WWII vet to receive French Legion of Honor medal

New Castle, IN

Carl R. Crisp, 91, was presented the French Legion of Honor medal during a ceremony Aug. 1, 2015, in New Castle, Indiana.

“I think there are thousands of others that are more deserving than I. They lost their lives or gave up their limbs,” Crisp said.

The presentation of the award was made by New Castle Mayor Greg York and an Honor Guard provided by American Legion Post 137 and Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 1282.

The French Legion of Honor is an order of distinction first established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802. It is the highest decoration bestowed in France. Foreign nationals who have served France or the ideals it upholds may receive a distinction from the Legion of Honor. American veterans who risked their lives during World War II and who fought on French territory qualify to be decorated as Knights of the Legion of Honor. Veterans must have fought in one of the four main campaigns of the liberation of France: Normandy, Provence, Ardennes, or Northern France.

Crisp served in the United States Army Air Corps from 1943 to 1945. He flew missions in the Ardennes. He was part of the American forces that fought the Germans and liberated France from Nazi occupation.

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