Georgia WWII Veterans Given France's Highest Honor

By Jim Burress

Atlanta, GA – Atlanta's Consul General of France Thursday bestowed that country's highest honor on three World War II veterans from Georgia. Given the "Legion of Honor" were Charles F. Smith of Snellville, Walter J. Victor of Dawsonville, and Charles W. Sprowl of Dalton. WABE's Jim Burress brings us Sprowl's story, some six decades in the making.

Charles W. Sprowl served in the Army's 490th Port Battalion. A year after enlisting on D-day--Sprowl participated in the invasion of Normandy. "I think about this time in 44," he begins his story. Aged, but still sharp and able, Sprowl remembers that day nearly 66 years ago as if he just recently lived it.

"We all helped each other," he said. "We would loan our shovels and K-rations and what ever, you know, to each other."

Sprowl recalls the combat--being shot at by German machine guns. He describes the conditions--a beach full of land mines. But as an African-American serving in a segregated unit, he says something altogether different about that day sticks out most in his mind.

"And there wasn't no segregation there on the beach that day. There wasn't any segregation at all. It made ya think. It made you think a lot. We're here, we're all serving together, and we're all getting along together today. Why couldn't this happen tomorrow and the next day, ya know?"

President Truman used his executive powers to desegregate the armed forces in 1948. That was one highlight in Sprowl's service, matched closely by Consul General Pascal Le Deunff granting of France's "Legion of Honor."

"After surviving too many deadly days, you and your company were assigned to Thanksgiving the mission of anointing ships to keep the Allied efforts going with supplies during campaigns through France and Germany," said Le Deunff to a crowd of people inside his Atlanta residence. "Mr. Sprowl, you are a hero."

A hero recognized. Jim Burress, WABE News.