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Bonners Ferry native to be honored for WWII
service
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| March 31, 2011 |
This article and photo gratefully
re-published with permission of the
News-Review,
Douglas County, Oregon.
By
ANNE CREIGHTON
The News-Review
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Bonners Ferry
native Jim Stone |
World War II veteran Jim Stone said he was
humbled when a letter arrived announcing he will
soon receive the French Legion of Honor, the
highest decoration bestowed by France.
In receiving the honor, the 87-year-old Riddle,
Oregon, resident will join other famous
recipients, including Charlie Chaplin, Thomas
Edison and Gen. George S. Patton. Not bad for a
Bonners Ferry boy.
Stone, however, said he is not worthy of
France's highest civilian honor.
“I felt I was a coward during the war,” he said.
“I don't deserve it.”
The French disagree.
“The recipients are not ordinary soldiers,” said
Jacques De Noiray, the spokesman for the French
Consulate in San Francisco. “They are all
heroes, and we select the most impressive.”
The medal was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in
1802. Stone will be one of about 100 Americans
who will receive the award this year. The
recipients are approved by a review committee
that meets in Paris.
On April 15 at the Roseburg Veterans of Foreign
Wars Post, a deputy from the French Consulate
will present Stone with the honor for his help
in freeing France from Nazi occupation.
De Noiray said there is “no scientific way” for
selecting a recipient, but usually a family
member or friend of the veteran alerts the
consulate about the veteran's war efforts.
Stone said that in the 1960s politicians asked
World War II veterans to write a letter
documenting their participation in combat in
order to receive a Bronze Star. He said he
declined.
“I'm not the medal type,” he said. “I don't ask
for medals.”
This time around, a Frenchman and family friend,
Jordan Garcia, wrote a letter to the consulate
in San Francisco on Stone's behalf.
Garcia, 41, said he met Stone 10 years ago
through his wife's family, who lives in Riddle.
“I'm passionate about World War II history and
was very impressed by him,” Garcia said. “I
wanted to do something.
“When you're a 19-year-old soldier, and you go
to a foreign country to fight for democracy, I
think it's very honorable,” he said.
Roseburg VFW Post Commander Mike Eakin said the
chevalier medal “is not given out lightly.”
While many veterans like Stone are humble, they
have earned America's admiration for their
service, Eakin said.
“They're the greatest generation,” Eakin said.
“It's about time we give them the respect they
deserve.”
In 2009, Green resident George Insley, now 89,
of the Air Force's 44th Bomb Group also received
the French honor.
Stone, who grew up in Bonners Ferry, Idaho, was
drafted in 1943 at the age of 19. After basic
training at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri, he
shipped out with the 75th infantry division from
Boston on an 18-day trek across the Atlantic
Ocean for Europe.
“Everyone was sick,” he said. “It was a tough
trip.”
Stone and his troops arrived in France in
mid-June 1944 and were greeted by artillery fire
from the Germans.
During his tour of duty, Stone engaged in
battles at Normandy, Rhineland, Northern France,
Central Europe and the Ardennes, also known as
the Battle of the Bulge, and he fought under
several commanders, including Patton and Gen.
Omar Bradley.
Stone also fought with the 331st regiment under
the 83rd infantry division as a commander of an
anti-tank gun crew.
In Northern Germany, Stone and his gun crew
engaged in combat. He watched as two of his men
went down around him with wounds, but he kept
firing, he said.
“It was scary,” Stone, recalled. “It happened so
fast. All I could think about was survival.”
After his discharge in 1945, Stone enrolled in
Kinman Business College in Spokane, Wash. Three
years later he enlisted in the Air Force, where
he served until 1966.
In 1973, he happened to accompany a lady he was
“courting” to Riddle to visit some friends.
Stone said he fell in love with the area, bought
57 acres and moved there in 1978.
Stone lives with his dog, Rowdy, and spends most
of his time maintaining his property and
canning, but sets aside Thursday afternoons to
meet with friends and reminisce about the past.
Stone said he will always be grateful for the
experiences the military gave him.
“I found my home in the service,” he said.
The medal ceremony will be begin at 4 p.m. April
15 at the VFW Post, 1127 N.E. Walnut St., in
Roseburg, and will include presentations by
Douglas High School's jazz band and choir and
the Charlie Company Honor Guard.
You can reach reporter Anne Creighton at
541-957-4211 or by email at
acreighton@nrtoday.com.
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