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Pour la promotion de John OROFINO au grade d’Officier de la Légion D’Honneur .
For John OROFINO's promotion in the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honour.
John OROFINO est un héros. Comme tous les héros il est modeste . Je l’ai rencontré par hasard à Omaha Beach . J’ai appris qu’il avait servi avec honneur dans l’Armée Patton durant la seconde guerre mondiale . Mais je ne savais pas tout . John OROFINO est titulaire de la Purple Heart et de la Silver Star. En 2007 il a été nommé au grade de chevalier de la Légion d’Honneur à San Francisco sur le navire Français « le Prairial » . Qu’a donc fait John pour mériter ces honneurs ? Oh presque rien …Engagé à 20 ans dans l’armée Américaine il était en Juillet 1944 à Verdun . Il faisait partie du 3 ème bataillon de reconnaissance de cavalerie et sa mission était de signaler les mouvements et les positions de l’ennemi afin d’aider le général Patton à libérer la ville de Thionville . Durant cette mission plus que dangereuse John se trouvait 80 miles DERRIERE les lignes allemandes . Sa section a rencontré l’armée Allemande et il en a résulté un dur échange de tirs et la mort de beaucoup de ses camarades . Durant ces circonstances extrêmement dangereuses son sens de la solidarité , sa détermination , sa dévotion envers ses camarades alliés , son courage et son esprit de commandement n’ont pas seulement sauvé la vie de ses camarades mais ont permis à la réussite des opérations . Il a été lui-même blessé , transporté dans un hôpital , et durant tout ce temps il avait un petit drapeau français qu’une petite fille lui avait donné dans son casque .
Après la guerre Monsieur OROFINO a continué a servir les autres, tant dans le domaine social que dans l’enseignement public .
John OROFINO est un héros. Sa nomination au grade de chevalier de la légion d’honneur nous semble bien modeste . Demandons ensemble sa promotion au grade d’officier de la Légion d’Honneur . Comme le prévoient les statuts de l’ordre : « des nominations directes aux grades d'officier et de commandeur ainsi qu'à la dignité de grand officier peuvent intervenir, dans les conditions fixées à l'article R. 32-1, afin de récompenser des carrières hors du commun, tant par leur durée que par l'éminence des services rendus »
John OROFINO n’est pas au courant de notre démarche . C’est à nous de demander son avancement en remerciement de ce qu’il a fait pour nous tous .
For John OROFINO's promotion in the rank of Officer of the Legion of Honour.
John OROFINO is a hero. As all the heroes he is modest. I met him by chance to Omaha Beach. I learnt that he had served honorably in the Army Patton during the Second World War. But I did not know everything. John OROFINO is a holder of the Purple Heart and the Silver Star. In 2007 he was named to the rank of chevalier of the Legion of Honnour in San Francisco on the French ship " Prairial ". What thus made John to deserve these honors? Oh almost nothing … Committed to 20 years in the American army him he was in July, 1944 in Verdun. He was a member of 3 ème battalion of gratitude of cavalry and his mission was to indicate the movements and the positions of the enemy to help general Patton to free the city of Thionville. During this mission more than dangerous John was 80 miles BEHIND the German lines. His platoon met the German army and he resulted from it a hard exchange of shootings and the death of many of his companions. During these extremely dangerous circumstances its senseof the solidarity, its determination, its worship to his allied companions, his courage and its spirit of command not only saved the life of his companions but also allowed the success of the operations. He was wonded himself, transported in a hospital, and during all this time he had a small French flag which a girl had given him in his helmet. After the war Mister OROFINO continued has to serve the others, both in the social domain and in the public education.
John OROFINO is a hero. His appointment to the rank of chevalier of the Legion of Honnour seems to us very modest. Let us ask together for his promotion the rank of officer of the Legion of Honour. As plan the statuses of the order: " direct appointments in the ranks of officer and commander as well as in the dignity of Grand Officer can intervene, in the conditions fixed to the article R. 32-1, to reward outstanding careers, both by their duration and by the eminence of the returned services "
John OROFINO does not know about our initiative. It belongs to us to ask the promotion in thanking of what what he made for us all.
