Robert Harry Powell Receives Legion of Honor

Farmington veteran receives honor from France
Robert 'Harry' Powell receives Legion of Honor

     FARMINGTON — His country has already said thanks to Harry Powell. Now, France is saying, “merci beaucoup.”

     The thanks comes 64 years after Powell, a member of the 2nd Infantry Division Headquarters in World War II, landed in Normandy, on Omaha Beach on what was known as “D Day Plus One.” That was June 7, 1944. The invasion began the day before.

     Powell was drafted at the age of 21 and spent 22 months stationed in the U.S. and another 22 months overseas.

     “I was just an old boy from Missouri,” he said. “I went because I had to go.”

     In 1999, with the help of Rep. Jo Ann Emerson, Powell received the medals he had earned in that campaign. His records had been destroyed in a fire and that’s why they came so late. Now, a medal from the French government will be added to them. Powell has been awarded the French Legion of Honor. The honor dates back to the emperor Napoleon. Membership in the Legion of Honor is a distinction that is designed to fire people’s imaginations, spur soldiers to valor and cause its recipients to be held in high esteem in other countries. Knights, as the recipients are called, are to wear the decoration hanging from a red silk ribbon on the left side of the chest.

     In a letter from the French Ambassador, Pierre Vimont tells Mr. Powell that this award, “is a sign of France’s true and unforgettable gratitude and appreciation for your personal, precious contribution to the United States’ decisive role in the liberation of our country during World War II.”

     “It was all so long ago,” said Powell, who turns 88 on May 1, who said he doesn’t remember too much about it. “I was glad I was part of it. I came back without a scratch.”

     Lois Powell had her husband write down his remembrances a few years ago. He wrote:

     “We were on a large ship and then put on landing craft that held 10 or 15 men and we waded ashore on D-day plus one. Our A.G. section crossed over after the Omaha Beach was established. The Germans were still strafing our landing spot. We soon got inland to a little village, Cerisky-a-Foret, France. The first thing we did was to dig a two-man fox hole. We covered it over with logs and dirt, saving a small hole to get in and out. We slept in our fox holes. We didn’t feel too safe as the Germans still came over strafing when they could. After being at this location a week or so, one morning before sun-up we were still in our fox holes and our artillery was set up just a short distance behind us. The artillery all opened up shelling Hill 109 where the Germans were dug in. This Hill 109 was where the Germans stopped our drive and we had to take the Hill and drive the enemy out so we could advance further. After advancing and driving the enemy inland, our division got orders to take a port city, Brest. The city was well fortified and this is where we lost a lot of men. I saw many trucks coming out of Brest carrying our dead out in backs of trucks stacked like cord wood. They all had their boots off — guess they were used for our soldiers later on. I think our army made a mistake by taking the city since we had it completely surrounded. We really didn’t need the port. Such is war.”

     Powell was in the Battle of the Bulge and said, “Our headquarters were ordered out about midnight to go to the front and stop the German advance. After marching several miles, we were told to dig in and prepare to stop the Germans from advancing. When we were all dug in, the Germans did send a shell close to where we were and then they stopped.”

     By the time his enlistment was over, Powell had gone through five major battles.

     He had met Lois at a USO Dance before shipping out, but they waited to marry until he returned home.

     “It was an uncertain time,” said Mr. Powell.

      He looks with pride to the certificates his family has framed naming him to the French Legion of Honor.

     “It means a lot to him,” said Lois.

     “I was surprised and I hope every soldier who was there got that,” said Mr. Powell.

     His family feels as if he is a hero.

     “I am highly indebted to him for the sacrifice he made,” said Bob Powell, his son, and a Vietnam veteran. “The World War II veterans will always be my heroes.”

     Lois Powell adds, “Harry always says the real heroes did not come home.”

     Mr. Powell has been active in the VFW and the American Legion since his service days. He came home to be a butcher, then retired from that to sell real estate. He retired at the age of 80.

     The family hopes to have a ceremony for the official presentation of the Legion of Honor at a later date. He has not yet received the medal.