World War II Veterans Receive Legion of Honor Medal

They are elderly now,  serene and gentle, men of wisdom. Quick to smile and laugh, they reflect humility and joy, their faces shining with  love of life.

As young men, they passed the ultimate test, combat in World War II. They landed in the incessant fire of D-Day, and fought in the hard battles that followed across France during the long, slow trek toward victory over Germany.

They gathered Thursday afternoon in a Buckhead high rise, 14 members of a special brotherhood who displayed the highest heroism. For their efforts in liberating France, the veterans from Georgia and Alabama received the National Order of the Legion of Honor from the Buckhead-based French Consulate in Atlanta.

Consul General Pascal Le Deunff pinned upon each man's chest the distinctive medal with its dark red ribbon, above the heart. Founded in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, the award is the highest honor of France, recognizing emininent service to the French Republic. Recipients are designated by French President Nicholas Sarkozy.

 "Our duty is to keep alive for future generations the memory of such supreme courage," Le Deunff said before giving the men their medals one by one.

Such men as George Weitner of Snellville, a private first class in the 397th Automatic Weapons Battalion of the First Infantry, participated in D-Day. About his memories of landing on Omaha Beach, he says "I try to forget about it."

He fired four 50-caliber machine guns on a half-track  — 60 percent of his unit was killed in the first 15 minutes after landing on the Normandy Beach. D-Day began months of combat, "from Normandy to the Austrian border," he said. From June 6, 1944 to April 1945,  he fought across Europe.

One incident remains vivid, going into the Netherlands to relieve the 82nd and 101st Airborne in a battle. But "before we got there, the battle was over," he said. "We could smell the cordite from the battle from 40 miles away."

Navy veteran Walter Robertson from Atlanta says "I fought across the world, all the way from France to Okinawa." After serving in Europe — he manned a 5-inch gun on a destroyer during D-Day and shelled enemy positions — he fought in the Pacific Theater and witnessed the Japanese surrender in Tokyo Bay. He fought in nine major battles during the war.

"It's very moving to see all of them and hear their stories," Le Deunff said after the ceremony. 

He said the French Consulate continues to search for veterans who played significant roles in the Liberation of France. "We're trying to accelerate the process because of the age of the veterans," he said, adding that 150 veterans in the two states are now going through the research procedure to be awarded the medal.

Those receiving the medal were:  
Harold Hicks from Townsend, Ga. (Captain, HQ IX Air Def Command); 
Robert Ricks from Snellville, Ga. (Staff Sergeant, 3704 Army Air Force Base Unit); 
Robert Wann from Decatur, Ga. (Staff Sergeant, 15th Cavalry: Reconnaissance Squadron); 
Fred Thomason from Duluth, Ga. (Sergeant, 121st Infantry); 
Jules Paape from Marietta, Ga. (Technician 5th grade, 803rd Tank Destroyer Battalion); 
Philip Alterizio from Madison, Ala. (Private First Class, 103rd Military Police Platton); 
Kenneth Dunwoody from Marietta, Ga. (Private First Class, USS Nevada) 
John Garrett from Mableton, Ga. (Private First Class, 110th Medical Battalion); 
Orbie Harris from Fairburn, Ga. (Private First Class, 16th Infantry); 
Nicholas Pizzolato from Marietta, Ga. (Private First Class, Medical Detachment, 47th Infantry); 
Walter Robertson from Atlanta, Ga. (Seaman First Class, USN Personnel Separation Center); 
Axel Thomsen from Marietta, Ga. (Private First Class, 82nd Airborne Division); 
Joseph Thornton from Hampton, Ga (Private, 194th Glider Infantry); 
George Weitner from Snellville, Ga. (Private, 1st Infantry).