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ESCALE DU PRAIRIAL 5 AVRIL 2007
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
DEAR COLLEAGUES FROM THE CONSULAR CORPS,
DEAR FRIENDS,
IT IS A GREAT PLEASURE FOR US TO RECEIVE YOU ALL ON BOARD FRENCH FRIGATE LE PRAIRIAL.
I WAS IN PARIS THIS MORNING AND CAME OFF THE PLANE THIS AFTERNOON AFTER A COUPLE OF DAYS IN FRANCE WHERE I ACCOMPANIED THE SPEAKER OF THE CALIFORNIA STATE ASSEMBLY FABIAN NUNEZ AND HIS DELEGATION IN THEIR STUDY VISIT ABOUT TRAIN AND HIGH SPEED RAIL.
YOU PROBABLY HAVE HEARD THAT THE FRENCH TGV, THE HIGH SPEED TRAIN, SET A NEW WORLD SPEED RECORD AT 574 KILOMETERS PER HOUR AND ON THIS TRAIN THAT BROKE THE RECORD WAS FIONA MA THE ASSEMBLYWOMAN FROM SAN FRANCISCO. SHE WAS ONE OF THE VERY HAPPY FEWS.
SO AFTER THE TRAIN AND THE PLANE I AM HAPPY TO COMPLETE MY JOURNEY WITH THE BOAT.
SERIOUSLY WE ARE VERY PLEASED TO RECEIVE YOU AND TO WELCOME THE PRAIRIAL IN SAN FRANCISCO FOR HER SECOND VISIT IN TWO YEARS.
I WOULD LIKE TO RECOGNISE THE PRESENCE OF THE HIGH RANKING OFFICERS FROM THE US COAST GUARD AND THE US NAVY – WE ALSO HAVE AN OFFICER FROM THE COLOMBIAN NAVY - AND EXPRESS TO THEM OUR APPRECIATION NOT ONLY FOR THEIR PARTICIPATION TO THIS RECEPTION AND CEREMONY TONIGHT BUT ALSO FOR THE VALUED COOPERATION THAT THEY HAVE EXTENDED TO OUR SHIP.
I WOULD LIKE ALSO TO THANK CAPITAINE DE FREGATE DE RUPILLY AND HIS ENTIRE CREW FOR THEIR HOSPITALITY.
THE FRENCH NAVY IS ACTIVE IN THE PACIFIC OCEAN IN ORDER TO CONTRIBUTE TO THE PROTECTION OF OUR INTERESTS AND THE PRAIRIAL IS A MAJOR COMPONENT IN THIS TASK.
IN THE COURSE OF HER PRESENT DEPLOYMENT WHICH STARTED LAST MONTH, THE PRAIRIAL, WHICH IS FORTUNATE ENOUGH TO BE STATIONED IN PAPEETE, HAS BEEN AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE ACTIVE IN HER MISSION OF CONTROLLING AND PREVENTING SMUGGLING, TRAFFICKING AND ILLEGAL FISHING, AMONG OTHERS. IT IS ALSO A MISSION THAT IS PERFORMED BY FRENCH FRIGATES IN THE ATLANTIC OCEAN AND IN THE CARRIBBEAN SEA AND IT IS VERY OFTEN PERFORMED IN COORDINATION WITH THE US NAVY AND COAST GUARD.
THESE MISSIONS ARE ONLY BUT ONE ILLUSTRATION OF THE CLOSE COOPERATION THAT EXISTS BETWEEN OUR TWO NAVIES AND OUR TWO ARMED FORCES. IT IS EXAMPLIFIED IN MANY AREAS AND ON MANY GROUNDS SINCE OUR TROOPS ARE TOGETHER ENGAGED AND OUR TWO COUNTRIES TOGETHER COMMITTED TO SECURITY FROM AFGHANISTAN TO THE BALKANS, FROM THE MIDDLE EAST TO AFRICA.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN,
SUCH COOPERATION BETWEEN OUR TWO COUNTRIES IS THE PROOF OF OUR LONGSTANDING ALLIANCE.
