Natick Resident Gets French Legion of Honor

NATICK, MA — Consul General of France in Boston, Valéry Freland, awarded the French Legion of Honor to World War II veteran Manny Abrams on March 31.

Abrams received the award at a ceremony at the Museum of World War II, Boston, which houses the most comprehensive collection of World War II artifacts in the world.

Abrams, is 92 and joined the Army Air Corps when he was 19 as a navigator of B-24 Liberator Bombers. During his tour, he completed 30 bombing missions across Europe, said the announcement.

After the first four or five missions, his navigation skills came to the attention of his superiors, who ordered him to be in the first plane in a tight formation from where he led the missions. Abrams served from July 16-Dec. 28, 1944. His last mission was a bombing raid of Kaiserlautern, Germany, where German aircraft were closing in on his plane and he could smell exploding gunpowder, said the announcement.

In addition to being awarded the French Legion of Honor, Abrams has been decorated with the Air Medal with Four Oak Cluster and the Distinguished Flying Cross.

Photo and information submitted by Museum of World War II Boston/Whit Haynes

Pictured from left to right at the awards ceremony is Consul General of France in Boston, Valéry Freland, World War II Veteran Manny Abrams and Museum of World War II, Boston Founder and Executive Director Kenneth Rendell.