Story from the Altavista Journal:
Sixty-six years ago, Allied forces invaded France, beginning a sweep to free the country and Europe from the brutal Nazi regime. Last Wednesday at the French Embassy in Washington, D.C., France recognized nine American servicemen for liberating the nation and the continent. Altavista’s Andrew Jackson (Jack) Shields was there, just as he had been in the Normandy landing June 6, 1944.
Shields, now 88, and the other American veterans received the Legion of Honor, the highest decoration conferred by France. They were made chevaliers, or knights, of the Legion of Honor.
As loved ones watched, Consul General Michel Schaffhauser faced the white-haired, distinguished Shields, wearing a dark suit and his VFW cap, and told the audience about his service to France. He then pinned the handsome medal on Shields’ jacket and embraced him. Shields said he was humbled and elated by the award, which he accepted on behalf of his army unit.
“It’s a real honor and I appreciate it,” Shields said the next day back in Altavista. “I just did my part. I was part of a team. Each person has to do his part if the team is going to be successful.”
Schaffhauser noted Shields was a technician in the 411th Anti-Aircraft Gun Battalion. He said Shields participated in the Normandy, Northern France and Ardennes-Alsace campaigns and received several American decorations. Standing at a podium with the United States and French flags at his back, Schaffhauser praised the Americans.
“Your personal contribution to the liberation of France are examples of what an individual can bring as a soldier with the highest values of courage, heroism, sense of duty and sacrifice for the strong and enduring relationship between America and France. … You were young men, private first class soldiers, sergeants, corporals, lieutenants or colonels. But all of you were there with gallantry and determination to help free us from the tyranny of foreign occupation.”
The next day, Shields said he was part of Gen. Omar Bradley’s 1st Army during Normandy before transferring to Gen. George Patton’s 3rd Army two months later. At the invasion, the 22-year-old Shields’ job was to hone in the 90mm guns on the German aircraft. He said over a nine-day period in the invasion, his crew shot down 92 Nazi warplanes.
Recalling the Normandy invasion, Shields said there was a lot of noise, a lot of carnage and confusion. Yet, he said he didn’t doubt the success of the operation or his survival. He said the French people invited the soldiers into their homes for food and to take a bath.
“They were glad to see us because of the oppression by the Germans.”
Shields kept pushing across Europe after France, going to Austria, Holland, Belgium, Luxembourg and ending in Czechoslovakia when the Germans surrendered in May 1945. His service ran from 1940-45 and included stops in Panama for radar school, Scotland and England before the European continent. He left the service as a technical sergeant.
Shields was back in Altavista the next year and has been here ever since. He and wife Marguerite will be married 64 years in September. They have one daughter and four grandsons. His wife, grandson Matthew, and grandson Andy and his wife Melissa, attended the ceremony, which was followed by a reception. Shields was glad to have his family there.
“It was a wonderful thing, and I thought it was quite an honor,” Marguerite Shields said. “I was really proud of him. Even though he said he’d never done anything to deserve it, somebody thought he had.”
Marie-Claire Lafon-Gabriel, assistant to the consul general, said the French government decided at the 60th anniversary of D-Day to award the Legion of Honor to American veterans who fought on French soil, water or air during World War II to thank them.
According to Notable Names Database, almost 114,000 individuals who have won the award were still living in 2000. Many winners come from the military, but the award has also been given to businessmen, painters, writers, diplomats, scientists and actors. According to the Web site, other winners include Thomas Edison, Clint Eastwood, Placido Domingo, Alan Greenspan, Helen Keller and Steven Spielberg, along with Gen. Douglas MacArthur, Patton and Bradley.
The Legion of Honor was created by Napoleon in 1802. This is the 13th medal Shields has won. He has the others pinned to a piece of army khaki. They include American medals for good conduct, commendation, World War II victory, national defense and others. He has received two others from the French.
Shields is a lifetime member of Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4165 in Altavista and was commander of the local Disabled American Veterans for six years, state commander for one year and national deputy chief of staff for one year. He suffered shrapnel wounds and hearing loss while in the war. He also came down with malaria, which still affects him once or twice a year.
In Altavista, Shields was active in supporting downtown, spent 27 years with Virginia Power and also started buying and selling antique cars, something he still does. He’s had cars made in Italy, France, England and Germany. He’s had several Mercedes and a Rolls Royce, which was part of a package deal that came with a fire truck. He sold both of them. For more, read the story.
Robert W. Carter, Jr. is a Virginia attorney whose law practice is dedicated to protecting the rights of the victims of nursing home and assisted living neglect and abuse in Richmond, Roanoke, Norfolk, Lynchburg, Danville, Charlottesville, and across Virginia.
