Waldron, Indiana – The highest honor in France will be given to World War II veteran Howard Bettner, 98, of Waldron, Indiana, for his role in the liberation of France.
On March 21, Yannick Tagand, the French consul general in Chicago, will formally award Bettner with the Legion of Honor medal at his residence in Waldron.
Bettner served in the Navy and was stationed in the European Theater of the Second World War. He helped to land troops at Omaha Beach in the first and second waves of the renowned June 6, 1944, Normandy landings. Bettner completed more than 40 roundtrips between France and England, bringing back troops and supplies as well as casualties and detainees.
Bettner received numerous honors for his service during the war, including the WWII Victory Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Service Medal with one Bronze Star, the American Medal, the Amphibious Force Commendation, and the Good Conduct Medal before being honorably discharged in February 1946.
