World War II Army Veteran Receives French Medal Of Honor

World War II veteran Donald Foulk recently received the French Legion of Honor medal for his service in the United States Army. Vincent Floreani, the consul general of France in Chicago, presented the award on June 8 during a special ceremony at Genacross Lutheran Services in Holland. “It’s a great honor and privilege to pay honor and tribute to Donald Foulk,” Floreani said, “a brave man who was ready to sacrifice his life for friends in Western Europe during the Second World War.” Foulk, who joined the Army in 1943 at age 18, served in France in 1944 in the 303rd Bombardment Group, the “Hells Angles” Bomb Squadron, where he completed 35 missions. In one of the missions, his plane was shot by enemy fire and forced to land in France. “Thanks to your courage, France has been living in peace for more than seven decades,” he said. The French Legion of Honor medal is the highest honor France can bestow upon those who have achieved remarkable deeds for France, he added. Foulk, 92, is a 37-year member of the Adams Township American Legion Post 553. He did not talk during the ceremony, but was joined by many friends and family, including his daughter, Donna Brazell, his granddaughter, Kim Ballard and great-granddaughter Brittany Fikes.