanullah Khan Medal to U.S. President George W. Bush at the presidential palace in Kabul December 15, 2008.  The medal is the country's highest award. Ghazi Ammanullah Khan served as Afghanistan's king from 1919-29 and led the country to independence from the erstwhile British Empire. REUTERS/Musadeq Sadeq/Pool (AFGHANISTAN) The Other shoe drops: Bush gets Afghan medal

• Albania


• National Flag Order Presented US President George W. Bush, received the 'National Flag Order' medal from his Albanian counterpart Alfred Moisiu, right, at the Palace of the Brigades in Tirana, Albania, on Sunday June 10, 2007. Bush started the working part of a quick, six-hour visit to Albania, arriving in Tirana from Rome and ahead of his departure for Bulgaria in the afternoon.(AP Photo/Hektor Pustina) news.yahoo.com 10 Jun 07
• Britain

• Alan Greenspan gets honorary knighthood US Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan received an honorary knighthood from Queen Elizabeth II. Because he is not a British citizen, Greenspan cannot use "Sir" in front of his name, but he can put the letters KBE after it. The initials stand for Knight Commander of the British Empire. Others Americans who have received honorary knighthoods include former New York City Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, former presidents George Bush and Ronald Reagan, and entertainer Bob Hope. Sep 02 Greenspan receives honorary knighthood  Fed chairman Greenspan knighted by Queen Elizabeth II



• Milton WWII Vet to get British Medal  David Rubitsky Honorary MBE for single-handedly gunning down more than 500 Japanese soldiers during a battle in World War II May 01

• Giuliani in UK to receive knighthood - The former mayor of New York, Rudolph Giuliani, has arrived in London to receive an honorary knighthood from the Queen for the role he played in the wake of the 11 September attacks. He will be joined by former New York police commissioner Bernard Kerik and former New York fire commissioner Thomas von Essen, who will each receive honorary CBEs Feb 02 British Honours for New York’s Finest New York mayor Rudolf Giuliani is to be awarded an honorary knighthood, while police commissioner Bernard Kerik and Fire Commissioner Thomas Von Essen are to be awarded honorary CBEs Oct 01

• Wayne County native to receive RAF's highest medal for peacetime U.S. Coast Guard Lt. Bill Sasser Jr. awarded the Air Force Cross. Sasser, an exchange officer with the Royal Air Force, commanded a Sea King helicopter on a search-and-rescue mission involving the Rosebank, which caught fire off the northeast coast of England. Sasser and three other servicemen flew to the scene, where the fire had cut off the Rosebank crew from its lifeboats and survival gear. Nov 02

  Prince Andrew Honors U.S. Navy Captain England’s Prince Andrew awarded Capt. John Peterson the Honorary Order of the British Empire (OBE) during an investiture ceremony Jan. 25 at the British Embassy in Manama, Bahrain. Peterson, chief of staff for Commander, U.S. Naval Forces Central Command, was given the prestigious award for his leadership of coalition forces, which included a large number of Royal Navy sailors and marines, in the campaign to secure Iraqi oil assets during the onset of Operation Iraqi Freedom in 2003.



• Minnesota woman picked for royal honor A Minnesota woman will be accorded one of Britain's highest honorary titles for her efforts to streamline the nation's healthcare system. Quality healthcare expert Sheila Leatherman sayss she expects to be awarded the title of Honorary Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire sometime this summer. The 55-year-old Minneapolis woman officially got the good news that her nearly 10 years of helping Britain drastically reduce the length of time Britons wait to receive healthcare had resulted in Queen Elizabeth II personally approving the award. earthtimes.org 19 May 07

• Ambassadors to honor female WWII spy In 1942, the Gestapo circulated posters offering a reward for the capture of "the woman with a limp. She is the most dangerous of all Allied spies and we must find and destroy her." The dangerous woman was Virginia Hall, a Baltimore native working in France for British intelligence, and the limp was the result of an artificial leg. Her left leg had been amputated below the knee about a decade earlier after she stumbled and blasted her foot with a shotgun while hunting in Turkey. British Ambassador Sir David Manning plans to present a certificate signed by King George VI to Hall's niece, Lorna Catling. Hall should have received the document in 1943, when she was made a member of the Order of the British Empire. OSS chief William Donovan had presented Hall with a Distinguished Service Medal in September 1945 during a private ceremony in his office that was witnessed only by Hall's mother. She was the only civilian woman to win the medal for service in World War II. chron.com 10 Dec 06

  • British, French Honor US Spy Virginia Hall
  • One-legged spy who ran rings round the Gestapo

Colombia

• Marc Grossman Awarded Order of Saint Charles The President of the Republic, Álvaro Uribe Vélez awarded the Orden de San Carlos, categoría Gran Cruz (Order of Saint Charles, Grand Cross Class) to Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs of the United States, Marc Grossman, for his work in the strengthening of bilateral ties. presidencia.gov.co 14 Feb 05 Translation by Esteban Rivera

• US General James Hill Awarded Colombian Order Colombian Minister of Defense Jorge Alberto Uribe Echavarría has awarded U.S. General James Hill the Orden del Mérito Militar Antonio Nariño, categoría Gran Cruz (Order of Military Merit Antonio Narino, Grand Cross Class)for his contributions to the war effort in Colombia. PDF file. armada.mil.co Nov 05

• General Pace Awarded Colombian Order US General Peter Pace, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff has been awarded the Colombian Navy's highest award, the Orden del Mérito Naval "Almirante Padilla", categoría Gran Cruz ("Admiral Padilla" Naval Merito Order, Grand Cross class), during a Caribbean Naval Force military parade in Cartagena on September 13, 2007. Article in Spanish.. cgfm.mil.co 13 Sep 07

Czec Republic

• The Diplomat From 2004 to January of this year, Greenwich resident Craig Stapleton served as the United States Ambassador to France. This week, he was presented with France's highest honor by French President Nicholas Sarkozy - Commander of the Legion of Honor. But that is not Stapleton's only diplomatic experience nor is it his only honor. Prior to his stint in France, he was named Ambassador to the Czech Republic by then-President George W. Bush. (Stapleton's wife, Debbie is cousin to the former president.) He served there from 2001 to 2004 - and was awarded that country's Jan Masaryk Medal. greenwichcitizen.com 19 Oct 09

France

Legion d'honneur

• Veterans who helped liberate France could receive medal -  U.S. veterans who helped in the liberation of France during World War II could be eligible to receive the French Legion of Honor Medal in the future. This medal was previously only issued to WWI vets. The French government has asked the Secretary of Veterans Affairs for assistance in identifying qualified U.S. veterans for consideration in awarding this medal. It is not the responsibility of the Department of Veterans Affairs to select the veterans. VA only facilitates the communications with the veterans, if necessary. The 10 French consulates in the U.S. will have involvement in the distribution of the awards in 2005, 2006, etc. Those applying must have written documentation, which is normally a copy of his/her military separation order, DD-214, and other official orders, which verifies their military history during combat. Members of the Army, Army Air Corps, Navy and Coast Guard who participated in one of the four major campaigns in the liberation of France (Normandy, Southern France, Northern France and the Ardennes) are eligible for this French award. Any previous military awards such as the Congressional Medal of Honor, the Silver Star, the Bronze Star, the Purple Heart, etc., would indicate meritorious actions during combat operations. Copies of these documents should be forwarded with the request for consideration for the French Legion of Honor to the Defense Attaché, Embassy of France, 4101 Reservoir Road NW, Washington, DC 20007. These French medals must be approved by the Legion of Honor Committee in Paris, France, after appropriate review. Approximately 100 French Legion of Honor Medals will be awarded each year in the U.S. at the home of each veteran or at public ceremony during a patriotic holiday. These arrangements will be made after the awardees have been notified. To find out more, contact the French Defense Attaché at 202-944-6502 or by fax at 202-944-6538. zwire.com 1 Sep 05

• 2 Illinois WWII vets awarded France's Legion of Honor French Foreign Minister Philippe Douste-Blazy awarded his country's prestigious Legion of Honor to two Illinois veterans for helping liberate France during World War II. Douste-Blazy awarded the medals to Carl B. Goeltenbodt of Arlington Heights, who took part in 30 air-offensive missions, and Donald P. Schoo of DeKalb, who was part of the D-Day landing. suntimes.com 7 Jul 05

