General Consul of France to Honor 3 RI World War II Veterans
Saturday, July 08, 2017
GoLocalProv News Team
Three World War II Veterans from Rhode Island will be honored by the Consul General of France with the Legion of Honor.
The three Rhode Islanders John Dunnigan, Raymond Gillis and Leo Heroux will receive the honor during a ceremony in front of the Rhode Island World War II Memorial on Friday, July 24 at 6 p.m.
The Veterans
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First Lieutenant John J. Dunnigan
Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Technician Raymond Gillis enlisted in the Army Air Force on December 8th, 1941, the day after Pearl Harbor. Having received special training in new Pathfinder radar technology, Lieutenant Dunnigan was assigned as Group Leader Bombardier in the 351st Bombardment Group of the 8th Army Air Force. Serving in the Air Force from January 23rd 1943 to October 12th, 1945, First Lieutenant John J. Dunnigan served in several battles throughout France including: Paris, Caen, Chateauroux, Dijon, Tours, Cherbourg, Boulogne, Saumur and Saint Lo. After a raid in central Germany, First Lieutenant John Dunnigan received a presidential citation for his heroism as well as his, “Courage, coolness and skill.”
Technician Raymond Gillis
Born in Newport, Rhode Island, Technician Raymond Gillis was inducted in the army on December 28th, 1942 as part of the 965th Field Artillery Battery C. Technician Gillis worked as a telephone lineman for the forward observation post in the regions of Ardennes, Normandy and Northern France. While stationed in Normandy, the 965th Field Artillery Battery C was chosen to follow U.S. General George Patton to a nearby bridge, in which they were fired on before arrival. Technician Gillis and his team stayed in Normandy for several days with the General before continuing various missions in France.
Technician Gillis is a recipient of the American Service Medal, the Bronze Star Medal, the E-A-ME Service Medal and the Good Conduct Medal.
Private Leo Heroux
At age 19, Private Leo Heroux was assigned as an amphibious engineer in the Company A 48th Engineer Combat Battalion. A native from Lowell, Massachusetts, Private Heroux was stationed from March 8th 1943 to October 25th, 1945 where he cleaned beaches, built bridges and marked mine fields.
Private Heroux participated in several battles and campaigns in France during the war, particularly in the regions of Ardennes, Normandy, and Northern France. He has been a recipient of the European-African-Middle Eastern Medal, the Good Conduct Medal and the Croix de Guerre.
Bilingual in French and English, Private Heroux moved back to France in 1948 with his wife whom he met during the war. Today three of his children live near Avignon, France while another lives in Montreal, Canada.
The Ceremony
The ceremony will feature Rose Weaver singing the national anthem and La Marseillaise and ceremonial music by the U.S. Coast Guard Brass Quintet.
The ceremony will conclude with a toast from a sabered bottle of Champagne presented by Robert Burke in honor of all RI veterans.
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