THIS SOLIDARITY, THIS BROTHERHOOD IN ARMS WAS FORGED MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES AGO WHEN LAFAYETTE AND HIS TROOPS CAME TO HELP ACHIEVE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE’S ASPIRATION FOR LIBERTY AND INDEPENDENCE. NEXT SEPTEMBER, WE SHALL HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO CELEBRATE OUR HISTORICAL ALLIANCE SINCE WE SHALL COMMEMORATE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY THE 250 TH ANNIVERSAY OF HIS BIRTH AND HIS DECISIVE CONTRIBUTION TO THE BIRTH OF THE UNITED STATES THANKS TO THE BRAVERY OF HIS SOLDIERS.
DURING THE TWENTIETH CENTURY THE SAME BRAVERY, THAT OF THE ALLIED TROOPS WHICH CAME TWICE TO OUR RESCUE, HELPED FRANCE REGAIN ITS LIBERTY AND ITS DIGNITY.
FRANCE WILL NEVER FORGET THE COURAGE, THE SACRIFICE OF THOUSANDS OF YOUNG AMERICAN MEN AND WOMEN WHO FOUGHT FOR HER DURING THE TWO WORLD WARS.
AMONG THOSE SOLDIERS, THERE WAS A YOUNG MAN BORN IN DETROIT, MICHIGAN, NOW A FIFTY YEAR SAN FRANCISCO RESIDENT. HIS NAME IS JOHN OROFINO, HE IS WITH US TONIGHT AND THE PRESIDENT OF THE FRENCH REPUBLIC HAS DECIDED TO AWARD HIM WITH THE LEGION OF HONOR.
THE NATIONAL ORDER OF THE LEGION OF HONOR WAS ESTABLISHED BY NAPOLEON IN 1802 IN ORDER TO RECOGNISE EXCEPTIONAL MERIT OR BRAVERY. NAPOLEON ONCE SAID : ‘’ON NE PEUT PAS FAIRE SEMBLANT D’ETRE COURAGEUX’’, THAT IS ‘’COURAGE IS SOMETHING YOU CANNOT FAKE’’. SO ALLOW ME TO STRESS TONIGHT THAT JOHN OROFINO DISPLAYED AN EXTRAORDINARY LEVEL OF COURAGE DURING THE MILITARY OPERATIONS IN EASTERN FRANCE IN AUGUST AND SEPTEMBER 1944.
DEAR JOHN OROFINO,
YOU JOINED THE ARMY AT THE AGE OF 20. AFTER TRAINING AT CAMP GORDON, GEORGIA, YOU CROSSED THE ATLANTIC TO REACH LIVERPOOL. THIS WAS IN JUNE 1944. ONE MONTH LATER YOU WERE IN VERDUN – THE BATTLEGROUND WHERE THE BLOODIEST COMBATS OF WORLD WAR I HAVE OCCURED – AND YOU WERE ORDERED TO MOVE EASTWARD. YOU WERE A SERGEANT IN THE 3 RD CAVALRY RECONNAISSANCE SQUADRON AND YOUR MISSION WAS TO REPORT ENNEMY POSITIONS AND MOVEMENTS, TO ASSESS THE SITUATION AND TO CONVEY THESE CRUCIAL INFORMATIONS TO THE THIRD ARMY UNDER GENERAL PATTON WITH THE AIM TO HELP SHAPING HIS PLANS FOR THE LIBERATION OF THE CITY OF THIONVILLE.
