American WWII soldier to be inducted into France's Legion of Honor

France bestows Legion of Honor to Beaufort's Jimmie Leach
By PATRICK DONOHUE
Published Sunday, August 22, 2010


The Legion of Honor was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to recognize service to the French Republic. The order was perceived as an elite group in which military bravery and civilian talents would be honored equally.
Though technically reserved for French citizens, the Legion of Honor can be bestowed upon foreign citizens if approved by French President Nicolas Sarkozy, who serves as the organization's grand master.
Today, there are more than 93,000 members of the Legion of Honor, all of whom were appointed for life.
Source: Grand Chancellor of the Legion of Honor


Down the street from the Musee d'Orsay in Paris, the Musée National de la Légion d'honneur was a mandatory stop for Marion and Jimmie Leach of Beaufort whenever the couple visited the city.

The couple would stroll the halls of the museum, housed in an 18th century palace on the west bank of the Seine River, and marvel at the historical figures inducted by the French government into the National Order of the Legion of Honor. The order was created by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802 to recognize military and civilian service to the French Republic and is the highest honor in France.

President Dwight Eisenhower, Gen. Douglas MacArthur and Queen Elizabeth II are among the foreign-born members of the order, and James Leach has joined their ranks. Leach died in December at age 87 after suffering a heart attack while driving on Lady’s Island.

Leach was awarded the Legion of Honor before his death. On Sept. 1 in Warner Robins, Ga., the Consul General of France in Atlanta, Pascal le Deunff, will preside over a ceremony recognizing the induction of Leach and three other American World War II veterans from the Southeast into the Legion of Honor.

“I think he would be humbled by this honor,” Marion Leach, his widow, said.

Claire Collobert, spokeswoman for the Consul General, said the four veterans are being honored for helping liberate France during World War II.

"All World War II veterans who fought in France are entitled to join the Legion of Honor," Collobert said. "It was not hard at all to deem James Leach worthy of this honor, as he basically fought all over France in World War II and in many famous battles. We have reason to believe he played a major role in fighting for the freedom of the French people and democracy."

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