100-year-old US war veteran receives France's highest honour
A 100-year-old African American veteran who was wounded shortly after D-Day has been awarded France's highest honour.
In a ceremony at France's Manhattan consulate, General Consul Jeremie Robert presented Osceola Lewis Fletcher with the Légion d'honneur for his "utmost example of bravery and courage."
Robert also highlighted the dedication of Black soldiers in World War Two, even in the face of discrimination.
Born on January 16th, 1922 to a poor family in Brooklyn, Fletcher joined the army at age 21, and served on supply missions on the beaches of Normandy, a week after the D-Day invasions of June 1944.
The general consul explained that while Fletcher was offloading cargo, he was repeatedly cut by debris in the water, and that in a separate event, his boat was hit by a German missile, leaving him with a large gash in the head.
"You risked your life to liberate my country, France, and to liberate Europe from the Nazis," said Robert.
"Men such as you saved millions of lives. You saved our country. You saved our freedom, and you saved our values."
Fletcher, sitting in a wheelchair, briefly spoke to the audience, and said the French "helped us to rescue them ... they were fighters."
Fletcher's daughter, Jacqueline Streets, said at the ceremony that her father "has always loved France, the country, the language and the people," and noted that during his time in World War II, "he felt respected, befriended and appreciated by the French people."
Speaking in French, she thanked the general consul for presenting the honour, as well as for "having shown to America that Black lives have always had importance."
Founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Légion d'honneur includes 92,000 civilian and military members, chosen for their "eminent merits" in service of the French nation.
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In a ceremony at France's Manhattan consulate, General Consul Jeremie Robert presented Osceola Lewis Fletcher with the Légion d'honneur for his "utmost example of bravery and courage."
Robert also highlighted the dedication of Black soldiers in World War Two, even in the face of discrimination.
Born on January 16th, 1922 to a poor family in Brooklyn, Fletcher joined the army at age 21, and served on supply missions on the beaches of Normandy, a week after the D-Day invasions of June 1944.
The general consul explained that while Fletcher was offloading cargo, he was repeatedly cut by debris in the water, and that in a separate event, his boat was hit by a German missile, leaving him with a large gash in the head.
"You risked your life to liberate my country, France, and to liberate Europe from the Nazis," said Robert.
"Men such as you saved millions of lives. You saved our country. You saved our freedom, and you saved our values."
Fletcher, sitting in a wheelchair, briefly spoke to the audience, and said the French "helped us to rescue them ... they were fighters."
Fletcher's daughter, Jacqueline Streets, said at the ceremony that her father "has always loved France, the country, the language and the people," and noted that during his time in World War II, "he felt respected, befriended and appreciated by the French people."
Speaking in French, she thanked the general consul for presenting the honour, as well as for "having shown to America that Black lives have always had importance."
Founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Légion d'honneur includes 92,000 civilian and military members, chosen for their "eminent merits" in service of the French nation.
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