Honors Still Coming in for Eastern Iowa WWII Vet

An Eastern Iowa man has been awarded the French Legion of Honor Medal for his services during World War II.  Stanley Kovar accepted the award at a Memorial Day ceremony in Victor Monday morning.

“I was just an Iowa farmboy,” Kovar said.  “I had never been on a train, or a bus, or a street car, or a taxi, or an airplane, or a ship.”

Kovar was presented the medal by Colonel Greg Hapgood on behalf of the French Government.  “This is the highest honor that France can bestow upon those who have achieved remarkable deeds for France,” Hapgood said.

“A lot of French people really appreciated what we did,” Kovar said.

Kovar served as an American soldier in France for a good portion of World War II.  He is noted for helping storm the beaches of Normandy in 1944 during the famous D-day invasion.

Among Kovar's other awards are a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart, awarded to him after being wounded in battle.  Kovar is also noted for volunteering to stay in Europe for an additional six month period following the conclusion of the war.

In a letter of gratitude from the Consul General of France, Kovar is called a “hero” by the French Government.  Kovar, who's in his late 80's, said he was grateful to receive the honor, and reflected on the deaths of his fellow soldiers and friends.

“The war was necessary,” he said.  “It was a shame so many had to get killed, but I guess that's the way things are.”