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THOMSON, Ga.: A 98-year-old World Warfare II veteran who took half within the D-Day invasion and the Battle of the Bulge and witnessed the German give up through the warfare has been honored by France.
The Atlanta Journal-Structure reported that Louis Graziano was given the French Legion of Honor throughout a ceremony on Friday in Thomson, Georgia, the place he lives. The respect has been given to many American World Warfare II veterans as recognition for the function they performed in liberating France from German occupation.
Lots of of family and friends gathered for the ceremony which was held on the First United Methodist Church Household Life Middle.
France is what it’s right this moment, a free and sovereign nation, because of the bravery of such veterans and due to America, stated Vincent Hommeril, consul normal of France in Atlanta, in line with the newspaper. You’re a true hero. Your instance is an inspiration for the longer term and your legacy gives an ethical compass for generations to return.
Graziano was born in 1923 to Italian immigrant mother and father in East Aurora, New York. He was working at his sister’s magnificence parlor as a hairstylist in 1943 when he was drafted by the military. In 1944, he took half within the June 6 invasion of Normandy.
In a video interview with the American Veterans Middle and posted Youtube, Graziano described how he got here ashore within the third wave of American troops on Omaha Seashore.
I drove a gasoline truck … onto the seashore and I jumped out of it actual fast and received my weapons and flame thrower,” Graziano stated. He laid down on the bottom of the seashore there with the lifeless troopers.
As German gunfire rained down, he crawled over to the cliffs. Utilizing his flamethrower he shot up the cliff to take out a machine gun. After D-Day, Graziano took half in weeks of preventing throughout Normandy and months later took half within the Battle of the Bulge, the place he practically misplaced his ft to frostbite.
He later grew to become the utilities foreman for the 102nd Infantry Area Artillery Battalion, Particular Headquarters Command in Reims, in line with a weblog on the Division of Veterans Affairs web site.
As a part of his job he was chargeable for all American-occupied buildings in Reims, together with the Little Crimson Schoolhouse the place the Germans signed the give up paperwork. After witnessing the signing of the give up paperwork, Graziano took the Germans to a different room to fulfill Gen. Dwight D. Eisenhower.
Graziano stated through the video interview that he was honored to witness the give up, and considered the boys who had fought and died to convey in regards to the victory.
Graziano additionally met his future spouse, Eula Bobbie Shaneyfelt, whereas he was in Reims. She was a employees sergeant within the Ladies’s Military Corps. The pair ultimately moved again to america, the place they raised 5 kids, and Graziano opened his personal hair parlor in Thomson. His spouse handed away in 2007. Graziano has additionally written a guide about his experiences titled A Patriot’s Memoirs of World Warfare II.”
Disclaimer: This submit has been auto-published from an company feed with none modifications to the textual content and has not been reviewed by an editor
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