In the midst of the cold, rain, wind, land mines, bullets whizzing by and threat of capture, hundreds of thousands of soldiers performed their duties as assigned by the United States government.
Little did some know that 70 years later they would be honored for their heroism and service in aiding another country in gaining its independence from the Nazis.
On Monday, Gov. Jay Nixon gave Lloyd Cain, Frank Crooks and Francis "Bud" Jones the French Legion of Honor, the highest award bestowed by the French government for service in that country. The awards were given in a ceremony in Nixon's Capitol office.