• France bestows honor on two Wichitans Hank Harvey, left, and Bill Paschal recently received France's greatest honor - Knight of the Legion of Honor - for their service during World War II. Harvey served in the 320th Infantry Division, working under fire in the front lines, running telephones and communications wire to units serving under Gen. George S. Patton. He often worked from Patton's headquarters and knew Patton well. In August 1944, Patton personally ordered Harvey to sneak telephones and wire to the 30th Division's "Lost Battalion," near Mortain, France. Harvey was awarded the Bronze Star for bravery.  Bill Paschal was a scout in an Army infantry platoon that repeatedly attacked German machine gun nests; Paschal, along with his close friend Calvin Brown from North Carolina, fought side by side through many battles and killed many German soldiers. Both received the Silver Star for gallantry in action, and Brown saved Paschal's life at least a dozen times before Brown was killed at Paschal's side by a sniper's bullet. Paschal also received three Bronze Stars for valor in combat. He was captured by a German SS unit, beaten and starved down to 90 pounds before the end of the war. In April 1945, while being force-marched to what they were sure was their own execution, Paschal and other Allied prisoners attacked their German guards, overpowered them and walked for several days until they were rescued by Patton's tanks. kansas.com 9 Apr 06

• France’s top honor Veteran Carl Goeltenbodt of Arlington Heights received a prestigious honor from France this week for helping liberate the nation during World War II. On June 6, 1944, a young Carl Goeltenbodt spent 5 hours and 35 minutes in the air aboard a B-24 bomber, soaring above the beaches of Normandy as part of the D-Day invasion. He’d flown three missions before that. He’d fly 29 after. As a tail gunner in the war, he did what he was supposed to, he’ll tell you. Nothing more. Certainly nothing special. dailyherald.com 9 Jul 05

• France to honor Sidney man, 83, for WWII valor An 83-year-old Sidney Maine man will be among the first group of 18 World War II veterans to receive France's highest national award for valor while on U.S. soil. Joseph A. Pelletier, a U.S. Army private first class during World War II will be one of four men with Maine connections to receive the French Legion of Honor, Chevalier. The three other Maine recipients include Medal of Honor recipient 2nd Lt. Edward C. Dahlgren, originally from Mars Hill; Pfc. Ralph W. Steeves, originally from Glenwood; and Lt. William H. Davis III, Silver Star and Air Medal recipient with 10 Oak Leaf Clusters, a Beverly, Mass., native who now lives in Anson. kennebecjournal.mainetoday.com 28 Apr 06

• Highest honor Anthony Koutzoukis, in a photo from 1943 (top right) and at his home in Peabody. Now 81, he will travel to Vermont to attend the ceremony honoring his World War II service in France as an Army machine gunner. Bottom right: The Legion of Honor medal. boston.com 28 Apr 06

• NYPD commissioner receives French honor New York Police Commissioner Ray Kelly didn`t even have to leave the Big Apple to be made a member of the French Legion of Honor. Kelly was inducted as a member of the Legion of Honor Order. The medal ceremony was at the French Consulate in New York. French Interior Minister Nicolas Sarkozy said France honored Kelly for his contributions to fighting terrorism since Sept. 11, 2001. news.monstersandcritics.com 10 Sep 06

• Charles Coolidge Receives French Legion of Honor Charles Coolidge is now known as a hero on both sides of the Atlantic. In June of 1945, Sergeant Coolidge was awarded the U.S.'s Congressional Medal of Honor for his heroics during World War II. Now France is recognizing Mr. Coolidge's bravery as well. Sergeant Charles Coolidge was presented France's highest medal, the Legion of Honor. Now Charles Coolidge joins the list of Honor recipients because of his bravery in October of 1944. His leadership proved influential during a four day offensive against invading German troops. Now 61 years and four months after receiving the U.S.'s highest award, Sergeant Charles Coolidge joins the ranks of the best of the best among one of America's oldest allies. newschannel9.com 15 Sep 06

  • French honor Coolidge

  • Charles Coolidge and the Medal of Honor

• Jeweler awarded Legion of Honor Medal Stanley J. Marcus of Old Tappan, N.J., a World War II veteran with a long history in the jewelry business, was awarded the Legion of Honor Medal on July 26 in Princeton, N.J. Jean-David LeVitte, French ambassador to the United States, presented medals to Marcus and 13 other World War II veterans. nationaljeweler.com 26 Oct 06

• Area man honored with French Legion Medal of Honor World War II veteran and Purple Heart recipient Eli Linden was presented with the French Legion Medal of Honor. “This award testifies to the president of the French Republic’s high esteem for your merits and accomplishments. In particular, it is a sign of France’s true and unforgettable gratitude and appreciation for your personal, precious contribution to the United States’ decisive role in the liberation of our country during World War II.”  Linden was drafted into the United States Army in January 1943, serving in the 90th Infantry Division and the Normandy invasion, known as “the largest seaborne invasion in history.” There he was wounded, for which he received the Purple Heart.  After a short recuperation period Linden was sent back to France and captured near the Siegfried Line by the Germans, who put him on a box car for three days without food or water, en route to a POW camp in Germany—Stalag 4B.  After spending five months in the camp, Linden was liberated by the Russians. flatbushlife.com 1 Feb 07

• 'Dangerous one' gets French medal Willis Young looks at the Legion of Honor medal he was recently awarded from France for his actions in World War II. Young was assigned to the B Company of the 95th Infantry Division's 1st Battalion. B company arrived in France in early September 1944 and followed the American advance through Europe. The unit arrived in Nances on Oct. 12, 1944. The next day, Young earned the Bronze star. Young's Bronze Star was the first issued to the 95th Division. It was also his first time in combat. He was ordered to escort a wounded soldier to the first aid station. They were halfway there when they came under German fire. The hilly terrain and grape arbors of the region made it difficult for Young to see where the attack was coming from. "Bullets were flying like the dickens," Young recalled. He sent the wounded man ahead while he searched for the enemy's position. "All of a sudden, I look down this ravine and see these guys lined up like a firing squad. In about three seconds, I fired four shots and they went down." Young fire four more shots, following an order issued by Gen. George Patton to shoot enemy troops twice "so they couldn't shoot you in the back." Young also shot a fifth German who emerged from cover before he made it to the first aid tent. "I was never nervous in combat. The way I looked at it, either his mama or my mama is going to be unhappy tonight." The soldier he'd been escorting, though, wasn't wounded at all, Young said.  register-mail.com 25 Mar 07

• 62 years later, Army vet gets Legion of Honor Sixty-two years after he fought in France and was captured as a prisoner of war, Eugene ``Ike'' Spack has been honored by the French government as a Knight of the Legion of Honor. The French government has given 100 American WWII veterans this award each year since 2004 and will continue to present 100 awards to Americans through 2008 in honor of the 60th anniversary of D-Day and the liberation of France. Ohioans who have received the award so far are Kenneth G. Lipstreuer of Mentor; Barnett B. Lurie of Shaker Heights; Jon Hendricks of Toledo; and John R. Stafford of Columbus, according to Pascale Furlong, of the French consulate in Chicago. ohio.com 20 Oct 06

• You can call him 'Sir' John Two years ago, the Sentinel brought you the story of John Hinchliff's experience in WWII, especially the role he played in the invasion of Normandy beach. Now, 63 years after that invasion, the French government has honored his efforts, naming him a "Chevalier" of the "Légion d'honneur". In other words, Hinchliff (or Sir Hinchliff if he so chooses) is now a knight of France's highest honorary society. Yet despite this rare and prestigious recognition, Hinchliff is quick to dismiss any praise for himself. "I'm not a hero, I was just trained to do a job," he said matter-of-factly. "All the heroes are our buddies that are buried over there." Stationed in England as a paratrooper with the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment, Hinchliff and his fellow paratroopers "had been training for two solid years for the Normandy invasion." Bringing along a .30 caliber light machine gun from the bundle, the men set off towards the distant steeple, reaching the church located in the village of Graignes on June 6. Within 24 hours, over 160 paratroopers from the 507th Parachute Infantry Regiment and around twenty-five 101st Airborne Parachutists had assembled in the village and set up a perimeter of defense with their heavy equipment consisting of five .30 caliber light machine guns and two 81mm mortars. burnettcountysentinel.com 9 May 07

• Gen. Casey Awarded Legion of Honor Army Chief of Staff Gen. George W. Casey Jr. is awarded the Legion of Honor by Hervé Morin, Defense Minister, commander of the French Foreign Legion. The decoration is France's highest, first created by Napoleon Bonaparte shortly after the French Revolution. The ceremony took place Jan. 30 at the French ambassador's residence in Washington, D.C. army.mil 8 Feb 08

• Streisand Honoured by France U.S. singer Barbra Streisand, left, and her husband James Brolin, show the medal of Officer of the Legion of Honor, France's highest award, she received from French President Nicolas Sarkozy at the Elysee Palace, in Paris , Thursday, June 28, 2007. (AP Photo/Francois Mori)

