World War II veteran Walter D. Okrongley will receive France's Legion of Honor during a ceremony at 12:30 p.m. Monday at the National Museum of the Mighty Eighth Air Force in Pooler. This distinction is France's highest honor and will be presented by Matthieu Clouvel Gervaiseau, the consul general of France in Atlanta, according to a community announcement.
The Legion of Honor recognizes individuals who have made exceptional contributions to France, including foreign nationals. American veterans who risked their lives on French soil during World War II are among those honored.
Okrongley's military service spanned critical wartime events.
Born in Chicago in 1924, he joined the U.S. Army at age 18 in July 1943. After basic training at Fort Devens,
Massachusetts, he was assigned to the 108th Evacuation Hospital and deployed overseas in May 1944. Okrongley landed in France at Utah Beach on July 31, 1944, serving as a chaplain's assistant. He provided spiritual support to wounded and dying soldiers during the Siege of Brest and other campaigns in Northern France, the Rhineland, and Central Europe. His unit cared for more than 13,000 casualties during the war.
Okrongley was honored with multiple military awards
During his service, Okrongley survived a German V-1 "buzz-bomb" attack while driving a Jeep in Liege, Belgium. He remained with the 108th Evacuation Hospital until its service concluded and helped compile the unit's official history before being honorably discharged as a technician fifth grade in February 1946. Okrongley was recently recognized for reaching the age of 102.
In acknowledgment of his contributions, Okrongley received several military awards, including the American Campaign Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three battle stars, the Good Conduct Medal, and the World War II Victory Medal.
Legion of Honor and its significance
The Legion of Honor is awarded to both French citizens and foreign nationals who have served France or upheld its ideals, according to the announcement. Notable American recipients include Generals Dwight D. Eisenhower and Josephine Baker. The French president designates recipients of the Legion of Honor.
The ceremony is open to the public and will take place at 175 Bourne Avenue.
About the Consul General
Matthieu Clouvel Gervaiseau has been the consul general of France in Atlanta since Aug. 30. He is a career diplomat and lawyer who joined the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs in 1996.
Throughout his career, Gervaiseau has held various positions within the ministry, including roles in the Department for French Nationals Abroad and Foreign Nationals in France, the Department of Legal Affairs, and the Department of Human Resources. His international experience includes assignments in Kolkata, Copenhagen, Houston, Brussels and Los Angeles.
Before his appointment in Atlanta, Gervaiseau served as consul general of France in Tel Aviv. He holds a master's degree in public international law and European law from Université Paris II Panthéon-Assas, as well as degrees from the Institute for Advanced International Studies and the National Institute for Oriental Languages and Civilizations.
Gervaiseau is married to Stéphanie and has two children, Anna and Solal, who are studying in the United States and the United Kingdom.
This story was created by a Savannah Morning News editor with the assistance of Artificial Intelligence (AI). Journalists were involved in every step of the information gathering, review, editing and publishing process. Learn more.
This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: WWII veteran Walter Okrongley gets French honor
