Jerry Wurmser Wins French Legion of Honor

As we remember today those who lost their lives at Pearl Harbor 60 years ago — as well as all of those who perished battling the greatest force of evil in world history — we have a special recognition at The RP.

Jerry Wurmser, a loyal member of the RP Nation, an occasional contributor to this web site, and a personal hero of the RP, was awarded the Legion of Honor by the French government for his brave service during World War II.

Reports theLexington Herald-Leader:

Jerome “Jerry” Wurmser risked his life flying fighter planes over France in World War II, helping drive out German forces that had occupied the country for four years.

In November, France thanked Wurmser by awarding him the Legion of Honor, a medal that recognizes people who have served the French nation in various ways. The decoration was established by Napoleon Bonaparte about 1801.

“I feel very honored, but there are thousands of other people out there who are a heck of a lot more deserving than me,” Wurmser said with the modesty typical of WWII veterans.

Wurmser, 88, of Lexington, flew 66 combat missions in a P-47 as a member of the Army Air Force’s 324th Fighter Group in 1944-45. The unit’s primary assignment was strafing and bombing German airfields, truck convoys, supply trains and essentially anything else that might support the Nazi war machine. Other times they supported U.S. troops on the ground, dropping bombs right ahead of them.

Click here to read the full story of Jerry’s heroism and his deserving honor.