• The Diplomat From 2004 to January of this year, Greenwich resident Craig Stapleton served as the United States Ambassador to France. This week, he was presented with France's highest honor by French President Nicholas Sarkozy - Commander of the Legion of Honor. But that is not Stapleton's only diplomatic experience nor is it his only honor. Prior to his stint in France, he was named Ambassador to the Czech Republic by then-President George W. Bush. (Stapleton's wife, Debbie is cousin to the former president.) He served there from 2001 to 2004 - and was awarded that country's Jan Masaryk Medal. greenwichcitizen.com 19 Oct 09
• France to honor Amo Houghton Amory Houghton Jr., an advocate of close ties with France during his 18 years in Congress, will receive the French Legion of Honor in a ceremony at the U.S. Capitol. "I wish my mom and dad were here," said Houghton, 81, whose father received the Legion of Honor from French Ambassador Herve Alphand more than 40 years ago. The elder Houghton served as U.S. ambassador to France from 1957 to 1961. He died in 1981. stargazettenews.com 11 Jul 07 
• Houghton receives French honor

National Order of Merit

• France Honors Quiet Diplomacy of Rabbi Quiet diplomacy rarely makes headlines, but one example of the art received public recognition this month when France bestowed one of its highest honors on Rabbi Gary Greenebaum. In conferring the National Order of Merit on the Western regional director of the American Jewish Committee (AJC), the French ambassador to the United States praised Greenebaum as “a man of dialogue.” Greenebaum earned the compliment for his below-the-radar efforts over the past five years, at a time when attacks on French Jews and synagogues kept escalating and were met with seeming indifference by the government in Paris. The most infamous recent incident was the kidnapping, torture and murder of 23-year-old Ilan Halimi, who died in February. jewishjournal.com 14 Apr 06

Order of Arts and Letters

• 8 take part in production by New York City Ballet The French Ministry of Culture has conferred the Legion of Honor with the title of Commandeur de l'Ordre des Arts et des Lettres on Norman Manea, Francis Flournoy professor in European Studies and Culture and writer in residence at Bard College, in recognition of a "great talent" and a literary work "without concession, vigilante, humanistic," according to a press release. Manea, a member of the Bard faculty since 1989, is author of 22 volumes of fiction and essays. His work has been translated into 20 languages. He lives with his wife in New York City.

Medaille Militaire

• Boston Soldier wins The Medaille Militaire 23 Aug, 1919 The Ohio Historical Society

Croix de Guerre

• Morgan honored with medal Johnny Morgan smiles while given a medal from the French government for his work during World War II. Morgan was given a medal, a French Croix de Guerre. pntonline.com 8 May 05

• Schoo awarded medal by French government for his role in WWII Schoo was in Europe from October 1943 to October 1945 and logged 305 days of combat duty with the 80th Infantry Division as his unit made its way from Omaha Beach, through the French countryside and into Germany and Austria. One of his most enduring - and disturbing - memories is of Buchenwald. Schoo also has been given the Croix de Guerre, a French medal given for bravery in battle. The press attaché with the French consulate said about 5,000 Americans have been inducted into the Legion of Honor since the end of WWII. Some 100 of the medals were given out to American WWII veterans last year on the 60th anniversary of D-Day. daily-chronicle.com 8 Jul 05

Liberty Medal

• France  Jubilee of Liberty Medal - The Jubilee of Liberty Medal was authorized by the Regional Council of Normandy to pay tribute to the men and women who fought at Normandy to restore freedom. They were first presented to all veterans who came back to Normandy for the 50th Anniversary observance of D-Day in 1994. The governor of Normandy also authorized the medal for any Normandy veteran who was unable to attend the 1994 ceremonies but was still part of the invasion that occurred June 6-Aug 31, 1944.

• Jubilee Medals Presented 50^th Anniversary of France Medal

• Normandy Veterans honored with Medals Jubilee of Liberty Medal Nov 01

• Local man honored by France French 50th anniversary of World War II certificate and medal. Photo Mar 02

• French recognize Vallejoans contribution of D-Day Dave Conger has been awarded a medal by the French government for the role he played in D-Day as a bomber pilot. Conger flew his first combat mission as lead pilot of a B-24 bomber squadron on June 6, 1944 -- more commonly known as D-Day. His mission was to fly behind the invasion beach and destroy a German railroad and reinforcement point for the front. Before the war was over, Conger had flown 30 combat missions over military targets in Germany and France. He received the Distinguished Flying Cross and Air Medial with four Oak Leaf Clusters. Mar 02

• Vet Sends Normandy Medal Back To France - A World War II veteran says he's so angry with France that he plans to return the Normandy Medal given to him by the French government for his actions on D-Day. More Mar 03
  
•  Veterans honored for D-Day Service French Jubilee of Liberty Medals awarded Apr 02
• Medal recipients listed  - The 10 Oak Ridge/Oliver Springs medal recipients of the Jubilee of Liberty Medal Sep 02

• Delhi vet receives WWII French liberty medal Joe Wenck of Delhi Township, was one of five men who recently received The Jubilee of Liberty Medal from France, for heroic efforts in World War II. The other four World War II veterans who were awarded The Jubilee of Liberty Medal from France were Fred M. Hess of Symmes Township, Jack Smith of Middletown, Roy Cashdollar of West Virginia and Tony Fasano of Springboro. communitypress.com 11 May 05
  

• Veterans receive medals At the Mayport Naval Station, Congressman Ander Crenshaw presented medals to veterans during a ceremony -- specifically veterans who took part in the Normandy Invasion and those who served in the Korean War. FirstCoastNews 10 Nov 03  Medal honors soldier's fight to liberate Europe It will be 60 years in July since Edna Irvin Hamlet received the awful news that her brother, Luther Irvin Jr., had been killed in fighting during World War II in Europe. She has lived with the loss, never having had the brother she grew up with to grow old with. That's one of the reasons Hamlet was pleased to learn that she might received the Normandy Medal of the Jubilee of Liberty in her brother's memory. Hamlet is one of the area people eligible for the medal, which was first minted in 1994 at the direction of the Regional Council of Normandy and the Governor of Normandy and presented to U.S. veterans of the Normandy invasion. It was presented to Normandy veterans who attended the jubilee in France. This year, the U.S. government has re-commissioned the medal and plans to give it to as many veterans and their families as possible. Pal-item.com 28 Feb 04

• 6 vets receive medals Six St. Cloud-area World War II veterans received the Jubilee of Liberty medal. Issued by the French government, the Jubilee of Liberty honors military members who participated in the invasion of Normandy, France. It was first given to soldiers at a June 6, 1994, ceremony in Normandy commemorating the 50th anniversary of D-Day. Later, the governor of Normandy decided that veterans who participated in the invasion but could not attend the ceremony in France still should receive the medal. Walter Buranen of Kimball, Leander Danzl of St. Cloud, Donald Koehn of Holdingford and Eva Tembrock Donovan of Monticello received the Jubilee of Liberty. Two other recipients accepted the medal on behalf of deceased relatives. Jack Brown accepted the medal for his father, Robert, of St. Cloud, and Verne Hansen accepted on behalf of his brother, Warren, of Sauk Rapids. miva.sctimes.com 30 Aug 05

• Eight area D-Day vets awarded Jubilee of Liberty medals The Jubilee of Liberty medals were first issued to thousands of U.S. veterans of the invasion at a ceremony in Normandy on the 50th anniversary in 1994. After realizing that most veterans were not able to attend the event, the French government asked the United States to administer the remaining medals. Receiving the medals were Robert Powell, Robert Davis, Sylvester Barthel, Bane Blankenship, Thorleif Hageland, Forrest Leigh and Clyde Stimpson. yakima-herald.com 6 Oct 05

• France Palmes Academiques
  • Palmes Academiques Awarded - His Excellency Francois Bujon de l'Estang visited Indiana University Bloomington to deliver a lecture and to also award France's highest academic honor, the Commandeur de l'Ordre des Palmes Academiques, to Albert Valdman, the Rudy Professor of French and Italian and Linguistics at IU Oct 00
• Legion d'Honneur  

  • Remise des insignes d'officier de la Légion d'Honneurà M. John « Jack »Smith, Chairman de General Motors (Jul 01)

  • French Ambassador Honors American and French former and present Servicemen (Legion d'Honneur and Ordre nationale du Merite) (Dec 97)

