French Say Thanks to 2 Veterans of Great War

On the 80th anniversary of the end of World War I, the French consul general in Los Angeles summoned two American veterans to his Beverly Hills residence Wednesday to honor them for fighting for his country’s freedom.

Consul Guy Yelda pinned the French Legion of Honor on Albert Willard, 101, of Sherman Oaks and Fred Roberts, 102, of Temple City.

“Today, France wishes to express its gratitude,” Yelda told the veterans in a ceremony attended by their families, friends and others.

“I like it,” said Willard, who was in a wheelchair at the presentation.

To commemorate the anniversary of the end of the Great War, the French government decided to honor as many living U.S. veterans who fought on French soil during the war as possible, said Lt. Col. Robert Johnson, a retired U.S. Air Force officer who is helping locate candidates for the medals.

Willard and Roberts were among 27 Americans across the country who were honored during the first round of medal presentations Wednesday.

More medals will be presented to about 300 other veterans who have been found, if they qualify, Johnson said. In all, as many as 1,500 U.S. veterans who served in France in the war are believed to be living, Johnson said.

“We have a long way to go,” Johnson said. “The important thing is to get the word out.”

At Wednesday’s presentation, Yelda, flanked by French and U.S. flags, told of Willard’s and Roberts’ contributions to the war.

Willard arrived in France in June 1918. He was a private in Company E, 7th Engineers, 5th Division--charged with building bridges and reconnaissance. He fought in the battles of St. Mihiel and the Meuse-Argonne, where he was wounded.

“I know you keep a very special memory of Nov. 11, 1918, since your unit was bombed at 10 a.m. by German aviation,” Yelda told him.

Roberts, an Arkansas native, was a corporal in Company D, 151st Machine Gun Battalion of the 42nd Rainbow Division. He fought in Champagne and at Chateau-Thierry and “took a brilliant part in the second Marne victory,” Yelda said.

Roberts was wounded in July 1918 at Belleau Wood and was also injured by mustard gas.

Roberts preferred to dwell on happier memories. “I enjoyed some good times in France,” he said. “They were very kind and nice people.”