Tres Pinos resident John Hockenberry this week took home the Legion of Honor, the most prestigious decoration in France.
Hockenberry, 90, was awarded the honor at a special ceremony at the Consul General Pauline Carmona’s residence in San Francisco in recognition of his participation in the liberation of France.
“I thought it was quite emotional and very moving, a reminder of what these men have been through,” said his wife, June Hockenberry, 81.
John served in the Army during World War II for a little more than three years starting in 1943. While with the 66th Infantry Division of the Army in 1944 and 1945, Hockenberry participated in the group’s mission in France to contain enemy combatants. He first learned he might be eligible for award after his brother suggested they put his name in for consideration since he had served in combat in France.
“And time went by and I decided that was just a whistle in the dark and then one day the letter showed up that said, ‘You’ve been selected for this award,’” John said.
When his wife first saw the letter, she assumed the couple would travel to France to receive it, but then she learned the ceremony would be in California.
“At first, I thought, ‘Oh boy, I get to go to Paris but then it was San Francisco,’” she said. “I was flabbergasted. It was very exciting.”
Hockenberry was one of 10 veterans honored at a special ceremony with an audience of more than 100 people.
The Army veteran added the award to other honors including the prestigious Bronze Star, which he received nearly 64 years after his service at the annual Hollister Veterans Day ceremony in 2009. A presidential directive signed in 1944 stipulated that veterans who had fought in World War II and earned combat infantry badges—which meant they were engaged in active-fire battle—were eligible for the prestigious Bronze Star Medal.
Hockenberry has also received the WWII Victory Medal, the Good Conduct Medal, the European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal and the Combat Infantry Badge.