  • France pins top honour on D-Day Veteran Walt Ehlers' awarded the French National Order of the Legion of Honor. Ehlers already wears the Medal of Honor, and holds three Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars and one Silver Star May 02
  • France presents 3 with Legion of Honor Bob Slaughter receives Legion d'honneur after fighting for 14 years to see his dream, the National D-Day Memorial, get built. Also receiving the award were Bedford Mayor Mike Shelton and Smith Mountain Lake resident Evelyn Kowalchuk. Oct 02
  • Maj. Gen. Albert Bartlett "A.B." Crowther has died aged 104 Albert Bartlett "A.B." Crowther, a recipient of the French Legion of Honor was 104. Crowther's military decorations also include the Legion of Merit and the Military Valor Cross of the Italian government. San Antonio Express-News Apr 03
  • France to bestow honor upon Eagle Butte woman France will bestow its highest civilian honor upon an Eagle Butte woman for her work as an Army nurse during World War II.Marcella LeBeau, 84, is one of 100 former military personnel who will receive the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur during a June 5 ceremony in Paris. LeBeau, then 24 years old, served with the Army Nurse Corps' 76th General Hospital based in Minster, England. After Allies invaded Europe on June 6, 1944, LeBeau and her colleagues treated the first battle casualties from the beaches of Normandy. aberdeennews.com 15 May 04

  • Utah Man To Receive France’s Highest Military Honor Seven surviving American pilots, including a Utah man, will being honored with a French award for their bravery. Back in 1954, the pilots risked their life to fly CIA supply missions to besieged French forces in what is now Vietnam. The pilots served in Dien Bien Plu, a cluster of villages near the Laotian border. Communist rebels on higher ground pummeled the French with artillery in an epic battle that marked the end of French colonial rule in Indochina and foreshadowed the U.S. experience in Vietnam. Next week the pilots will be honored with the Legion of Honor. One of the pilots being honored is 84-year-old Monson W. Shaver. kutv.com 15 Feb 05

    • France to award medals to U.S. pilots who flew supplies into Dien Bien Phu Allen L. Pope risked life and limb to fly CIA supply missions in 1954 to besieged French forces in what is now Vietnam. Nearly 51 years after the fall of Dien Bien Phu, the seven surviving American pilots who flew in those perilous skies - but later were essentially disowned by the CIA - will be awarded the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur. "It's a nice gesture on their part," says Douglas R. Price who was 29 when he flew 39 airdrop missions to Dien Bien Phu in April and May 1954 as a civilian employee of Civil Air Transport, a flying service whose undeclared owner was the CIA. "I was a covert employee. We were expendable," says Roy F. Watts. journalnow.com 16 Feb 05

  • Veteran wins Legion of Honor Barney Hajiro has received so many decorations for heroism for his service with the legendary 442nd Regimental Combat Team in Europe during World War II, you'd think by now he'd be used to it. But when France's highest distinction, the Legion of Honor, was added to Hajiro's stack of honors — which include the Medal of Honor and the British Military Medal — Hajiro, 88, seemed puzzled by all the fuss. For the French, however, the honor was long overdue. This year the French observed the 60th anniversary of D-Day by inviting more than 90 U.S. veterans of World War II to Paris in early June to present them with the Legion of Honor. Hajiro was supposed to have been among them, but could not make the journey. So the French came to him, pinning the medal on him at a ceremony aboard a French military surveillance ship, the Prairial, based in Papeete, Tahiti. Looking sharp and standing at attention on the deck of the Prairial, docked at Honolulu Harbor's Pier 9, Hajiro accepted the medal last night with grace, dignity and humility. the.honoluluadvertiser.com 15 Oct 04

  • Kendal resident to receive French Legion of Honor medal World War II veteran Roy Bair will be receiving the Knight of the Legion of Honor award from the French government on June 5. Bair, 81, was one of 100 World War II veterans chosen this year to receive the award on behalf of all the Americans who participated in the liberation of France.

  • 3 county veterans to be guests of France at June 6 ceremony John Moreno (left), 95, of Coronado, a Navy veteran of World War II, will soon add France's highest military award, the Legion of Honor, to his service medals. For John Moreno, Charles Hostler and Robert Clark, the June 6 celebration marking the 60th anniversary of the Normandy landings against the forces of Nazi Germany in World War II will be a rewarding ceremony. They are three of the 100 Americans who will be presented the Legion of Honor. signonsandiego.com 24 May 04

  • France gives Scottsdale man Legion of Honor medal France has honored George Pillmore with its highest honor -- the Legion of Honor medal. Pillmore was one of 100 American veterans and the only Arizona resident to receive the medal over the weekend. In the D-Day invasions when Allied troops overcame Adolf Hitler's forces, Pillmore was second in command of a landing craft tank.The small ship was responsible for carrying armored bulldozers and assault cargo between larger vessels and the Normandy shores. But Pillmore's 12-man crew also rescued soldiers whose ships were attacked by air raids, torpedoes and magnetic mines in the water. kpho.com 12 Jun 04
  • Durham WWII veteran receives medal, 'thank you' from France Sixty years ago, John T. Fearrington participated in one of the biggest invasions in history -- in an army that separated whites from blacks in the barracks and on the battlefield. Fearrington, now 81, and other veterans returned to France to accept medals for their service in the Normandy invasion. He said he particularly enjoyed going back to receive an award alongside white veterans he'd never gotten a chance to meet.He was one of 100 U.S. veterans to receive France's highest award, the Legion of Honor medal. He and his wife of 55 years, Annabelle, were flown to Paris by the French government to participate in the D-Day observances. herald-sun.com 20 Jun 04

  • France hnours director Spielberg French President Jacques Chirac bestowed the country's highest honour on director Steven Spielberg. He was made a knight of the French Legion of Honour to recognise his work fighting hatred and intolerance. Mr Chirac said Spielberg's holocaust film Schindler's List ensured that past atrocities were remembered along with heroic deeds. news.bbc.co.uk 6 Sep 04

  • Top French Honour for Hollywood Lobbyist The recently retired chairman of the influential Motion Picture Association of America, 83-year-old Jack Valenti, has been awarded France's top distinction, the Legion of Honour.  French Culture Minister Renaud Donnedieu de Vabres decorated Valenti with the honour in a ceremony attended by US Ambassador Howard Leach and film legend Olivia de Havilland.  The common thread in your work is the essential value on which the United States was founded with France's help: liberty," said the French minister, who also praised Valenti's role in the fight against film piracy.  expatica.com 7 Sep 04

  • Celebrating Julia Child and Her Love of France Julia Child, famed cookbook author and television personality died on August 13, 2004. In 2000, Julia Child was awarded the Legion d'Honneur, France's highest decoration. Other Americans who have been given this honor include comedian Jerry Lewis in 1984 and 100 veterans of World War II this past June, in honor of the 60th Anniversary of the D-Day Landings. travelvideo.tv 20 Sep 04

  • Decatur war veteran gets French medal 61 years late World War II veteran George F. Mills served in the 109th Infantry Regiment, 28th Infantry Division, known as the "Keystone" Division. The French government awarded his regiment the Croix de Guerre medal for valorous actions during the liberation of France in 1944. The 109th was the only regiment in the division that received the honor. A recent check of Army records revealed that Mills never received the award. Sixty-one years later, at the February meeting of Redstone Chapter No. 353, National Sojourners Inc., past president and retired Air Force Maj. Henry B. Tyra, himself a World War II veteran, presented the medal to Mills. decaturdaily.com 10 Apr 05

  • Springfield consultant awarded Legion of Honor US Political consultant Joseph J. Napolitan has been chosen to receive France's highest civilian award by President Jacques Chirac. Napolitan will be added to France's Legion of Honor. Napolitan has served as adviser to French presidents and members of the French parliament. boston.com 20 Oct 05

  • Pilot's covert flights in Indochina earn belated honor from France Maybe it's habit or humility, but Douglas Price won't admit to any heroics. He is careful and deliberate with his words. He won't embellish. War stories? The way he tells them, they're about as captivating as a bond market report. "I just wanted to fly," Price says. The French government is giving him and six other American pilots, most of them now in their 70s and 80s, France's highest military and civilian honor, the Chevalier de la Legion d'Honneur. The heroics took place in 1954 when 37 American civilian pilots risked their lives to help French troops in part of what was then Indochina, later known as Vietnam. signonsandiego.com 24 Feb 05

  • French honor ex-nurse for her role in D-Day In a 90th birthday surprise, Rachel Fairbanks Sweitzer was awarded one of France's most distinguished awards for her service as a nurse in the Normandy invasion. Sweitzer, who was assigned to a surgical unit under Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army during World War II, accepted the Legion of Honor. chicagotribune.com 2 May 05

