Roverron
09-26-2012, 07:48 PM
http://www.poncacitynews.com/local/McNiece-Medal-Ceremony-Slated-Wednesday
OKLAHOMA CITY — At 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Blue Room of the State Capitol, James “Jake” McNiece, of Ponca City, will be presented with the medal of Knight in the French Order of the Legion of Honour by Frederic Bontems, Consul General of France, based in Houston.
The Legion of Honour is the most prestigious French national order. It was created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, who was then the First Consul of the First French Republic, and wanted to reward civilians and soldiers who had achieved great things in the service of France.
A few years ago, France decided to follow a more active policy of awarding this medal to the American veterans of World War II. McNiece will receive this high honor in recognition of his heroic actions in the European Theater in World War II and, in particular, for his contribution to the liberation of France and for the cause of Freedom.
As a member of the 101st Airborne, McNiece made a total of four combat jumps, including his first into France early on the morning of June 6. During the war he served as both a demolitions (sappers) platoon leader for the Headquarters Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and later on in the war as a leader of a group of Pathfinders for the 101st Airborne Division.
Upon entering the military, McNiece volunteered for the U.S. Army paratrooper duty on Sept. 1, 1942. He was assigned to the 506th Paratroop Infantry Regiment, or PIR, which was the first Paratrooper Regiment formed whose enlisted men were trained as paratroopers from their first day of basic training at Camp Toccoa, Ga., which became known as Col. Sink’s “Muscle College.”
As a Demolition - Saboteur, nicknamed Demo-Sabo, McNiece was sergeant of a stick of paratroopers known as “The Filthy Thirteen.” The film “The Dirty Dozen” is loosely based on McNiece’s group of men and, like their leader, these men were a well-trained and finely-tuned group of soldiers.
McNiece is the recipient of awards such as the World War II Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon, EAME Theatre Ribbon with four Bronze Stars and two Bronze Arrowheads, Presidential Unit Citation for Normandy, for Holland and two for Bastogne (one for being a Pathfinder and one because he was part of 101st AB); Bronze Star Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Combat Infantry Badge, Jump wings with four Bronze Stars, Army Of Occupation Medal, Cold War Victory Medal, Overseas Service Medal, five hash marks left sleeve, each hash mark signifies he served all or part of six months overseas, and the Army Service Ribbon. McNiece is also entitled to wear the Airborne Pathfinder Insignia and, of course, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
I had the honor of attending the event today and had met him a few years ago. Sgt. McNiece is 92 and though it wasn't addressed, he was a member of the "Filthy 13", of which the movie " The Dirty Dozen" was very loosely based.
This is man is a hero.
Thank you for your service....
OKLAHOMA CITY — At 11 a.m. Wednesday in the Blue Room of the State Capitol, James “Jake” McNiece, of Ponca City, will be presented with the medal of Knight in the French Order of the Legion of Honour by Frederic Bontems, Consul General of France, based in Houston.
The Legion of Honour is the most prestigious French national order. It was created in 1802 by Napoleon Bonaparte, who was then the First Consul of the First French Republic, and wanted to reward civilians and soldiers who had achieved great things in the service of France.
A few years ago, France decided to follow a more active policy of awarding this medal to the American veterans of World War II. McNiece will receive this high honor in recognition of his heroic actions in the European Theater in World War II and, in particular, for his contribution to the liberation of France and for the cause of Freedom.
As a member of the 101st Airborne, McNiece made a total of four combat jumps, including his first into France early on the morning of June 6. During the war he served as both a demolitions (sappers) platoon leader for the Headquarters Company of the 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment and later on in the war as a leader of a group of Pathfinders for the 101st Airborne Division.
Upon entering the military, McNiece volunteered for the U.S. Army paratrooper duty on Sept. 1, 1942. He was assigned to the 506th Paratroop Infantry Regiment, or PIR, which was the first Paratrooper Regiment formed whose enlisted men were trained as paratroopers from their first day of basic training at Camp Toccoa, Ga., which became known as Col. Sink’s “Muscle College.”
As a Demolition - Saboteur, nicknamed Demo-Sabo, McNiece was sergeant of a stick of paratroopers known as “The Filthy Thirteen.” The film “The Dirty Dozen” is loosely based on McNiece’s group of men and, like their leader, these men were a well-trained and finely-tuned group of soldiers.
McNiece is the recipient of awards such as the World War II Victory Ribbon, Good Conduct Medal, American Theatre Ribbon, EAME Theatre Ribbon with four Bronze Stars and two Bronze Arrowheads, Presidential Unit Citation for Normandy, for Holland and two for Bastogne (one for being a Pathfinder and one because he was part of 101st AB); Bronze Star Medal with three Oak Leaf Clusters, Combat Infantry Badge, Jump wings with four Bronze Stars, Army Of Occupation Medal, Cold War Victory Medal, Overseas Service Medal, five hash marks left sleeve, each hash mark signifies he served all or part of six months overseas, and the Army Service Ribbon. McNiece is also entitled to wear the Airborne Pathfinder Insignia and, of course, the Purple Heart with Oak Leaf Cluster.
I had the honor of attending the event today and had met him a few years ago. Sgt. McNiece is 92 and though it wasn't addressed, he was a member of the "Filthy 13", of which the movie " The Dirty Dozen" was very loosely based.
This is man is a hero.
Thank you for your service....