LA PORTE, Texas – The Consul General of France awarded 16 Veterans with the medal of Knight in the French Order Monday morning during a ceremony aboard the Battleship Texas.
The ceremony took place in the presence of local officials including Jay Guerrero, US Senator Cornyn's representative and Mayor Rigsby from La Porte.
The U.S. Sea Cadets presented the nation’s colors.
The history of the Legion of Honor stems back to 1802 when all French orders of Chivalry were abolished during the French Revolution, organizers said. The award has never been abolished and has remained the highest, most prestigious decoration in France, officiates said.
The National Order of Legion of Honor is awarded solely as a recognition of merit or bravery, being open to men and women of all ranks and professions.
The following men received medals (the asterisk indicts the award was received posthumous):
William Baker
Baker was born on October 14, 1923. As a qualified technician of the Signal Corps School of Communication in New Jersey specializing in the installation, maintenance and repairing of the telephone and telegraphic equipment, he landed on the Utah Beach on June 7th as a member of the Company B, 850th Signal Service Battalion. He fought the battle of Normandy, took part in the combats in the North and North-East France.
Grayson Cocharo
Cocharo was born on August 3rd, 1924. From 1943 until early 1945, he served as 1st Lieutenant and flight navigator in the 856th/492nd bomb group, based in Harrington, England and known as the “Carpetbaggers.” He was awarded the Air Medal with 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, EAME Theatre Campaign Medal and the Lapel Button issued.
Arthur Collins*
Collins was born on August 1st, 1920. He was a Glider Pilot and was assigned to the 72nd Troop Carrier Squadron, 434th Troop Carrier Group AAF. He was awarded the Air Medal 2 Oak Leaf clusters, EAME ribbon with 5 bronze stars, distinguished unit badge and the American Defense Service ribbon. He passed away in October, 2015.
Jack Dodson
Dodson was born on Nov 18, 1925. He served the Air Force from November 1944 to April 1945 where he flew 35 bombing missions over Europe, as a tail gunner in B-17 with the 398th Bomb Group of 8th Air Force, 601st Squadron. He was awarded EAME Service Medal, 3 Bronze Battle Stars, Air Medal, 5 Oak Leaf Clusters, 1 Overseas Bar and a Good Conduct Medal.
Lewis Gammon
Gammon was born on August 15th, 1922. On Sept 07th, 1944 Mr. Gammon, specializing as an Automobile Mechanic, landed in Cherbourg with the 385th Field Artillery Battalion, 104th Infantry Division. He participated in the Normandy, Alsace Lorraine and Central Europe Campaigns. He has been awarded EAME Medal, World War II Victory Medal, Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart Medal.
Birney Havey
Havey was born on Dec 13th, 1921. He arrived in Northern France around December 1944, as a member of the 222nd Anti-Tank Unit, 42nd Rainbow Division. He received the presidential unit citation award for the extraordinary heroism in military was also awarded, the silver star award, 3 bronze stars medal, purple heart medal, good conduct medal, EAME service medal.
Jerry Jones Jr.
Jones was born on October 4th, 1923. He arrived in England in January 1944 with 415th Ordnance Evacuation Company. Mr. Jones assembled jeeps, weapons carriers and 6x6 trucks. He was driven to the front lines over and over through France, Belgium, Holland and Germany. He was awarded the EAME Medal, 3 Bronze Service Stars, Victory Medal and a Good Conduct Medal.
John Lemons
Lemons was born Nov 4, 1919. He entered the U.S Army Air Force on January 23, 1944 as a flight engineer on B-24 with the 445th Bomb Group and flew missions into Normandy, Northern France, Alsace and Lorraine. Mr. Lemons was awarded Prisoner of War Medal, EAME Campaign Medal with 3 Bronze Stars, Air Medal and WWII Victory Medal.
Fred Machol
Machol was born on June 16, 1916. He arrived at the Utah Beach as a counterintelligence officer with the 21st Field Artillery Battalion in July 1944 and fought the battles in Normandy and Northern France. He was awarded the American Defense Service Medal, American Campaign Service Medal, EAME Service Medal and Victory Europe Medal.
Johnnie Marino*
Marino was born on June 27th, 1919. He was drafted in the United States Army in 1941 and arrived in Europe as a Gun Crewman with the 2nd Infantry Division, 38th Regiment combat team. He fought the battles of Normandy, Northern France, Alsace-Lorraine, Ardennes and Central Europe. He was awarded Presidential Unit Citation, Bronze Star Medal with Cluster, EAME Campaign Medal with 5 Bronze Stars, Bronze Indian Arrowhead, Commendation Ribbon, Pre-Pearl Harbor Medal, and Purple Heart with Cluster.
Elmer Michel
Mr. Michel was born on November 17, 1923. On Sept 12th, 1942 he was enlisted in the U.S Coast Guard and was assigned to serve on USS LCI 320 on the landing craft vessel. He participated in both the European and Pacific Theater of war. His LCI hit the beaches of Sicily, Italy and Normandy, France.
Robert Reese
Reese was born on August 30th, 1922. He entered service on Jan 25, 1943 and was trained as a P-47 fighter pilot assigned to the 10th Fighter Squadron, 50th Fighter Group. He flew 109 missions in his P-47 Fighter plane, most of which involved action over England, France and Germany. Mr. Reese has received the EAME Campaign Ribbon and the Distinguished Flying Cross, 15 Oak Leaf Clusters.
Jack Rude
Rude was born on April 16, 1924. He joined the Air Force in 1942 with the 493rd Bomb group and flew 32 combat missions. Mr. Rude fought the Northern France and the Ardennes Battles and was awarded Air Medal, 4 Oak Leaf Clusters, AEME Medal, 4 Bronze Stars and WWII Victory Medal.
Jack Thomas*
Thomas was born on April 6th, 1924. He was drafted at the age of 18 and arrived in Normandy with the B Company, 38th Infantry, and 2nd Indian Head Division. He fought the St. Lo, Normandy, Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe Combats and was awarded Bronze Star Medal with Valor, Purple Heart, Prisoner of War Medal, Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal and the EAME Service Medal. Mr. Thomas died in May, 2015.
Melton Wright
Wright was born on April 25, 1922. He arrived in Europe in October 1944 with the Company C, 411th Infantry Regiment, and 103rd Infantry Division as an expert rifleman. He fought the Rhineland, Ardennes and the Central Europe campaigns and was awarded the Silver Star Medal, 2 Bronze Star Medals, EAME Medal, 3 Battle Stars and the Battlefield Commission.
Charles Wheelwright
Wheelwright was born on Sept 2nd, 1925. From January to May 1945, Staff Sergeant Wheelwright flew as a combat crew member on B-24 Liberators assigned to the 392nd Bomb Group, 8th Air Force, completing twenty-three combat missions over France, Germany, and Poland. Decorations related to his war service include the Air Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster and the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three bronze stars.
Napoleon Bonaparte, who was then the First Consul of the First French Republic, instituted a new order as a way to recognize merit: the National Order of the Legion of Honor, which was meant to reward civilians and soldiers who had achieved great things in the service of France.