  • World War II Remembered Following news items are from 1945 - Capt. Zachary T. Ossefort has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds sustained in Czechoslovakia May 5. First Lt. Robert Mahony has been awarded the Purple Heart and Air medal for duty with the Army Air corps in Europe. Cpl. Harold E. Derbique, son of Mr. and Mrs. Arthur Derbique, 1250 Doty street, has been awarded the Croix de Guerre Avec Palme by the French government for “exceptional military services rendered in the course of operations for the liberation of France.” T/Sgt. Sylvester Strelow, of Gresham, has been awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross for extraordinary achievement in the strategic air war over Europe. Lt. George M. Ossefort has been awarded the Silver Star for gallantry in action in Germany between Feb. 23 and Feb. 26, 1945. Cpl. Charles W. Erickson was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in combat on the Fifth Army front in Italy. Sgt. Alfred B. Forsythe has been awarded the Purple Heart for wounds received in action in Italy April 14. greenbaypressgazette.com `17 Jul 05

  • Legion of Honor Joseph Biehler and Anthony Santoro aren't the type of men who talk freely about the World War II battles they have fought, or the ordeals they have managed to survive. They fought the Nazis around Normandy in France – military encounters that served as the tipping point of the war. Dedicated young GIs, Biehler and Santoro followed orders; they went where they were told to go. Humble and private men, they said they do not enjoy conjuring up those bloody battlefield memories more than a half-century later. But the danger Biehler, 84, of Clifton, and the 83-year-old Santoro, of East Rutherford, faced in those battles is not going unrecognized, because the men joined nine other American veterans from the tri-state area in receiving the Legion of Honor. bergen.com 9 May 06

  • Milton man recognized for bravery When Franklin Simon returned from World War II after fighting as a member in the 2nd Ranger Infantry Battalion, his boss at the time responded with surprise that a Jewish boy would be assigned such a tough job Simon said that back then, as well as today, there is a belief that Jews were draft dodgers or if they went to war, they were assigned easy jobs. After receiving the French Legion of Honor  for his bravery on D-Day, Simon wants to dispel that stereotype once and for all. thejewishadvocate.com 20 Jun 06

  • Fredericksburg veteran earns France's highest honor Richard Saffell got a pat on the back, a sip of champagne and the French government's highest honor for service during World War II. Saffell and five other veterans received the Legion of Honor medal for their help in liberating France from "Nazi tyranny," said Jean-Pierre Allex-Lyoudi, the French consul general. "Dear veterans, you have all served on French soil with honor, merit and personal sacrifice," the consul general said. Of almost 60 people in the audience, a fourth were there for Fredericksburg resident Saffell. The 86-year-old retired master sergeant fought in two wars over a span of 20 years. His Legion of Honor recognized his actions in France 63 years ago. He was with the U.S. Army's 3rd Infantry Division, fighting alongside soldiers from the First French Army. The units mounted a campaign to take back towns in the Colmar Pocket region--in eastern France near the German border--and ended up capturing more than 4,000 Nazi prisoners, the consul general said. During a later attack, Saffell was hit by a tank shell. He was captured, taken to a hospital and later to a prisoner-of-war camp, where he stayed until April 1945. Others honored yesterday--from Virginia, Washington and Pennsylvania--fought during the D-Day invasion or the the bloody Battle of the Bulge. fredericksburg.com 1 Mar 07

  • French president Sarkozy awards medal of Legion of Honor to Barbra Streisand Barbra Streisand performed her first-ever concert in France this week — and was rewarded with a medal of the Legion of Honor. French President Nicolas Sarkozy awarded the singer in a ceremony in Paris on Thursday evening, the first time the new president had bestowed the honor upon anyone since he took over last month from Jacques Chirac. "You are the America that we love," said Sarkozy, seen as more U.S.-friendly than his predecessor. "Women like you ... do a lot to bring our two peoples together." iht.com 28 Jun 07
  • France Awards 4 Florida Men Medals Of Honor France has bestowed its highest honor on four Florida soldiers who served during World War Two. Elliott Herring of Tamarac, John Meghrian of Palm Beach Gardens, Robert Lynch of Vero Beach and Augustine D'Amico of Fort Pierce received the French Legion of Honor aboard a French destroyer in the Port of Miami. More than 400 Americans have been accepted into the Legion of Honor since the French government began an effort in 2004 to reward Americans World War Two veterans. cbs4.com 25 Jul 07

  • A native American war hero gets the French Legion of honor award In a black frame on the wall in Charles Shay's tidy study is a tattered pink telegram. It's the War Department communiqué that his mother, Florence Shay, received in early March of 1945. Her son was missing in action near Remagen, Germany. It was two long months before a knock on her door in early May brought any further news:It was her son, himself. "I walked in and there was complete exultation, tears, hugging. She couldn't believe I was standing there in front of her," he recalls. He'd been liberated from a German POW camp and sent home.  That pink telegram hanging just below his silver star and four bronze battle stars from World War II and the Korean War, is one of the more humble markers in Mr. Shay's odyssey from the craggy rocks of his home on the Penobscot Indian Reservation to a long life abroad. But it is a powerful one for him: It marked the end of the constant combat the young Army medic had been in with the Big Red One – the famed infantry division that landed in the first deadly wave on Omaha Beach. He attributes his survival – through the D-Day chaos in which the citation for his silver star says he "repeatedly plunged into the treacherous sea and carried critically wounded men to saftey" – to his mother's prayers. Sixty-three years after his heroic actions that day, Mrs. Shay's son will gather one more honor for his wall. On Nov. 6 he will become a Chevalier dans l'Ordre National de la Légion d'Honneur. csmonitor.com 5 Nov 07

  • France honors Charles Durning Actor Charles Durning landed on Normandy's Omaha Beach as a 17-year-old Army Ranger in June 1944. Before leaving Europe, he was wounded three times and awarded three Purple Hearts and a Silver Star. He will receive France's highest honor, the National Order of the Legion of Honor. In late June 1944, Charles was seriously wounded by a mine at Les Mare des Mares, France and spent almost 6 months recovering. When the German Ardennes offensive broke out in December 1944, he was rushed to the front lines and suffered severe bayonet wounds in hand to hand combat. On December 16th his unit was overrun and captured in Belgium by an SS Panzer Unit that was taking no prisoners. PFC Durning was one of only a few soldiers to escape and survive the subsequent notorious Malmedy massacre. With the 398th Infantry Regiment he moved into Germany where he was again seriously wounded in March 1945 and evacuated to the United States where he was discharged in January 1946. laobserved.com 22 Apr 08

  • France honours last US soldier of WWI The last surviving American soldier of World War I, 107-year-old Frank Buckles, has been named an officer of the French Legion of Honor, and paid tribute to all the "real heros." Buckles, who was an ambulance driver, arrived in France at the age of 16 in 1917, even though the legal age to join up was 21. The last French soldier to serve in World War I, Lazare Ponticelli, died earlier this year aged 110 just as Europe was marking the 90th anniversary of the armistice which ended the Great War. On January 1 the last German World War I veteran Erich Kaestner died at the age of 107. Buckles, who lives in West Virginia, also fought in World War II when he was captured and spent three years in a Japanese prisoner-of-war camp. In 1999 he was made a knight of the French Legion of Honor by then president Jacques Chirac. canada.com 7 Oct 08

  • Broken Link - For Information Purposes Only:  
    • Better Late Than Never for a Medal Nevada’s oldest veteran William Brown, celebrating his 107th birthday, awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government

• Germany

  • Special Forces Soldier receives German army's highest award Staff Sgt. Jonathon Zapien, a special forces Soldier assigned to the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Bragg, N.C., was presented the highest award the German army can grant a foreign soldier Sept. 12. Zapien, 25, from Houston, Texas, was deployed with the German Special Forces Command to Afghanistan from June to October 2005. While there, he acted as the sole liaison between the German unit and other coalition forces in the region. He provided communications support, directed air support, went on regular patrols with the unit and on one occasion played an essential part in saving the life of a German soldier who was injured during an improvised explosive device attack, by calling in air and ground medical support. German Minister of Defense Gen. Wolfgang Schneiderhan presented the Ehrenmedaille (honor medal) to Zapien on behalf of the German Special Forces Command. This is the first time German Special Forces has presented an award to a foreign soldier. www4.army.mil 14 Sep 06

• Ghana

  • Ghana honours outgoing US Ambassador Ghana on Friday conferred the State Honour of Grand Medal, Honorary Division on Mrs Mary Carlin Yates, the outgoing US Ambassador in Ghana. The citation said; "in recognition of your contribution, dedication and determination to strengthening the bonds of friendship and cooperation between Ghana and the United States of America (USA) the Republic of Ghana, hereby confers on you, the State Honour of Grand Medal, Honorary Division". ghanaweb.com 19 Aug 05

