Oakville Veteran Awarded Highest French Honor

Oakville's Bill Koeln was recognized at a ceremony Monday for earning the French Legion of Honor. He was joined by Creve Coeur resident Hall Roth, U.S. Rep. Russ Carnahan (D-St. Louis), and St. Louis County Executive Charlie Dooley, among other dignitaries.

The ceremony was held at the , where Roth is a resident.

Roth, who served as part of the 1st Infantry, a.k.a. the "Big Red 1" during World War II, was part of the Allied forces who came ashore on D-Day. He was captured in France before he was liberated in May 1945.

Koeln, of Oakville, was in the 30th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division. He was captured in December 1944 and was liberated in April 1945. Both men spent time in their captivity at Stalag 7a, among areas.

Representative Carnahan and Dooley presented the pair with proclamations. Dooley himself served in the Big Red 1 in Vietnam.

"We will always remember," Dooley said of the pair's sacrifice and dedication to their country.

Colonel Christopher Hall, representing the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers talked about the reality of time running out to recognize those from the era.

"What you've done, what you represent what is great about our nation. When duty called, you answered," he said. "We owe you the debt of our gratitude."

Koeln's children could not make it to the event, but a statement read on their behalf cited the "heroic way he lived his life since" his war service, "teaching a life of gratitude and respect."

Roth's stepson, Larry Comensky and his wife, Faith have been working for more than the last year trying to gather the paperwork on other documentation necessary for the honor. Monday was the day the family could say "Mission Accomplished."

"You are our hero--caring, loving, courageous, endlessly creative, and far too modest," Comensky told the crowd, with his stepfather sitting nearby alongside his fellow recipient.

Click here for more pictures from the Monday ceremony