World War II veteran Emil G. Hirsch, 98, a five-year resident of Northbrook, received France’s highest distinction of honor for his participation in the liberation of France during World War II.
Consul General of France in Chicago, Yannick Tagand, officially presented and pinned the French Legion of Honor medal with ribbon to Hirsch’s lapel on April 5 during a Friday afternoon formal ceremony and presentation at Hirsch’s place of residence, Brookdale Senior Living Solutions (4501 Concord Lane).
The event included the posting of the colors and accolades by family, friends plus elected and appointed officials.
“I feel overwhelmed, if you want to know,” Hirsch said to Pioneer Press. “It’s the highest honor that one can get and I’m forever grateful to the president of France who’s the only one that can do it.
“I’m very happy,” Hirsch added. “I’m happy to see all my friends who are here and all the residents.”
Hirsch served in the United States Army from January 1944 to January 1946. Formerly of Naples, Florida, Hirsch relocated to Northbrook to be closer to immediate family residing in Deerfield and Glenview.
“Northbrook is great,” Hirsch said. “It’s peaceful, a lot of grass, and greenery and nice people.”
Hirsch does not speak French. He was seated on a raised stage for the honor.
Consul Tagand offered podium remarks in English to a packed audience and also told Pioneer Press, “The idea of these kind of ceremonies is to mark our gratitude, our recognition, to the people who helped us in very difficult times.
“So we’re very happy to be in a position to recognize them, to be with them,” Tagand said, “to convey the message that this long standing friendship is something that we have to cherish.”
PFC Hirsch was inducted into the U.S. Army on Jan. 28, 1944. During the war, he served with Patton’s 3rd Army, 95th Infantry Division, 378th Infantry Regiment, and Anti-Tank Company. He participated in the campaigns of Northern France, Rhineland, Ardennes-Alsace and Central Europe.
Hirsch was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for valor in combat in France during the liberation of the town of Metz in the Lorraine region. His division would become known as the “Iron Men of Metz.”
PFC Hirsch earned American distinctions including the Good Conduct Medal, American Theater Campaign Medal, European African Middle East Campaign Ribbon with 3 Campaign Stars, WWII Victory Medal, and Meritorious Unit Award for his unit’s action in relieving the 101st Airborne after the Battle of the Bulge.
Hirsch also earned the Combat Infantry Badge, Sharpshooter Badge with Machine Gun Bar, Honorable Service Lapel Button and Overseas Service Bar. Hirsch was honorably discharged on Jan. 20, 1946.
The Legion of Honor is the highest distinction that France can bestow upon those who have achieved noteworthy deeds for France, according to the release about Hirsch.
Founded by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the National Order of the Legion of Honor recognizes eminent service to the French Republic. Recipients of this honor are named by decree signed by the President of the Republic.
To the audience at the podium, Hirsch shared memories.
“I remember visiting London for 24 hours,” Hirsch recalled, “… and being appalled at the terrible destruction I viewed at Westminster Abbey and everywhere.
“I remember landing in Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, several months after D-Day and sadly viewing thousands of white crosses as I debarked the British troop transport ship.
“I remember driving in a truck convoy through Paris a few days after it was liberated from the Germans and the next year, in May of 1945, spending three days in that beautiful city.
“I climbed to the top of the Eiffel Tower and bought a souvenir for my mother.”
Also seeing the Palace of Versailles in person, “was unbelievable,” he recalled.
Hirsch met many war survivors, many of them emaciated to the bone from starvation and lack of proper medical care. There was also the man who was beaten on the head by the Gestapo, resulting in a metal plate to contain and treat the injury. The man had Hirsch feel the plate.
“He was Jewish and wanted to thank us for rescuing him,” Hirsch remembers.
Hirsch spoke of French heroism and also rode in a jeep to a “concentration camp-like stockade where human skeletons came pouring out.”
In Belgium, regarding death, “I will never forget the overpowering stench.”
To Pioneer Press, Hirsch said to all who might read this, “I want to tell them to find a way of living humanely with each other.
“Kindness is important but it’s more important not to fight with each other and kill each other and destroy each other, particularly with threatening with nuclear weapons that would wipe out the world.”
Hirsch will be 99 this Nov. 6.
Wearing the French Legion of Honor medal, Hirsch said to the audience at the conclusion of podium remarks, “I pray that someday our world will find the religion of humanity.”
Karie Angell Luc is a freelancer for Pioneer Press.