  Georgia

• McCain becomes National Hero of Georgia Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili decorated visiting US Senator and former presidential candidate John McCain with the country's highest state honour, declaring him a national hero. At a ceremony in Georgia's Black Sea city of Batumi, Saakashvili lavished praise on McCain for his strong support of Georgia during the August 2008 Russian-Georgian war. The US senator was awarded with the Order of the National Hero of Georgia. "A friend in need is a friend indeed. Georgia is a free country today ... because of our friends' support," Saakashvili said in comments broadcast on Georgian television. "John McCain demonstrated heroism for America and for Georgia." Saakashvili said McCain called him during the war and told him "not to surrender and not to say no to freedom" when "some well-known world figures were telling us to stop resistance." "He told me: 'we will stand by Georgia and we will all be Georgians." rt.com 11 Jan 10

• Greece

• • Sen. Harkin presents multi-war veteran with 22 honors James Keller Lee was escorted into the room at the Iowa National Guard Armory by his wife Judy as Sen. Tom Harkin, D-Iowa, presented the veteran with 22 medals and honors earned during his service in World War II, the Korean War and the Vietnam War. For his World War II service Lee received a Purple Heart, the Navy Unit Commendation, Distinguished United Citation, Asiatic-Pacific Campaign Medal, World War II Victory Medal, American Campaign Medal, Occupation World War II Army Medal and Discharge Button from the U.S. Marine Corps. For his service in the Korean War, Lee was awarded a Purple Heart for wounds received in combat on Oct. 7, 1951, Combat Infantryman Badge, Korean Service Medal, United Nations Medal, Presidential Unit Citation, and the Bravery Gold Medal of Greece. In recognition of his Vietnam War service, Lee received the National Defense Medal with one Bronze Service Star, Good Conduct Medal - 4th Award, Vietnam Service Medal with two campaign stars, the Aviation Badge, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal and Air Medal. zwire.com 13 Feb 05

• India

  • India Honours Galbraith Awarded the Padma Vibhushan Award Awarded the Padma Vibhushan Award

• Italy

  • Maj. Gen. Albert Bartlett "A.B." Crowther has died aged 104 Albert Bartlett "A.B." Crowther, a recipient of the French Legion of Honor was 104. Crowther's military decorations also include the Legion of Merit and the Military Valor Cross of the Italian government. San Antonio Express-News Apr 03
• Japan

  • Lasorda to be honored by Emperor of Japan Hall of Fame Manager and Special Advisor to the Chairman Tommy Lasorda will be honored by the Emperor of Japan and will receive the Order of the Rising Sun. Lasorda is receiving this decoration because of his contributions to the development of Japanese baseball. Lasorda is being honored because of his efforts in the development of Japanese baseball. He has worked to build a bridge between American and Japanese baseball for parts of five decades, while spreading goodwill through the respective country's love of the game. Lasorda and the Dodgers have a long history with Japanese baseball. In 1965, on behalf of the Dodgers, Lasorda traveled to Japan as a guest coach of the Tokyo Giants. Lasorda worked with Tetsuharu Kawakami, Manager of the Giants, and his coaching staff and players, and trained them on all aspects of the game including the fundamentals of pitching, hitting, fielding, base running, and baseball strategy as well as scouting techniques and the creation of a player development system. The Giants won nine consecutive titles starting that year. The relationship between the Dodgers and Japanese baseball grew tremendously because of Lasorda's visit to Japan in 1965. The Dodgers toured Japan in 1966 and played a series of games against Japanese teams. These visits led to a series of visits by Japanese teams to the Dodgers' Spring Training facility in Vero Beach, Florida for baseball clinics conducted by Lasorda and other Dodger coaches. The Tokyo Giants visited five times, the first being in 1961, and four subsequent visits in 1967, '71, '75 and '80 while the Chunichi Dragons visited Dodgertown in 1988. Lasorda and the Dodgers visited Japan again in 1993 for the Akihiro "Ike" Ikuhara Friendship Series. Ikuhara, who passed away one year before the Friendship Series, was the Dodgers' conduit to Japan for many years and was an instrumental part of the relationship between Japanese baseball and the Dodgers. In 1995, Hideo Nomo became only the second Japanese-born player to appear in Major League Baseball. The Nomo signing and his success opened the doors for Japanese players in the United States. Lasorda is credited for helping Nomo's transition from the Japanese league to the Major Leagues, and more importantly, for helping him adjust to the cultural changes from Japan to the United States. After Lasorda's retirement from managing the Dodgers in 1996, and his Hall of Fame induction in 1997, he continued his relationship with Japanese baseball by signing a Friendship Agreement with the Osaka Kintetsu Buffaloes in 2001. Similar to what he did in 1965 with the Tokyo Giants, Lasorda visited the Buffaloes in Japan more than 15 times over the next three years conducting clinics for the players and coaching staff, as well as instructing the Buffaloes in scouting and player development. The Buffaloes also visited Dodgertown in 2001, '02, and '03 for fall training camp hosted by Lasorda and Dodger coaches. Lasorda's involvement with Japan goes beyond his expertise in baseball. In June 2005, he was asked by President George W. Bush to serve as a delegate to the U.S. National Day at the World Expo in Aichi, Japan. He represented the United States at the World Expo as each country hosts a National Day and has a pavilion on which to host their exhibit. As Lasorda's role in the globalization of the game grew, Commissioner Bud Selig appointed him as the Official Ambassador of the inaugural World Baseball Classic in 2006. In that capacity, Lasorda served as a spokesperson for the tournament and traveled to Japan to throw out the ceremonial first pitch of the WBC for the games being played in Japan. losangeles.dodgers.mlb.com 6 Nov 08

  • Clint Eastwood receives Japanese decoration in LA Actor Clint Eastwood has been awarded the Order of the Rising Sun by Japan. japantoday.com 23 Jul 09

• Korea

  • The US Government has approved the acceptance of the Republic of Korea War Service Medal after 48 years by all United States service members who fought there during the Korean War. The medal will not be issued, so veterans will have to purchase the medal. Vets of the Forgotten War They risked their lives for freedom fifty years ago, but it wasn't until recently that some South Dakota veterans were recognized for their bravery and service.  KSFY, SD - 30 May 2003

  • Republic of Korea War Service Medal  

  • Update on the Republic of Korea War Service Medal There are actually two different types of the Korean War Service Medal.  Many collectors are familiar with the "Crossed Bullets" medal. There is an earlier, Korean War Service Medal, authorized by ROK Presidential Decree #390 on Oct. 24, 1950.  This earlier medal is enameled, and I am assuming that the Korean Government decided to produce a less expensive medal, consequently the crossed bullets medal.  I have both types of this medal in my collection, and a copy of the original Presidential Decree.  The official Korean name for the Korean War Service Medal is  "6.25 Incident Participation Medal".  The 6.25 refers to June 25th, 1950, the day the North Koreans started the War. (Ref: email Don Pfeifer)  

  • Korean War Service Medal

  • After 50 years, Korean War vet awaits medal  Republic of Korea Korean War Service Medal to U.S. veterans. More (Sep 02)

  • U.S. veteran to receive S. Korea's highest medal A veteran of two wars, retired U.S. Army Col. Young Oak Kim has received more than a dozen medals. But he doesn't display them like a proud warrior. They're all stowed in a box somewhere in his garage. During World War II, Kim played a key role in helping the Allies capture Rome and liberate several French towns. In the Korean War, he led a combat unit that pushed enemy forces back from the 38th parallel, creating a strategic wrinkle in the line that divides North and South Korea. Kim will soon add one more medal to his box. South Korean President Roh Moon-hyun recently approved giving him the Taeguk Order of Military Merit, the highest military honor in South Korea. The move marks a rare exception to a decades-old policy against awarding any more medals involving the Korean War. Political observers see the move as an effort by the South Korean government to maintain friendly relations with the United States during a wave of anti-Americanism in that country and amid tense negotiations over North Korea's rogue nuclear program. montereyherald.com 23 Oct 05

  • Seoul to award medal to chief US military officer The outgoing chairman of the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS), Gen Peter Pace will receive South Korea's highest medal given to those who contribute to national security, defense officials said. He is recognized for his role in fostering the alliance between the two nations. He will also visit the presidential office, Cheong Wa Dae, to receive the Tongil (unification) Medal of National Security Merit in recognition for his distinguished service in strengthening the alliance. english.yonhapnews.co.kr 16 Aug 07  

