By Bill Barlow
An American veteran of World War II has received France’s highest honor on that country’s national day, in recognition of his service in the signal corps.
Francis X. McCormac, 99, witnessed some of the most harrowing moments of the 20th century, from the allied invasion of Europe at Omaha Beach to the Battle of the Bulge to the liberation of a Nazi concentration camp.
McCormac has lived in Ocean City for about 10 years. Two of his daughters, Pat and Maureen, also live in town. In a recent interview, he said he lost his wife, Esther, in 2016. They had seven children and 70 years together.
“Not too many people can say they had that much time together,” he said.
McCormac said he was surprised and honored to find out that he would receive the award.
“That was great,” he said.
Anne-Claire Legendre, the consul general of France in New York, traveled to Ocean City on Bastille Day July 14 to present McCormac with a medal symbolizing his place as a Chevalier of the National Order of the Legion of Honor. Chevalier is French for knight. The award is described as the highest given to civilians or members of the military. The award was created by Napoleon Bonaparte to honor men and women who have accomplished exceptional deeds for France and for the French people.
“We will never forget the bravery of American heroes such as Francis Mc Cormac who received this decoration,” reads a statement posed to the website of the French consul general, who represents French interests and promotes France in New York, Connecticut and New Jersey.
Ocean City Mayor Jay Gillian announced the honor as part of his weekly statement to residents and visitors, congratulating McCormac and describing him as part of the Ocean City community. Gillian was among those who gathered in the yard of McCormac’s daughter Maureen’s home in Ocean City to witness him receive the recognition. Also attending the event were family members, friends, members of City Council and others, according to information released by the Morvay-Miley Post 524 of the American Legion.
Legion Post Commander Bob Marzulli was also present.
“In 2004, on the occasion of the 60th anniversary of D-Day, then-French President Jacques Chirac, decided to honor all American World War II veterans who had fought on French soil,” reads a statement from the post.
McCormac said he did not know he was to receive the honor until he was told by Tom Tumelty, a trustee from the American Legion post.
“I entered the service in Massachusetts, and was then shipped-out to Scotland,” said McCormac. “From there, I landed on Omaha Beach, followed by deployments to Belgium and Germany, for the Battle of the Bulge.”
So-called by news reporters because of the way the Allied lines bulged inward but did not rupture, the Battle of the Bulge was the final major German counteroffensive during the war, as the Allies rapidly advanced toward Germany.
In intense fighting in bitter cold in thick forests of eastern Belgium, northeastern France and Luxembourg, the battle took place in December of 1944 into January of 1945. American forces were hit hard, facing what were reportedly their highest losses of the war.
According to members of the American Legion post, during that battle, McCormac’s radio relay unit was able to inform US Army units of a Nazi ruse. German soldiers were posing as US military police to misdirect allied troops, according to the statement from the American Legion.
“McCormac went on to see the liberation of German concentration camps before he eventually returned home to Philadelphia,” reads the statement.
McCormac said he was there when the allies reached the Buchenwald concentration camp in April of 1945. It was the largest of the camps within Germany’s pre-war borders and one of the first to be constructed.
“I saw a lot of people that were dead or half-dead. I saw what they had to live with, or live without,” he said. He spoke of a mass grave dug for those interned at the camp who did not survive, and of an infant in the camp who was the last to be buried, saying the soldiers held a ceremony for the infant. It was 76 years ago, but it is clearly difficult for McCormac to discuss.
Tens of thousands of Jews, Slavs, Communists, Gypsies and others died in the forced-labor camp, executed or starved to death.
During the war, he was promoted to the rank of sergeant. He served from 1942 until 1945.
After the war, he returned to his civilian job as an inspector for Philadelphia’s Philco Radio Corporation, a job he held until his retirement. Before and after the war, he worked a total of 42-years for the company, working on some of the same equipment he used in the signal corps.
In comments to members of Ocean City High School students in 2019, he said he was pleased to be assigned to the signal corps rather than the infantry. He described for the students his time in basic training, including enduring bitter cold that froze his toothpaste and gave him frostbite, before being sent to Florida for further training.
With extensive detail, and managing to crack up the class more than once, McCormac relayed his time in the military, including traveling from Scotland to southern England by truck and landing at Omaha Beach in northern France a few days after D-day.
“The Germans were still shooting at us from the higher cliffs above the beach,” he told the class, in a speech captured on video and posted to YouTube. He spoke of bombers and fighter planes filling the sky, clearing the way for the Allied advance.
He described eating a Christmas turkey dinner on a snow-covered truck fender as the Army planned to advance into Germany.
In comments made before presenting McCormac with his medal, Legendre compared Bastille Day on July 14 to the Fourth of July, and said America and France have long been allies.
“I am here to celebrate this friendship,” she said, describing McCormac as a true American hero from the greatest generation. She thanked him for his bravery in fighting Nazism. He was only 22 when he entered the war, likely with little knowledge of France or Europe.
“Thanks to you, my country and also the world, enjoys democracy and enjoys liberty and this is something we want to continue fighting for,” she said.
To accept the honor, McCormac wore a shirt in the colors of the American flag, with a flag mask over his face to reduce the likelihood of spreading the coronavirus and a ball cap identifying him as a veteran of World War II.
Ocean City Council member Bob Barr called McCormac the embodiment of the America spirit.
Asked for comment, as seen on a video taken by a family member, McCormac quickly relates the battles he saw.
“I had a good time,” he said, which drew an affectionate laugh.
“You’re still here,” says one of those who gathered in the yard.
“That’s the main part. I’m still here,” he agreed.
