Indiana WWII vet to receive France's top honor

The American Legion

A World War II veteran will receive France’s highest award, the Legion of Honor, at a ceremony on Sept. 29 at Wayne Newton American Legion Post 346 in Terre Haute, Ind.

Jimmie H. Royer, 94, will receive the Legion of Honor medal from France’s consul general to the Midwest, Guillaume Lacroix, in a public ceremony at 1 p.m. Sunday.

Royer served as a gunner in the 106th Cavalry Reconnaissance Squadron, taking part in the Normandy, Northern France and Rhineland campaigns in 1944.

He was wounded on Oct. 27, 1944, on the Lorraine front and honorably discharged in August 1945.

Royer was previously awarded the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Ribbon with three Bronze Stars, the Good Conduct Medal and the Purple Heart.

Post 346 Commander Cliff Stephens said the ceremony is being held in conjunction with the post picnic and is open to the public.

“It’s amazing how this fell into place,” Stephens said. “It’s a wonderful thing to have this happen here.”

The Legion of Honor medal was established in 1802 by Napoleon as the highest French order for military and civil merit.

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