• Kosovo
• Joe Biden decore de la plus haute distinction kosavare US Vice-President Joe Biden has been awarded Kosovo's highest distinction, the Liberty Medal. Article in French google.com 21 May 09
• Mexico
• El Paso native receives high honor To cartographers, the United States and Mexico are two different countries. But for Adair Margo, who received a Mexican high honor for strengthening U.S.-Mexican relations through the arts, the two cultures are inextricably entwined. "I think a blessing of your own family feels the greatest," said the El Paso native of receiving the Order of the Aztec Eagle medal, Mexico's highest award for noncitizens. She was one of four leaders in the arts awarded for their service to America's southern neighbor in a ceremony at Washington's Cultural Institute of Mexico. Clad in black with a bright flowered shawl draped about her shoulders, Margo smiled as Arturo Sarukhan, Mexico's ambassador to the United States, pinned on the gold medallion before an audience that included first lady Laura Bush, a longtime friend, and an audience of about 50 officials. The U.S. and Mexican flags were hanging next to them. The others being recognized were Earl "Rusty" Powell III, director of Washington's National Gallery of Art, Anne D'Harnoncourt, director and CEO of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and Tomas Ybarra-Frausto, a former executive at New York's Rockefeller Foundation. Since 1933, the award has honored heads of state, diplomats and civilians for helping relations with Mexico. Other Texans recognized have included former Gov. Ann Richards and former Sen. Lloyd Bentsen, D-Texas, in 2000. chron.com 21 Nov 07

• Morocco

  • Décoration de personnalités américaine et européennes de Wissams Royaux  General Abdelaziz Bennani has presented to Professor John Lynn, President of the American Commission on Military History, with the grade of Commander of the Order of  Wissam Al Alaoui. Also decorated was French Vice Admiral Louis de Contenson, Chief of Defence Historical Services as Commander of the Order of  Wissam Al Istihkak Al Askari. Portuguese President of the Portuguese Commision on Military History, Lieutenant-Général Alexandre De Sousa Pinto, was made a Commander of the Order of Wissam Al Istihkak Al Askari. Article in French. map.ma 27 Nov 06

• Netherlands

  • Air Force Pilot receives Dutch Flying Cross Maj. William Thomas who was assigned to a Dutch unit; who excelled in bravery in circumstances that can be compared to wartime. The Flying Cross is the second highest medal attainable in the Royal Netherlands air force. Prior to Thomas, just 88 foreigners, 11 of whom were Americans, have earned the medal. Jan 02

  • Punta Gorda man receives Dutch Medal for his services in WWII Neil Van Duyn of Punta awarded the War Mobilization Medal. Jan 02

  • Dutch honour George Wartime sailor George Gray of Greenock has been honoured by the Netherlands. George (79) received a Commemoration Medal for his World War Two services in the Dutch Merchant Navy, joining at the age of 15 and sailing for two years on convoys to and from the United States, Canada and the West Indies. The Dutch government decided in the year 2000 to issue their 'Thank You Liberators' commemoration medal for those who took part in freeing their country from the Germans. The emblem on the medal symbolises the wings of a windmill. George also received a certificate which said the awards were 'a token of gratitude for contributing to the liberation of the Netherlands during World War Two'. He also sailed with the British Merchant Navy on the convoys to Murmansk in Russia.  George said: "I received 'Great Patriotic War' medals from the Russians in 1985, 1995 and 2005, but the British Government have still not decided if they will award a medal to those who sailed on the convoys." George is a member of the Arctic Convoy Club. greenocktelegraph.co.uk 29 Dec 05

  • Wartime sailor finally gets medal After more than 50 years, Martin Jansen, 82, has finally received formal recognition of his service to Holland during World War II. On Monday morning, the consul general of the Netherlands, David A.H. van Iterson, presented Jansen with the Mobilisatie-Oorlogskruis, a medal honoring members of the military during World War II. The medal recognizes the first part of Jansen's wartime service, when he was a member of the Dutch navy. The ceremony took place at Jansen's Camarillo home. Dec 02

• Norway
• Former Marlboro resident receives medal Jerry Rosholt of Decorah, Iowa, a former resident of Marlboro, recently received Norway's prized St. Olav Medal at a gourmet dinner hosted by the Vesterheim Norwegian-American Museum in Decorah, Iowa. The medal is given by the Norwegian government to honor outstanding services regarding the spreading of information about Norway abroad and for strengthening the bonds between expatriate Norwe-gians and their home country. According to a press release, Rosholt has contributed to the study and understanding of Norwegian-American history, particularly about Norwegian immigrants who served in the American Civil War. Rosholt wrote the book "Ole Goes to War," writing about Norwegian Civil War soldiers. In all of Rosholt's research and outreach activities, he has acted as a volunteer for Vesterheim, refusing any compensation for his efforts and donating honoraria from speaking engagements and paying all his expenses incurred. newstranscript.gmnews.com 31 Jan 07
• Pakistan

• Medal for Biden  US Vice-President-elect Joseph Biden looks at the Hilal-i-Pakistan medal he received from President Asif Zardari on Friday in recognition of his services for Pakistan. Senator Biden has co-sponsored the landmark Biden-Kerry-Lugar legislation for a $1.5 billion annual socio-economic assistance over the next five years, and has advocated an additional $7.5 billion aid over the subsequent five years. The ceremony to confer the award was held at President’s House. The citation noted Senator Biden’s “consistent support for democracy and socio-economic development in Pakistan and his outstanding contribution to the strengthening of US-Pakistan relations”. dawn.com 10 Jan 09 View Video of the presenation

• Peru
• US Officer receives Peruvian Medal Lt Col Alex Thagard has received the Peruvian Air Force’s Medal of Merit, for his continuous efforts to assist them and improve military relations with Peru on behalf of the United States government.  Lt Col Thagard is the first member of the US military’s Security Cooperation Office to be decorated in more than 25 years.  He was awarded the “Medal of Merit of Major General Armando Revoredo Iglesias” for spearheading numerous cooperative projects between the US Air Force and the Peruvian Air Force.  Lt Col Thagard received the highest level of this honor.  Download the complete article in MS Word format.

• Philippines

  • U.S. Soldiers Honored in Philippines  - More than 300 American soldiers gathered to honor 10 colleagues killed in a helicopter crash during anti-terrorism exercises last week. Philippine chief of staff Gen. Diomedio Villanueva, posthumously awarded the 10 men with the Bronze Star, the Philippines' highest peacetime military award More (Photos) Feb 02

  • US Officers Honoured for work in the Philippines The Philippine military awarded citations to two U.S. military officers involved in a counterterrorism exercise to help Filipino soldiers better fight a Muslim extremist group. Lt. Col. David Maxwell received the Award for Socio-Economic Upliftment and Maj. Samuel Ashley got the Military Merit Medal. May 02

  • Medals Awarded to US Soldiers Philippine Secretary of National Defense Gilberto Teodoro awarded today the Outstanding Achievement Medal of the Philippines to US Defense officials for their contribution in enhancing RP-US security cooperation, particularly on issues related to counterterrorism assistance and the Philippine Defense Reform Program. Presented with the awards were Lt. Colonel Desmond Walton, former Southeast Asia Policy Officer of the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Asia and Pacific Security Affairs), and his successor, Lt. Colonel Larry Redmon. philippinesembassy-usa.org 8 Sep 09

• Poland
  • Skalny Family is Honored Joseph Skalny, Frederic Skalny, and Stasia Skalny, and Anna Skalny of Hilton, New York, have been honored with the Cavalier Cross of Merit of Poland, one of that country's most prestigious awards. As trustees of the Louis Skalny Foundation, the four established and continue to support the Skalny Center for Polish and Central European Studies at the University of Rochester. Dec 01

  • Polish Government's Highest Presidential Honor Awarded to JDC for ... Mr. Eugene Ribakoff, President of The American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC), was awarded the Polish government's highest Presidential honor, the Star Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland. The medal was presented to Mr. Ribakoff by the Prime Minister of Poland, Mr. Marek Belka, in honor of JDC's 90th anniversary, and in recognition of the organization's tremendous contribution to Polish Jewry since World War I. jdc.org 2 Sep 06

• Russia

  • Ex-Red Army vets to receive jubilee medals A group of ex-Red Army soldiers and officers - all members of the local Russian-speaking community - will be awarded Russian jubilee medals at a dinner commemorating the 60th anniversary of the victory in Europe. The Russian consulate officials will bestow "60 Years of Victory in the Great Patriotic War" medals to 24 veterans of World War II. masslive.com 8 May 05

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• Saudi Arabia

• President Obama Awarded Saudi Medal President Barack Obama displays a gift he received from Saudi King Abdullah at the start of their bilateral meeting at the King's Farm in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The medal award was the King Abdul Aziz al Saud Order of Merit.  news.yahoo.com 3 Jun 09