DURING THIS MISSION, A DANGEROUS ONE SINCE YOU WERE AS FAR AS 80 MILES BEHIND ENEMY LINES, YOUR PLATOON, THE FIRST PLATOON, ENCOUNTERED GERMAN TROOPS AND THIS RESULTED IN HEAVY FIRE AND TO THE KILLING OF MANY OF YOUR COMRADES. YOU TOOK COMMAND AFTER THE DEATH OF YOUR TWO LIEUTENANTS AND SAVED THE LIVES OF YOUR FELLOW TROOPERS, MANY OF THEM BEING WOUNDED, DESPITE THE CONTINUATION OF THE COMBATS.
IN THESE EXTREMELY DANGEROUS CIRCUMSTANCES, YOUR SENSE OF SOLIDARITY, YOUR DEVOTION TO YOUR COMRADES ALLIED WITH YOUR COURAGE, DETERMINATION AND SPIRIT OF LEADERSHIP NOT ONLY SAVED THEIR LIVES BUT CONTRIBUTED TO THESUCCESFUL OUTCOME OF THE OPERATIONS THAT EVENTUALLY LED TO THE LIBERATION OF THE CITY.
YOU WERE YOURSELF WOUNDED, TAKEN TO A FIELD HOSPITAL AND LATER FLOWN TO THE US. DURING ALL THESE TIMES YOU HAD UNDER YOUR HELMET THIS LITTLE FRENCH FLAG THAT A YOUNG FRENCH GIRL HAD GIVEN YOU AND THAT YOUR FRIEND MS MARX JUST GAVE ME
DEAR JOHN OROFINO,
FOR YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS DURING WORLD WAR II, YOU WERE AWARDED THE SILVER STAR AND THE PURPLE HEART. NOW IT IS OUR TURN TO EXPRESS OUR ADMIRATION AND WARMEST THANKS. THE MEDAL THAT I WILL HAVE THE PLEASURE TO PRESENT TO YOU IN A FEW MINUTES COMES AS A TESTIMONY TO OUR GRATITUDE FOR YOUR BRAVERY AND FOR YOUR ROLE IN THE LIBERATION OF FRANCE.
IT IS ALSO A SIGN OF OUR APPRECIATION FOR YOUR CONTINUED COMMITMENT TO THE SERVICE OF OTHERS AND TO THE VALUES OF FREEDOM AND HUMAN RIGHTS. BECAUSE AFTER RETURNING TO CIVILIAN LIFE YOU PUT THESE PRINCIPLES AT THE SERVICE OF THE COMMUNITY AND OF THE FUTURE GENERATIONS. AFTER WORKING FOR THE DETROIT DEPARTMENT OF WELFARE YOU BEGAN A DISTINGUISHED CAREER OF TEACHER, FIRST IN DETROIT, THEN IN SAN FRANCISCO WHERE YOU SERVED IN SEVERAL PUBLIC SCHOOLS, TEACHING TO THE CHILDREN THE VALUES OF TOLERANCE AND DEMOCRACY. THE SAME VALUES THAT YOU FOUGHT FOR ON OUR SOIL SIXTY YEARS AGO AND THAT YOU HELPED MAKE PREVAIL.
THEREFORE, IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO BE THE INTERPRETER OF THE GRATITUDE OF MY COUNTRY, ABOARD ONE OF HER SHIPS AND IN PRESENCE OF YOUR WIFE PEGGY, YOUR FAMILY AND FRIENDS, BEFORE FRENCH AND AMERICAN SAILORS AND BEFORE OUR DISTINGUISHED GUESTS. I KNOW THAT YOU WOULD LIKE TO SHARE THIS HONOR WITH YOUR FELLOW MEMBERS OF THE 3 RD CAVALRY SQUADRON.
JOHN OROFINO, AU NOM DU PRESIDENT DE LA REPUBLIQUE, NOUS VOUS REMETTONS LES INSIGNES DE CHEVALIER DE L’ORDRE NATIONAL DE LA LEGION D’HONNEUR.
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