PARIS -- Gen. James T. Conway, the 34th Commandant of the United States Marine Corps, was awarded France’s National Order of the Legion of Honour during a military awards ceremony at the historic Les Invalides here Dec. 1.
The Legion of Honour, France’s highest decoration, is usually limited to French citizens, however French law allows non-citizens who have served France, or the ideas it upholds, to receive the award.
The Chief of Staff of the French Army Gen. Elrick Irastorza presented the award, which included a full military pageant, featuring platoons of French honor guardsman, a ceremonial band, and French and American military representatives.
Gen. Irastorza said Gen. Conway’s strategic positioning of the U.S. Marine Corps to confront the problems that both allies face, and a long history of friendship between the two nations are what prompted the Order to induct the Marine Commandant.
“We share common values,” Irastorza said. “We have very close links with American officers belonging both to the Marine Corps and Army and I am very happy to share this moment with Gen. Conway. “
“It means a great deal to me and I am very humbled to receive this award,” Gen. Conway said.
Established by Napoleon Bonaparte in 1802, the Order of the Legion of Honour is divided into five degrees of award. Gen. Conway was awarded the third degree title of Commandeur, the highest degree allowed for non-French recipients.
Gen. Conway joins former Marine Commandants Gen. Charles C. Krulak, Gen. James L. Jones and Gen. Michael W. Hagee as recipients of the Legion of Honour.
The ceremony here comes as the last stop on the Marine Commandants recent visit of forward-deployed Marines in Iraq and Afghanistan during the Thanksgiving holiday.