LaFleur is awarded Bronze Star 67 years after service
Date: 11/14/2012
By Katelyn Gendron
katelyn@thereminder.comCHICOPEE — Army veteran Tech Sgt. Harvey LaFleur thought the city was celebrating Veterans Day earlier this year when he arrived at the Senior Center with his wife and family on Nov. 7. He had no idea he'd be receiving the Bronze Star Medal for his courageous efforts in Germany on April 1, 1945.
Lt. Col. John Driscoll, 1-181 Infantry Battalion Commander, U.S. Army, presented LaFleur with the honor before a standing room only crowd of approximately 60 people. He called the event a privilege to honor a member of "The Greatest Generation."
"I'm still fighting the 'Battle of the Buldge,'" LaFleur joked, referring to his belly, as he tried to fight back tears. "They say when you see a vet, thank them; well, this is from a vet, thank you."
Kimberly Babin, director of the city's Veterans' Services Department, said, "Tech Sgt. LaFleur was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for meritorious service in connection with ground operations against a hostile force on April 1, 1945 while serving with Company A, 78th Armored Medical Battalion, 8th Armored Division in Germany. An award of the Combat Medical Badge during the period of Dec. 7, 1941 to Sept. 3, 1945 was considered as a citation for meritorious conduct in ground combat as the basis for the Bronze Star Award.
"His DD214, Discharge from Active Duty Service was corrected on a DD215 for correction to Report of Separation to reflect his entitlement to the listed awards: Bronze Star Medal, Army Good Conduct Medal, American Campaign Medal, European-African-Middle Eastern Campaign Medal with three Bronze Service Stars, World War II Victory Medal with Germany Clasp, Meritorious Unit Commendation, Combat Medical Badge and Honorable Service Lapel Button World War II," she continued.
LaFleur left high school in 1943 — later earning his diploma in 1999 — to join the Army where he served in Gen. George Patton's 3rd Army in Europe and the Battle of the Bulge.
Mayor Michael Bissonnette called LaFleur and his wife Marjory of 67 years, pillars of the community.
"This is Chicopee's 'First Couple.' We all know Harvey's great work in this community but this is where the city of Chicopee holds true when we say the city never forgets [its veterans]. This is a long deserved recognition for this rightful recipient," he said.
"When we say we never forget, it's not just two days a year, on Memorial Day and Veterans Day when we get to walk in parades, it's 365 days a year. It's the people who walk among us everyday who have the courage of heroes," Bissonnette continued.
