Curcio Receives French Medal of Honor

AdminMarch 12, 2015Last Updated: March 13, 2015

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WWII Veteran John Curcio of North Bend shows the French Legion of Honor medal he was presented during a ceremony at the French Embassy last Wednesday afternoon, March 4. The medal is the highest award France bestows to those helped liberate France during the Second World War. Additional medals he received for service during World War Two are displayed on the wall behind him. Also displayed is a painting of the bomber in which he was a crew member by West Renovo artist Robert Calhoun. The inscription on the painting reads: Dec. 1944 8th Air Force 458 Bomb Group (24s) Capt. Gabriel’s crew over the North Sea returning to home base in Horsham St. Faith, Norwich, England after leaving the formation due to battle damage over enemy territory. The plane landed at an RAF base because they were unable to make it to the home base. Record photo – Barbara Mastriania

by Barbara Mastriania

WASHINTON, D.C. – WWII Veteran John Curcio is the proud recipient of the French Legion of Honor medal.

The Renovo resident received the award on March 4 at the French Embassy in Washington. The medal is the highest award France bestows to those who helped liberate France during the Second World War.

The award was presented in the name of the President of the French Republic during a ceremony at the French Embassy (Maison Francaise) in Washington, DC.

The hour-long ceremony saw seventeen people – all around 90 years of age — awarded the medal. Two French speakers hosted the ceremony and Curcio and each of the other awardees were presented their medal individually.

Curcio, a member of the 8th Air Force Historical Society, served in World War Two with a ten member bomber crew and flew 35 missions. He flew missions to north and south France, the Battle of the Bulge in Ardennes, Rhineland, Germany, and Normandy.

In addition to the French Legion of Honor medal for service during WWII, Curcio was awarded the Air Medal for six missions with four oak leaf clusters of five battle stars for service in the European Theater of Operations, and various certificates.

He served with the 754 Bomb Squadron of the 458 Bomb Group of the Second Air Division of the 8th Air Force.

His service in France also included aiding Gen. George Patton. Curcio recalls that “Patton was going through France pretty fast. His tanks ran out of gas.” The crew Curcio was with had to stop combat missions to supply Patton with gasoline. “For ten days we’d land in France to take gas to Patton’s Army.”