• Abdulaziz Medal Awarded to Joseph W. Grant Saudi Arabia's Ambassador to the United States, Adel bin Ahmed Al-Jubeir, presented the King Abdulaziz Medal - First Class to Mr. Joseph W. Grant, a U.S. World War II pilot, on behalf of King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz Al-Saud at the Royal Embassy of Saudi Arabia. Joe Grant, 100 years old, is the pilot who in 1945 flew a Douglas-DC3 aircraft to Saudi Arabia to be delivered as a gift to King Abdulaziz from President Franklin Delano Roosevelt, following their historic meeting onboard the U.S.S. Quincy on February 14, 1945. Subsequently, Captain Grant served two years in the Kingdom as the first airline pilot to King Abdulaziz, founder of the modern Saudi state. Captain Grant was also instrumental in the establishment of Saudi Arabia's first national airline and the training of its pilots. "Mr. Grant's contributions to helping foster Saudi-U.S. relations are deeply appreciated to this day," said Ambassador Al-Jubeir. "We are pleased to honor such a longstanding friend and wish him happiness and continued good health." The King Abdulaziz Medal is awarded in recognition of significant contributions made by an individual to the Kingdom. msnbc.msn.com 28 Jan 09



• Medal Awarded Photo of Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah (R) chats with U.S. Vice President Dick Cheney after awarding him with a medal at the Royal Palace in Riyadh March 21, 2008. NOTE: The medal appears to be the King Abdulaziz Order of Merit. news.yahoo.com 21 Mar 08

• Singapore

  • Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States of America, Receives Top Military Award The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, United States of America, GEN Richard Myers, was conferred Singapore’s highest military award, the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera)  [Distinguished Service Order (Military)], by Acting President Mr Sim Kee Boon. The Distinguished Service Order (Military) was awarded to GEN Myers in recognition of his significant role in enhancing the excellent ties between the United States Armed Forces and the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF).  Under General Myers’ leadership, professional interactions have been expanded to enhance the ability of the United States Armed Forces and SAF to meet new challenges, in areas such as force transformation, maritime security and counter-terrorism.  These interactions have served to enhance the professionalism and operational capabilities of the two armed forces, and strengthened mutual understanding and camaraderie between their personnel.  General Myers has also been instrumental in facilitating the SAF’s training in the United States. mindef.gov.sg 3 Jun 05

  • Former Commander of United States Pacific Command Receives Prestigious Military Award The former Commander of United States Pacific Command, Admiral Retired (Retd) Thomas Boulton Fargo, was conferred Singapore's prestigious military award, the Pingat Jasa Gemilang (Tentera), or Meritorious Service Medal by Minister Teo on 24 Aug 05 in recognition of his outstanding role in fostering closer ties between the United States Pacific Command and the Singapore Armed Forces. Under Admiral (Retd) Fargo’s leadership, the close cooperation between the United States Pacific Command and the Singapore Armed Forces has increased substantially. mindef.gov.sg 24 Aug 05

• South Africa
• President Mbeki Honours US Freedom Fighter President Thabo Mbeki has encouraged United States (US) congressman, Maxine Waters to continue dedicating her life to uplifting the poor. Mr Mbeki was speaking during the hand over of the Order of the Companions of OR Tambo to Ms Waters. "The Order of the Companions of OR Tambo is being awarded to you for dedicating your life to the upliftment of the poor and your outstanding contribution to the struggle against apartheid in South Africa," the President said. President Mbeki also urged her to continue to build relations between South Africa and the US as the two countries had strengthened its relations during apartheid years. Her achievements include founding the Free South African Movement in Los Angeles and she served as an advisor to TransAfrica, an organisation that aimed to influence US politics towards Africa and to overthrow government. In 1990, Ms Waters became the second black female in history to be elected to the US Congress, a position she held for seven terms. She lobbied the state of California to help in sponsoring the Anti-Apartheid Sanction's Act passed by United States Congress in 1986. These sanctions put pressure on the regime to enter negotiations with liberation movements. allafrica.com 26 Mar 08
• South Korea
• Ex-Congressman Finally Gets Korean Medal “I wanted to contribute to resolving the (North Korean) nuclear issue.” So said former congressman Lane Evans, 56, to a Korean who visited his nursing home in Rock Island County, Illinois, about 260 km west of Chicago. He was having a hard time speaking with sweat covering his face. Despite his struggle, the countenance of “the friend of Koreans” shone with gladness to see a Korean visitor after his retirement. Parkinson’s disease forced him out of public service at the end of 2006. Evans is a hero who has tirelessly fought to provide justice for “comfort women,” or those forced by the Japanese military to provide sex to soldiers during World War II. He sought to pass a resolution on comfort women in the U.S. Congress. For this, he received a high honor from the Korean government. Seoul awarded him the Order of Diplomatic Service Merit Gwanghwa Medal for his promotion of human rights for racial and ethnic minorities, including Korean Americans. It took more than 13 months, however, for Evans to receive medal. He has continued his rough and lonely fight against Parkinson’s in a sanitarium, where a caregiver visits him in the afternoon. His brother had acted as his legal representative, and barred him from having outside contact for fear of worsening his condition. english.donga.com 17 Jan 08
• Spain

  • Admiral Awarded Spanish Navy Cross of Merit Rear Adm. Gregory Timberlake, USJFCOM's command surgeon, received the Spanish Navy Cross of Merit award for his accomplishments while serving as director of surgical services and medical director of the emergency room at Naval Hospital Rota, Spain, from 1983 to 1985. During his tour more than 20 years ago, Timberlake ensured all surgical care and emergency treatment rendered to patients at the hospital was of the highest quality. This included a number of Spanish civilians and military members who were brought to the hospital for life- or limb-threatening emergencies on a "compassionate" basis. The award ceremony was originally scheduled in June 1986, but Timberlake had already returned to the United States for a new assignment, and was unable to attend. The diploma and medals were not sent to him due to an oversight by the office handling this matter at the Spanish Navy Headquarters. news.navy.mil 9 May 06

  • Spanish Ambassador to Bestow Knighthood on Nasher Museum Curator The Spanish Ambassador to the United States will bestow knighthood upon Sarah Schroth, the Nancy Hanks Senior Curator of the Nasher Museum of Art at Duke University, for her work on an exhibition of Spanish art, “El Greco to Velázquez: Art during the Reign of Philip III.” Ambassador Jorge Dezcallar plans to present the insignia and entitlement of Knight-Commander of the Royal Order of Isabella the Catholic. The award, also known as “Encomienda de la Orden de Isabel la Católica,” is one of Spain’s highest civil honors. “Don Juan Carlos I, King of Spain, is pleased to honor Sarah Schroth for her outstanding contributions to the dissemination of Spanish culture in the United States,” Dezcallar said. “She has helped to introduce to the world great Spanish masters of painting and sculpture who lived and worked with the famous El Greco and Velázquez, but who have until now been relatively unknown.” dukenews.duke.edu 28 Oct 08

• Sudan

  • The Corridor’s writer receives Sudan’s highest medals The American Professor William Y Adams, a well-celebrated cultural anthropologist, archeologist, ethnologist, and historian was presented the Order of the Two Niles medal by the President of Sudan at the Republican Palace, Khartoum. Earlier in the 1950s, Adams led the salvation of many archeological sites that had been threatened by inundation of the Glen Canion Dam in his own country, the United States of America. In 1957-9, the UNESCO expert led the salvation of Nubia archeology from the inundation of the High Dam in Aswan. Still, invaluable antiquities were lost for ever in the inundated region by the Dam, let alone the unabated sufferings of the displaced Nubians. sudantribune.com 29 Dec 05

•  Taiwan

• • Taiwan bestows high honor upon Helms Jesse Helms awarded the Order of Propitious Clouds, meaning favorable skies. The wide turquoise sash, weighted by a large gold star with painted clouds, is usually reserved for vice presidents. Oct 02

• United Arab Emirates

  • UAE honours General Franks United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan on Tuesday honoured US General Tommy Franks, who commands US forces in Iraq, for his efforts in boosting bilateral cooperation. Sheikh Zayed bestowed upon Franks the military order of the federation of the UAE in recognition of "his role in promoting cooperation between the Emirates and the United States, notably in the military field." Franks, who is set to retire in early July, last week received a medal from Kuwait's emir "in appreciation for his distinctive services and sincerity in carrying out his duties." (Sheik Jaber Al Ahmed Al Sabah presented the Kuwait medal and sash to Franks) Middle East Online, UK - 24 Jun 2003

• UAE president presents Bush with Zayed Medal President of the UAE Sheikh Khalifah bin Zayed Al-Nehyan presented US President George W. Bush with the Zayed Medal in appreciation for the warm bilateral relations and the friendship that bind the two countries. khabrein.info 13 Jan 08
• Vatican

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